Hey, pennant guys

[bocca001]

I'm very pleased.

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by bocca001

I'm very pleased.

Looks fantastic. That material produces the best bleaching result....provided there is no red in the design. Nice job!

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by bocca001

I'm very pleased.

Way to go, Marc!!!

[Baseballcrazy62]

Picked these up today for 20 bucks for the pair. I don’t really collect pennants but I can’t not buy them when I see them (is this just me?). I am slowly coming to the realization that maybe I do collect them.

[ooo-ribay]

Wow!!! Talk about a treasure trove of pennant info! N54 member Domer05 is responsible for this. He alerted to to it in a PM. I'm just beginning to "dig in"...

https://pennantfever.weebly.com/

[lefty147]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

Wow!!! Talk about a treasure trove of pennant info! N54 member Domer05 is responsible for this. He alerted to to it in a PM. I'm just beginning to "dig in"...

https://pennantfever.weebly.com/

Incredible research and information..

[Domer05]

Rob, Mike: Thanks for plugging my BLOG. I really, really appreciate your support. I'm glad you enjoyed what you read.

All: I started pennantfever.weebly.com because of my love for vintage pennants and my profound appreciation of the companies responsible for their production. I wanted to know the history behind my favorite pieces; but, without more information on the manufacturers, I knew next to nothing.

So I turned to the internet and found this thread. And, like many others have shared, I started at page #1 from 2014 and read through it to the present. I learned so, so much about this hobby--information I probably couldn't have found elsewhere.

That information, and the intelligence gaps you all identified in your discussions, led me to create this site. It's not just for serious collectors. It's for anyone that loves vintage pennants and wants to know more about who made them, where they came from, and when they were made.

Every post will cover a different manufacturer. Within each post I'll cover company history, key products, and maker's marks. I started with Chipenco. Then I took on Collegiate of Ames. I just finished up a piece on Trench. Trust me: there'll be plenty more to cover in the coming months.

Anyway, I hope followers of this wonderful thread will check out the site. And, to those of you that kindly allowed me to use your pictures, THANK YOU.

[ooo-ribay]

Domer - you taught me more about the COMPANIES than I ever knew.

Now, I gotta check my pennants for the damn SS mark. Pretty sure I have a least a couple of “Giant on the bridge” pennants with that mark. I always thought it was just a random baseball.

Keezer pennants have been discussed here but I’d love to know more!

[ooo-ribay]

Hey Domer -

Here's one of my few (if not only) pennants with a maker's label. The MA telephone exchange dates it to 1960 or earlier. Super heavy felt and tassels. Sewn on letters. Union made!

[perezfan]

That is a fantastic site and great information, Domer. Many thanks for creating that, and for the extensive research you've put into it. What a great read!

Like Rob, I also thought the "SS" logo was just a random Baseball, and that the Trench Logo was the Artist's initials. Your article was very enlightening and interesting.

Thanks again!
Mark

[Domer05]

Mark: I'm thrilled you enjoyed the site. Thanks for the kind words.

Rob: I feel you on Keezer Mfg. Co. They're certainly on my radar and I promise to cover them soon.

So, it's a funny thing that you mention ABC Emblem & Pennant Co. Until two weeks ago I had never heard of them. Then I discovered and promptly checked out other Rob's website (feltfootball.com). Wow ... what a gallery of pennant images! And this Los Angeles Rams pennant from the 1950s caught my eye....

RamsPennantABC.jpg

If you look below the image of the ram, you see the initials "abc". Initially, I thought this must be a concessionaire's mark. But I researched California corporations and found a pennant maker: ABC Emblem & Pennant Co. So I figured this had to be their work; and their maker's mark.

According to a 1937 San Francisco Chamber of Commerce Directory, they were in business in the 1930s and then located at 14 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco, CA. According to the California Secretary of State's corporate registry, they were still in business somewhere in California as of 1967. That's where the trail went cold for me.

Apparently they moved to 1251 Market St., San Francisco by the late 1950s.

