PENNANT FACTORY
Homemade pennants inspired by designs of the past
|
Top row: This ca. 1910 San Diego High School pennant by unknown maker was produced using the relief/letterpress method. Before screen printing was deemed commercially viable, this was the preferred method for printing detailed graphics on felt. The technique required a light colored substrate, usually white felt, that was rubber stamped with a contrasting design in black ink; then colored in with an air brush. Bottom row: Another alternative to screen printing concerned the use of burnt leather, which could be sewn on, just as individual felt lettering could be. This practice was commonly used to replicate school seals, which were too detailed to be cut from felt, as seen on this ca. 1940s Univ. of California pennant by Chicago Pennant Co. | From 1900 to 1910, felt pennants had become the best selling novelty item in the country. Most of them were collegiate; and nearly all were made using individually sewed letters of contrasting felt. By 1908, however, pennant makers began exploring new production processes that would yield more attractive designs--in a fraction of the time, for a fraction of the costs. For one New York pennant maker, it saw the upside in a brand new printing technique developed in Europe known as the screen printing method. Throughout the 20th century, no innovation had more profound an effect on pennant making than the advent of screen printing. For the first time, pennants could be mass produced with rich, detailed, color graphics the likes of which the market had never before seen! |
Above: Charlie "Red" Dooin tobacco card, ca. 1910. Dooin served as player-manager for the Phillies from 1910 to 1914. | What an extraordinary series of pennants, right? What really made the series stand out, for me, was Repco's use of original artwork for each team's pennant throughout the series. For three of these, they went with a realistic depiction of a player. For the Chicago Cubs, however, they went with an amusing image of a bear cub clutching a bat. And, for the Philadelphia NL club, they went with an homage to the club's manager: Charlie "Red" Dooin, who managed the team from 1910-14. During that time, the team was informally known as "Dooin's Daisies." True story.... Anyway, Repco's art department wasn't oblivious to this moniker. Accordingly, this pennant's artwork featured a bouquet of daisies and a sightly different look from the others in the series. |
In 2018 I started a separate website called Pennant Fever dedicated to 20th century felt novelty manufacturers. It focuses on these companies' history, products, etc. Eventually, my interest in these businesses inspired me to start making my own pennants. THIS site you're currently viewing, Pennant Factory, is where I'll showcase some of the felt projects I've taken on. Most are reproductions of real pennants once for sale to the public. I've done my best to re-create the originals as authentically as possible based upon surviving photos, known dimensions, etc. Others are my original work, intended to look like the styles of yesteryear. Some turned out better than others. See for yourself. Enjoy! -KRB
All
1916 NL Champs Pennant
1952 + 1953 NL Champs Banners
1955/2020 WS Champs Banners
1955 WS Champs Pennant
1959 NL Champs Pennant
1963/2020 WS Champs Pennant
1965/2020 WS Champs Pennant
2020 WS Champs Burgee
"3-D Pennant" (ca. 1950s)
"B.B.C. Series" Pennant (ca. 1910)
Bklyn. Robins Pennant (ca. 1917)
"Burnt Leather Seal" (ca. 1940s) - Collegiate Mfg. Co.
"Caricature Pennant" - Clayton Kershaw
"Caricature Pennant" - GS Warriors
"Date Pennant" (ca. 1960s)
Dodger Stadium Scoreboard (1988)
Early 1910s Football Pennants - Reproduction Co.
"Grommet Pennant" - 1920 NL Champs Pennant
GW Forum Scoreboard (1998) - LA Kings
Jackie Robinson Pennant (1947)
Keezer "Emblem Pennant" (ca. 1950s)
"Kicked Football Series" Pennant (ca. 1940s) - Epstein Novelty Co.
LA Dodgers V. SF Giants "1st. GAME" Pennant (1958)
"Mascot Banner" - Chicago Pennant Co.
"Mascot Banner" - Collegiate Mfg. Co.
"Mascot Banner" (II) - Chicago Pennant Co.
"Monogram Pennant" (ca. 1910s)
ND "NO PARKING" Sign
ND Stadium Scoreboard (1988)
ND Stadium Signage
Notre Dame Banner (1931)
Notre Dame Pennant (1925)
Notre Dame Pennant (ca. 1965)
Oakland Raiders (AFL) Pennant (1960) - ADFLAG
Oakland Raiders (AFL) Pennant (ca. 1960) - Trench
Phila. Athletics Pennant (ca. 1910)
"Photo Pennant" (ca. 1960s)
Schaefer Promo Sign (1955)
Staples Ctr. Banners - Lakers
Staples Ctr. Banners - LA Kings
"Trophy Banner" (ca. 1920)
Vin Scully Tribute Banner (2022)
"WELCOME....' Banner" - Carly Bros.
February 2024
November 2023
September 2023
July 2023
May 2023
February 2023
January 2023
December 2022
September 2022
August 2022
July 2022
April 2022
February 2022
December 2021
October 2021
August 2021
July 2021
May 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
August 2020
March 2020
February 2020
December 2019
November 2019
August 2019
May 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018