There is provided is a black metal fastener member that can be manufactured at low cost. A fastener member comprises a base material made of a copper alloy containing zinc at a concentration of 30% by mass or more and 43% by mass or less, and a black copper oxide coating covering at least a part of the base material.

A method of preparing a cut length of slide fastener chain for operational use includes: providing a system that includes first and second machines; providing a cut length of slide fastener chain; introducing a notch to one end of the cut length of slide fastener chain, using the first machine; orienting a slider body onto a positioning device, using the second machine, so that the slider body is in a fixed position; inserting the notched end of the cut length of slide fastener chain into a mouth of the slider body; and pulling the cut length of slide fastener chain through the slider body by a distance, thereby mounting the slider body to the cut length of slide fastener chain.

A method of preparing a cut length of slide fastener chain for operational use includes: providing a system that includes first and second machines; providing a cut length of slide fastener chain; introducing a notch to one end of the cut length of slide fastener chain, using the first machine; orienting a slider body onto a positioning device, using the second machine, so that the slider body is in a fixed position; inserting the notched end of the cut length of slide fastener chain into a mouth of the slider body; and pulling the cut length of slide fastener chain through the slider body by a distance, thereby mounting the slider body to the cut length of slide fastener chain.

A copper alloy for fastening wherein the alloy has a structure of a mixture of -phase and a -phase; and wherein the alloy has a composition represented by the general formula: Cu.sub.bal.Zn.sub.aMn.sub.b, where bal., a, and b are expressed in % by mass, bal. represents the balance, 34a40.5, 0.1b6, and inevitable impurities may be contained; and the composition satisfying the equation (1): b(8a+300)/7, where 34a<37.5 and equation (2): b(5.5a+225.25)/5, where 35.5a40.5.

A copper alloy for fastening wherein the alloy has a structure of a mixture of -phase and a -phase; and wherein the alloy has a composition represented by the general formula: Cu.sub.bal.Zn.sub.aMn.sub.b, where bal., a, and b are expressed in % by mass, bal. represents the balance, 34a40.5, 0.1b6, and inevitable impurities may be contained; and the composition satisfying the equation (1): b(8a+300)/7, where 34a<37.5 and equation (2): b(5.5a+225.25)/5, where 35.5a40.5.

A mechanism and method for easily replacing a zipper of a zippered hardside luggage, wherein one side of a zipper is fixed to an upper case body by an upper zipper fastener, and the other side of the zipper is fixed to a lower case body by a lower zipper fastener; the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener have a respective notch; a removable notch fastener is arranged at the joint between the upper case body and the lower case body at the notch; and the replacement method comprises: firstly removing the notch fastener, pulling out the old zipper from the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, then passing a new zipper through the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, and finally mounting the notch fastener.

A mechanism and method for easily replacing a zipper of a zippered hardside luggage, wherein one side of a zipper is fixed to an upper case body by an upper zipper fastener, and the other side of the zipper is fixed to a lower case body by a lower zipper fastener; the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener have a respective notch; a removable notch fastener is arranged at the joint between the upper case body and the lower case body at the notch; and the replacement method comprises: firstly removing the notch fastener, pulling out the old zipper from the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, then passing a new zipper through the notches of the upper zipper fastener and the lower zipper fastener, and finally mounting the notch fastener.