FlagGeek Resources

FlagGeek Resources brings together the core materials used for research and verification within the project — including manufacturer labels, official naval manuals, and selected Flags of the World (FOTW) references. These sources provide the backbone for dating, authentication, and structural analysis of historical flags.

The label archives are based on verified examples from identified flags — often linked to documented historical events or naval service. The Flaggenbuch editions represent official specifications issued to military and maritime authorities, while FOTW serves as an open comparative database for modern and historic patterns.

Together, these materials allow cross-referencing between textile evidence, manufacturer data, and published standards — forming the foundation of the FlagGeek documentation framework.

Manufacturer Labels

Bonner Fahnenfabrik

Bonner Fahnenfabrik was officially registered as a GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) on 6 December 1944, although the term “GmbH” only began appearing on labels around 1946. The list below outlines the main label variants and address formats used by the company, helping to date production periods from the pre-war era to the present day.

• 1930s–1945: “Bonner Fahnenfabrik, Reindorfer Str. 224, Bonn a/Rh.” – pre-war and wartime woven labels.
• 1946–1968: “Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 334, Bonn” – early post-war cotton or linen labels.
• 1962–1971: Transitional phase using both “Postfach 334” and “5300 Bonn 1”.
• 1970s–1980s: “BOFA – Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 1280, 5300 Bonn 1” – printed nylon/polyester era.
• 1990s–2011: “BOFA GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224, D-53111 Bonn” – modern woven labels with 5-digit postal code.
• 2012–2018: “BOFA-Doublet GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224, Bonn” – after merger with Doublet Group.
• 2019–present: “BOFA-Doublet GmbH, Meysstr. 22–24, 53773 Hennef (Sieg)” – current label style.

Production Date Codes:
From approximately 1961 onward, Bonner Fahnenfabrik began adding production batch markings on the hoist edge of flags. These consist of two digits separated by a slash, indicating the month and year of manufacture (for example, 4/66 = April 1966).
The marking is usually printed or stamped near the size and type line on cotton or early synthetic flags. This system continued through the 1970s and provides an excellent way to date Bonner-made signal flags and naval ensigns. The example below (highlighted in blue boxes) illustrates this pattern clearly.

Example of Bonner Fahnenfabrik date codes showing month/year markings (e.g. 1/66, 9/67, 12/69).
Reference: multi-board.com forum, page 46

Bonner Label Gallery

The year ranges shown are based on verified examples found on documented flags and cross-checked with historical company data. They indicate observed usage periods, not guaranteed start or end years. Individual labels may have remained in use for shorter or longer spans depending on production batches and material availability. This archive is continuously updated as new verified evidence becomes available.

Used circa 1925 (pre-1930). Early Reindorfer address format; woven type.

Used 1933–1940. Seen on Alter Art Kriegsflagge (Kriegsmarine pattern); woven.

Used 1940–1945. Wartime series; Reindorfer address; woven/printed variants exist.

Used before 1945; possibly continued post-war on leftover stock. Seen on NS banner.

Used 1955–1965. “Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 334, Bonn”. Cotton/linen labels.

Used 1962–1965. Transitional period (Postfach 334; early 4-digit PLZ era starting 1962).

Used 1966. Often carries month/year production code (e.g., 4/66) near size/type line.

Used 1971. “5300 Bonn 1” appears; BOFA branding begins to standardise.

Used 1974. BOFA printed label; nylon/polyester era; common on signal flags.

Used 1976–1979. “BOFA – Postfach 1280, 5300 Bonn 1.

Used 1984–1996. “BOFA GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224”. 5-digit PLZ (D-53111) from 1993.

Year unknown. Bonner/BOFA label; requires cross-check against address and PLZ format.

Maybe 1970s (unconfirmed). Likely BOFA era; verify against material and stitching.

Maybe 1970s (unconfirmed). Variant label; needs PLZ/address correlation.

Annin & Defiance Label Gallery

Documented examples of Annin & Defiance manufacturer labels observed on U.S. flags between the early 1930s and the 1970s. Year references below indicate the dates of the flags on which these labels were found and verified; they do not necessarily represent the full production range of each label style.
Between mid-1942 and early-1943, U.S. flag manufacturers temporarily replaced the traditional brass grommets with steel or zinc types due to wartime brass shortages. This short-lived material change provides a valuable dating clue for mid-war label variants. The gallery is continuously updated as new verified examples are discovered.

Annin label seen on 48-star flag from 1924.

Used before 1946 – possibly mid-1930s (Clarence Rungee collection).

Defiance label seen on flags dating 1942–1943 (zinc grommets, professional assessment).

Defiance label seen on 1943 flag.

Defiance label seen on 1944 flag.

Defiance label seen on flags dating 1942–1943 (zinc grommets); also on 1944–1945 examples.

Defiance label used before 1959 on 48-star flags.

Alternate Defiance label variant used before 1959 on 48-star flags.

Annin “Nylanin” label from the 1970s.

Reference Library & Catalogues

Flag Catalog Archives

A dedicated archive of original flag catalogues from historic manufacturers such as Bonner, Annin, and others is being compiled and presented here in scanned PDF format. These catalogues provide valuable reference for historical flag sizes, fabric types, pricing, and production ranges. This archive will expand continuously as more verified materials are digitized and cross-referenced.

Vaterländische Fahnenfabrik Köln (1904)

Imperial-era catalogue from Köln featuring early Kaiserflagge, Kaiserstandarte, naval ensigns and national symbols — a rare pre-WWI German flag reference.

View PDF

Fahnenfabrik Bernhard Richter (1927)

Early interwar Köln am Rhein catalogue featuring association, company, and national flags — one of the oldest known German commercial flag references.

View PDF

Vaterländische Fahnenfabrik (1928)

Partial 1928 catalogue from Vaterländische Fahnenfabrik, Cöln, illustrating organizational and patriotic flag production during the late Weimar period.

View PDF

Flaggenbuch Editions

• Flaggenbuch 1893 — Imperial naval swallowtails with open wedges. collections.thulb.uni-jena.de
• Flaggenbuch 1905 der Kaiserlichen Marine (Jörg M. Karaschewski, ISBN 978-3-7460-3216-0) — Imperial Navy manual covering national and naval ensigns of all major powers. Updated through three supplements (1909, 1912, 1913), reflecting the complete wartime state during WWI.
• Flaggenbuch 1926 (Reichswehrministerium Marineleitung) — wide swallowtail depictions. digi-hub.de (fullscreen) | digi-hub.de (image)
• Flaggenbuch 1939 — Kriegsmarine edition, 1 Dec 1939, swallowtail references. sbc.org.pl

External References

For comparative flag data and international specifications, visit:
FOTW – Flags of the World
Loeser.us – Historical Flags Archive
Wehrmacht-Awards – Who Made the Flags?
Zaricor Flag Collection

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© 2025 FlagGeek / Kenny Ytrup – Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Published 2 Jun 2025 · Updated 10 Nov 2025
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