Your Giants pennant appears to be from 1958 or so. I can't imagine it being much newer, can you? Additionally, I've never seen the LA Dodgers equivalent of it, or any other sports team. Actually, I can't recall too many sewn letter pennants for any MLB team from this era. And, by the late 1950s, I can't think of any pennant manufacturers making MLB pennants that still used sewn labels. I take it this is a rare Giants pennant?? It certainly defies conventional norms of the day, doesn't it?

I'd be curious if anyone else has ever seen either your label, or the above "abc" mark, on other pennants? I'd be surprised if this was the only NFL pennant they made.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Your Giants pennant appears to be from 1958 or so. I can't imagine it being much newer, can you? Additionally, I've never seen the LA Dodgers equivalent of it, or any other sports team. Actually, I can't recall too many sewn letter pennants for any MLB team from this era. And, by the late 1950s, I can't think of any pennant manufacturers making MLB pennants that still used sewn labels. I take it this is a rare Giants pennant?? It certainly defies conventional norms of the day, doesn't it?

I'd be curious if anyone else has ever seen either your label, or the above "abc" mark, on other pennants? I'd be surprised if this was the only NFL pennant they made.

I'd put it in the "rare" category but not "impossible" like a few I am seeking. I can't remember how long ago I got it, but I only paid $70 on ebay.

[bocca001]

A recent pickup.

And thanks to Domer05 for the info on his site. Great stuff.

[perezfan]

Great pickup, Marc....

Was watching that one verrrrry closely. Congrats!

[bocca001]

Thanks, Mark. It's in really nice shape.

[ooo-ribay]

I’m gonna “out” Domer05 - his name is Kyle.

[jimm]

Some great stuff here, just starting, have some decent ones

[bocca001]

What's behind that one?

[jimm]

[jimm]

[ooo-ribay]

As you probably know, jimm, the NL Champs is a stamped version of a more generic pennant. You don't see them that often. Yours has had some color fade (typical).

[bocca001]

Jimm- nice! I'm still looking for the stamped version.

[jimm]

Ahh, I did not know that, I keep posting em. Seriously doubt I have any ooo-ribay doesnt

[mainemule]

I'm not a pennant guy, though they are beautiful to look at, but Clean Sweep has a bunch in their newly listed auction.

https://www.cleansweepauctions.com/l...g_type=auction

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by mainemule

I'm not a pennant guy, though they are beautiful to look at, but Clean Sweep has a bunch in their newly listed auction.

https://www.cleansweepauctions.com/l...g_type=auction

Isn't that special.

[Domer05]

Rob, do you suppose this '62 Giants pennant was made by Trench? The font + layout of the text screams of their work; however, the artwork ... not so much. (The batter certainly doesn't resemble Trench's universal batter used elsewhere in the 1960s.)

I also note the initials "W C" inside the baseball which neither sounds like a pennant maker nor concessionaire I'm familiar with. Perhaps these belong to the artist?

[mainemule]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Isn't that special.

....not sure what you mean by that but I was just pointing those who might be interested in pennants to what looks like a decent auction.

[jimm]

[jimm]

[Fballguy]

I try to stick to football...but then something like this happens.

[jimm]

woah

[bocca001]

I like the slow reveal of the Giants pennants.

[ooo-ribay]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Rob, do you suppose this '62 Giants pennant was made by Trench? The font + layout of the text screams of their work; however, the artwork ... not so much. (The batter certainly doesn't resemble Trench's universal batter used elsewhere in the 1960s.)

I also note the initials "W C" inside the baseball which neither sounds like a pennant maker nor concessionaire I'm familiar with. Perhaps these belong to the artist?

I have no idea what the W C means. You're the expert!

You are also the Trench expert. Yes, that font was used on a ton of pennants. That batter was also used on a ton of Giants pennants but usually with what I call the "cartoon" font.

First, the common font with the universal batter and next, a couple of examples with the 1962 batter and the cartoon font. Note both the early and later enclosed Candlestick Park. Finally, that batter is very similar to the 1958 pennants showing Seals Stadium.

More detective work for ya!

[ser1979]

Love that Tiger pennant. If you ever decide to sell it let me know!!!!

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by ser1979

Love that Tiger pennant. If you ever decide to sell it let me know!!!!

