Zero Halliburton
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Zero Halliburton was originally a metal fabrication company called Zierold Company, which in 1946 changed its name to Zero Corporation. In 1952 Zero, which until then had no relation to Halliburton, bought the luggage division of Halliburton, the Texas oil company.
Earle P. Halliburton, the founder of Halliburton, had commissioned the aluminum case in 1938 from aircraft engineers because other luggage could not endure the rough travel through Texas oil fields in a pickup truck. In addition to being more durable than a leather or cloth case due to its rigidity, the aluminum case seals tightly against dust and water.
Today the aluminum cases, which have appeared in over 200 Hollywood movies, are also available in carbon-fiber. Although lighter, the carbon fiber briefcases cost about $2000, about seven times the cost of the standard aluminum Zero Halliburton briefcases. Famously, the Nuclear Football (the briefcase used to order a nuclear attack) is a modified Zero Halliburton case.
