[csaanv]

Hi Robin,
I guess it is possible that Aninn has adopted a cheaper cotton fabric but on their website they even admit:

"Bulldog cotton U.S. flags are made in the U.S.A. from an extra-strong cotton weave designs to withstand the elements."

It seems that they kept their cotton product line intact and just renamed it "Bulldog" from the Dettra.

[coasterville]

I fly the Annin Nyl-Glo for my official flag. How much of an upgrade is the signature series? What's different about it?

[Robin Hickman]

.

LARGER, Shinier Stars and a few other things. More expensive, of course!

To prevent this posting from getting snagged by the "Posting Gremlins" ( ), I'm going to post it WITHOUT the link to the "Signature" page on the Annin.com website. THEN, within the five minute deadline, click the "EDIT" button to re-open it and add the Signature link.

LINK : http://annin.com/products/cat_usflag_signature.asp


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA
.

[coasterville]

Thanks for the link. So larger, brighter stars is the big difference. I think even the NYL-GLO has the colorfast and 4 rows of stiching.

Interestingly I think I have an Annin flag not in the current llineup if you look at the page where they compare their different lines of US flags. It has the Annin imprint on the flag, but instead of Nyl-Glo or Sun-Glo it just says NYLON, the other big difference is that it doesn't have color-matched thread, it's all white thread throughout for the stitchwork. It came from one of thoe big box stores in a plastic blisterpack instead of the usual box they come in at the local flag dealer.

Also Robin - I see you think you found a way around the "Flag for Moderation" detector, I was wondering why this forum didn't appear to have an Edit button on your own posts. Hadn't heard of the 5 minute window to edit on a forum before.

[Robin Hickman]

.
Hi, Dave !


In bringing up the "Signature Series", my thought was to show that Annin does sometimes create different "grades" of flags.

Maybe they did the same thing with the cotton flags? Was it the "grade" of cotton used, the "weave", the "thread count", or what? Did they used to make their own cotton bunting and then out-sourced it, or vice-versa? Maybe it was just a simple corner-cutting cost reduction of using 25% less cotton in their bunting, or something?

Like I said, I don't really know!


QUOTE (Coasterville) : "I think I have an Annin flag not in the current llineup..... It has the Annin imprint on the flag, but instead of Nyl-Glo or Sun-Glo it just says NYLON..... It came from one of thoe big box stores in a plastic blisterpack instead of the usual box they come in at the local flag dealer."

I have one of those too. I Got it at Wal*Mart in a sealed heavy-duty clear plastic bag with a hook on top. Priced at $23.00. The threads are, for the most part, color-matched, and it does have the Annin color stamp on it. However, it is identified as a NYLON Flag but it does NOT say that it's "SOLARMAX" nylon. Oh, and it has size #1 grommets instead of Nyl-Glo's size #2 grommets.


QUOTE (Coasterville) : "Also Robin - I see you think you found a way around the "Flag for Moderation" detector, I was wondering why this forum didn't appear to have an Edit button on your own posts. Hadn't heard of the 5 minute window to edit on a forum before."

The next time you make a post, after you've posted it, look at it. Along the bottom, in the lower right-hand corner, there should be two buttons. The one on the outside is labeled, "Quote", and it's always there. The one to it's immediate LEFT (inside) is labeled "Edit". YOU are the ONLY one that will be able to see it, and it will only be there for about five minutes or so. I found that out by accident.

I don't know if I've found a way around the "Posting Gremlins", or not. It seems to have worked both times that I've tried it. I tried it because the only thing I could think of that might have alerted the Gremlins, was that I put an "outside" link in the "problematic" post, or it was an outside link AND a price/prices. So, I did a "regular" post, submitted it, and when it posted I immediately re-opened it to insert the link.

I guess the only way to see if putting an outside link and a price into a post is what catches the Gremlin's interest, is to do it.


Which I guess I'll try to do after posting this. I think I'll use the Ruffin site and include the price of one of their flags. It won't necessarily be an endorsement, but more like a TEST!



Robin
.

[Robin Hickman]

.

THIS IS A TEST... IT IS ONLY A TEST !!!


GEE !!!


The Ruffin Flag Company just doubled the price of their "Arizona Gadsden Flag" (AKA : BITE ME) from $2.00 each to $4.00 each!

Don't believe me? GO see for yourself!

http://www.ruffinflagcompany.net/productinfo.aspx?productid=841444

( While this really is a TEST to see if the "Posting Gremlin" will re route this to the moderator - due to the inclusion of an outside link and prices - the Ruffin Flag Co. really DID double the price of the "Arizona Gadsden Flag" !!! )


OKAY! NOW to see if this will be posted WITHOUT having to get moderator approval.

IF it gets posted the regular way (WITHOUT getting re-directed to the Moderator) I will re-open it (EDIT BUTTON) immediately after posting and ADD something to that regard right below this paragraph. IF it gets re-directed, then there will be a BIG gap between this and my name!


EDIT : This entry was posted IMMEDIATELY without being re-directed to the moderator! Oh, Well!!! The "Mystery" is STILL not solved !!!


Robin Hickman
Eugene, Oregon, USA


PS. I forgot to add a picture to this post! Well, maybe it's too late now, but I'll go ahead and do it anyway! BTW : This PS was added AFTER this post was editted the FIRST time. So this is actually the SECOND "EDIT" !!!



.

[coasterville]

Since the group likes photos - I see I have the NYLON close at hand, and I have a new NYL-GLO still in its box. If I get around to it, I'll try to do some comparative photos.

Actually, it looks like I have some:
NYLON on left, NYLGLO on right - you can clearly see a difference in the stars.
In the bottom photo,notice the thread on the red stripe is white on the nylon, but is red on the nyl glo. Also the thread around the edges of the union is white, on a NYLGLO its blue. Other changes are the grommet size as Robin pointed out, and I think the NYLGLO header feels sturdier.

[csaanv]

Thanks for the photos! Love the photos! This is also good information. Since we are discussing different grades of nylon and flags I must comment that Aninn's Signature brand is intriguing with it's bigger stars, etc. Lately I have stayed away from buying commercial US flags as they seem "inferior" to the G-spec flags from Valley Forge (I know, flag snobbery!), which are mandated with big stars and longer fly. However this Signature line looks very appealing.

[coasterville]

That's okay, I think I have a case of flag snobbery myself, I just don't like an all printed US flag. For me the stars and stripes have to be real.

I have a 2008 Annin catalog here, okay its actually the catalog from my local flag shop, which is an Annin dealer. It's the same catalog they had online with no prices, except in the one I got from the flag shop, it had their prices in it.

In their catalog, a 3x5 Signature flag is $42 outdoor style, $75 for indoor style with gold fringe and pole hem.

By contrast, the NYL-GLO equivilant is $39.30 outdoor style, $65.50 for the pole hem and fringe - $55 pole hom and no fringe.

So anyway, there really isn't that big of a price jump (in 2008 price world) between nyl-glo and Signature. Might have to take a look at that.

ETA: At least those are the catalog prices, I think that's the full rack rate if they have to special order something for you, I know I have never paid them anywhere near $39.30 for the nyl-glo...

[csaanv]

I am the same way, I try to purchase flags that are all sewn. They seem to be of better quality.