Hey, pennant guys

[bocca001]

Domer and I had a back and forth discussion a few weeks ago about whether or no Keezer ever made football pennants. Specifically, the 49ers pennant below and others in the series. These mini (5 x 12) pennants are very rare, with full-sized examples being crazy rare. Kyle noted that none of these pennants had a Keezer stamp, which, based on what I have seen, is true. I noted that the materials in these pennants (they have a unique spine/tassel material... as seen on the 49ers pennant tassels) are identical to known Keezer pennants.

Then this "American Knitwear" brochure showed up on ebay, which I bought for a few dollars. Domer can tell us more, but apparently this is the same company as Keezer (from Plaistow NH). It's clear that they were selling both football and baseball pennants. Specifically, 5 x 12 pennants, which is the size of my 49ers pennant.

Interestingly, the cartoonish images on these pennants are the same images that IMPKO used on a series of decals (see the decal behind the yellow pennant). Not exactly sure about the connection.

[ooo-ribay]

^^^ those type of brochures are a great help in solving the myriad pennant mysteries.

[Domer05]

Yes, vintage catalogues like this one are huge. So, we now have confirmation that Keezer/American Knitwear made a pennant for all NFL and AFL football teams as of 1964'ish. They also did the same for the original six NHL teams. Moreover, this offering may not have featured a consistent maker's mark identifying their manufacturer as either Keezer or American Knitwear.

I'd like to update my post on Keezer to reflect some of these newly discovered pro football pennants. Can you guys help ID some of the others? Marc's eagle eye already spotted these winners....

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Yes, vintage catalogues like this one are huge. So, we now have confirmation that Keezer/American Knitwear made a pennant for all NFL and AFL football teams as of 1964'ish. They also did the same for the original six NFL teams. Moreover, this offering may not have featured a consistent maker's mark identifying their manufacturer as either Keezer or American Knitwear.

I'd like to update my post on Keezer to reflect some of these newly discovered pro football pennants. Can you guys help ID some of the others? Marc's eagle eye already spotted these winners....

This Bills is Keezer. It's stamped on the back. I initially thought it was 1940s AAFC Bills, but it seems logical now that this is an AFL Buffalo Bills pennant.

[Domer05]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

This Bills is Keezer. It's stamped on the back. I initially thought it was 1940s AAFC Bills, but it seems logical now that this is an AFL Buffalo Bills pennant.

Right on! I knew you'd have some answers for us from the football side of the house.

Is this Bills pennant full size? Marc's 1964 catalogue suggests that Keezer's/American Knitwear's offering was limited solely to 5" x 12" minis. (No mention of any other sizes.)

[bocca001]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Right on! I knew you'd have some answers for us from the football side of the house.

Is this Bills pennant full size? Marc's 1964 catalogue suggests that Keezer's/American Knitwear's offering was limited solely to 5" x 12" minis. (No mention of any other sizes.)

The Oilers I have above is full size, and identical in design to the 5 x 12. As rare as the minis are, the full size ones seem even more rare. I think I've seen the Oilers and the Packers. Fballguy has a pic of a packers fan with one at a Super Bowl. And I think Mark has/had the Steelers. That's all I've seen.

I'd think that the Bills above is older, and not part of the same series. It does not match style wise.

Edited: So, I just found a copy of the Bills mini pennant on Worthpoint. See below. And it has an American Knitwear stamp. So, I guess that answers that for the mini pennants (and their large counterparts). Not sure about Fballguy's Bills pennant.

[murphusa]

The. Choices for a World Series Pennant in Philly are weak

[Fballguy]

Originally Posted by Domer05

Right on! I knew you'd have some answers for us from the football side of the house.

Is this Bills pennant full size? Marc's 1964 catalogue suggests that Keezer's/American Knitwear's offering was limited solely to 5" x 12" minis. (No mention of any other sizes.)

Yes...Full size. I can send exact measurements and a pic of the stamp when I get home this weekend. I didn't compare the stamp to baseball Keezers I have, but at first glance it looks just like the baseball stamp. Not sure if the stamp evolved over the years.

Marc...Your large Oilers and my Bills have the same stiff non-"felt" tassels.

[bocca001]

That strange tassel material (and sometimes spines) seems to suggest that they came from the same era, probably early 1960s.

Gary- the baseball Keezer ones I have been posting (e.g., White Sox) are full size.