Thanks...It's in incredible condition. I fall in and out of love with baseball pennants pretty quickly....so I'm always open to offers if you're really interested.

[Domer05]

Originally Posted by ooo-ribay

I have no idea what the W C means. You're the expert!

You are also the Trench expert. Yes, that font was used on a ton of pennants. That batter was also used on a ton of Giants pennants but usually with what I call the "cartoon" font.

First, the common font with the universal batter and next, a couple of examples with the 1962 batter and the cartoon font. Note both the early and later enclosed Candlestick Park. Finally, that batter is very similar to the 1958 pennants showing Seals Stadium.

More detective work for ya!

Rob/fballguy: Ditto on the Tigers pennant being totally sweet. I love that there's a gradual color gradient between the two colors in the tiger's stripes. Nice pick-up!

Rob/ooo-ribay: You make a solid case that the pennants you showcased were all by the same maker, even that '58 Seals Stadium one. For me, the first Candlestick Park pennant rendering confirms that maker was in fact Trench. (The way the artist drew the crowd, in particular, seems consistent with other stadium renderings of theirs in the early 1960s.) I'm unsure why Trench apparently limited this "cartoon" font to Giant pennants. But I can't say I've seen it elsewhere.

The "1962 batter" however was used for other teams by Trench as early as 1959. Or, at least a minor variation thereof. Apparently the Trench artist liked adding a vertical stripe to the batter's jersey, for added contrast, I suppose? See below....

[jimm]

[jimm]

[bocca001]

Picked up some football pennants this week. Continuing with my SF fan who now lives in Houston collection (and Dan Pastorini played for Santa Clara University).

[jimm]

nice

[jimm]

[Fballguy]

Nice pennants Mark...Sorry you didn't have a third Niners pennant to share. Maybe by Labor Day.

[ooo-ribay]

Hey Kyle - I found another with the ABC label:

[ooo-ribay]

https://pennantfever.weebly.com/

I had never given much thought as to who was making pennants, back in the day. About the only vintage company I knew of was AdFlag and only because it's printed right on their pennants. I knew of Trench, but only as a modern producer. Here's a couple of modern (1970s) pennants with what appear to be manufacturer's marks (M in a circle and VET). I have no idea who or what they mean. Kyle?

Finally, another "cartoon font' (presumably Trench) pennant which can, obviously, be dated to 1962.

[Domer05]

Rob:

Thanks for the additional ABC label/pennant. I'll add that to my library for a future post.

Never seen that "M" mark before. Can't think of any manufacturer or concessionaire that it could have belonged to. Something to look further into.

I have, however, seen that "VET" mark on other 1970s era pennants. Still unsure what it stood for or whether it identified the maker versus the retailer's name. We know that concessionaire's marks were popular in the early 1970s, so we can't rule that possibility out, unfortunately.

More work to do....

[Domer05]

One more thing: I also noted on your '62 photo pennant that those same initials "WC" appear in the upper left corner of the pennant. So, that's now two different Trench pennants from that year with these initials. Can't be the artist's initials, as we last suspected.

Unless he/she is also a photographer.

[ooo-ribay]

I just noticed the W.C., too. I’ll see if any of my fellow SF collectors, who don’t post here, can shed any light...

[jimm]

[jimm]

[Domer05]

Does the back of the photo say anything about the manufacturer and/or concessionaire, e.g., "Made by Trench, Buffalo, NY for Sportservice"?

Trench seems to have made two types of photos for their photo pennants. Some placed 100% of the text on the reverse side, where they named everyone in the photo, the manufacturer, and if applicable: the concessionaire. I've seen others, however, that look like Trench's work; but the team personnel info is buried in the footer across the bottom of the photo's front side. In this variation, they omitted all manufacturing and/or concessionaire info and the reverse of the photo was left blank.

This '68 Detroit Tigers pennant (below) exemplifies this latter style. I can't say with 100% certainty this one came from Trench, but it sure looks like their earlier work....

So, your '62 photo pennant may fall into this other variety Trench made--a style that grew more common by the late 1960s and 70s because the viewer could read the caption without having to flip the pennant over--which would be difficult, if it were already tacked to a wall.