With no real reasoning, I think Worton was a maker.

R. Worton Novelties
 

My opinion: Worton was just a retailer; and these labels were merely his retailer's mark. From the limited universe of Worton-marked pennants I know of, he peddled a mixture of both Trench and AMCO pennants. That alone tells me he couldn't have made them all.

Additionally, unlike Epstein, there's no trade catalogue or phone directory identifying Worton as a manufacturer of pennants. Nothing. If they made all of these pennants, they were a significant manufacturer, and there should be some directory classifying them as a pennant maker.

Finally, as Greg pointed out, look at their location: across the street from old Yankee Stadium. Where there was plenty of foot traffic containing fans headed into the ballpark for baseball and football games. In other words, the ideal spot for a brick and mortar souvenir shop. In contrast, most of the 20th century NYC-based pennant makers, including Epstein, were clustered together in the Garment District, down by lower Manhattan. Nowhere near their end-users....

For me, the 1948 advertisement for football supplies seals the deal. Felt pennants were just one of several different novelty items they offered ... along with some complementary goods, e.g., pennant canes and charms; but also ... rabbits feet. :eek: That tells me they were a retail store, and to stay in business year round, they had to offer more than just felt pennants to their retail customers.

I've never heard of a single manufacturer making both pennants and rabbits feet, have you? ;)

So, for me, they were just a retailer that sourced their felt pennants from a variety of makers over the years. Because they purchased so many each year, these makers rewarded them by sewing Worton's name on their pennants. It's really not too different from a concessionaire's mark. Not only were Trench (and others) known for doing this, it would explain why there's plenty more of these same pennants with no label on them, i.e., because they were purchased from another retail source.

Hmm.. those are all good pieces of evidence and I want to believe. Being located in the garment business district may be the most convincing evidence to me that Epstein was a maker. I'm not so sure about the rabbits feet being evidence against Worton being a maker. The stuff people found for Epstein indicates that they sold other things too (e.g., feathers, "favors"), and I seem to recall that Keezer and ASCO made/sold many types of items. Especially buttons, which makes me think they also sold all of the types of things that came with the buttons (ribbons, charms, etc). I also did not recall anyone posting a catalog from Epstein.

I also don't have especially strong feelings about this one way or another (i.e., it does not matter to me if Worton is a maker or not). Just find it fun to have the discussions.

Interesting Epstein tag placement. You think that seamstress had an hourly quota? :eek:

This won’t settle it, but it is worth noting that the “wide scroll” pennants like that on the Yankees above and also the Cindarella Boys Giants were also made for the Dodgers and all three were 1950-51. Don’t know if any other team has it. So that suggests a NYC manufacturer. But the flip side is, I don’t think all of the “Worton” pennants were made by the same maker, either. There are some very different styles with the same label.

Speaking of Epstein, here’s a recent acquisition. This had ‘1942’ written on the spine in what seemed to be charcoal, and was easily lifted off the surface. If the date is legit it would put it in the NFL not AAFC.

Thanks Rob! And right back at you, for all your contributions and creating this thread! For anyone who wants to see it, here's a link...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcdngWNoG6A&t=65s

As for the Worton "debate", I tend to believe they were simply a retail outlet for baseball/sports souvenirs. Just my 2 cents, based on what I originally believed in addition to the points that Kyle and Greg made.... the most convincing of which is the location adjacent to Yankee Stadium.

One of the best ever Tigers pennants at a reasonable price, however the spine looks a bit unusual, as if it may not be sewn on as original. Be sure to inquire if interested, as there have been some transplants in circulation.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/37463391077..._XwYQ&LH_BIN=1

Mark: Outstanding timely video and undoubtedly the only collection with all four Jackie-dedicated pennants.

Marc, is it correct that this pennant here was advertised as having the Worton label? Because I am about 99.9% confident that this is a WGN production. If Worton slapped a tag on it then I think we have an answer.