Digest>Archives> December 2006

Collecting Nautical Antiques

Flags and Pennants.

By Jim Claflin

Comments?    


You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<

Once in a great while a Lighthouse Service pennant is found or comes on the market, which brings to mind questions about what flags and pennants were flown by the Lighthouse Service.

You can see an enlarged version of this picture by clicking here.
>> Click to enlarge <<

The most commonly recognized lighthouse pennant is the triangular shaped white with red border, with the blue silhouette of a lighthouse in the center. Some sources indicate that this pennant was adopted in 1869. However we find no mention of such a pennant in Lighthouse Service records until 1888. The Annual report of the Light House Board for the fiscal year 1888 contains a full color front is illustration of the “new” pennant for use on vessels in the Light-House Service. The text indicates that the pennant was adopted at the meeting of the Light-House Board on September 3, 1888. The dimensions given are (hoist) 5 feet 6 inches, and (fly) 8 feet 6 inches.

Looking in the Rules and Regulations for the period, they indicate when such pennants were to be flown: “Whenever an officer of the Light-House Establishment or a member of the Light-House Board is afloat in a vessel of the Light-House Establishment, the light-house flag (pennant) shall be shown at the mainmast head….Light-vessels shall display colors and light-house flag to all passing vessels of war and vessels of the Light-House Service.

No mention is found in the regulations requiring keepers at shore stations to display the light-house pennant or the national colors (American flag). It appears that the pennant was only used on vessels of the period. Indeed, when one looks at early photos of light stations few flagpoles are seen, except possibly at an especially prominent station. It appears that it was not until the Coast Guard era following 1939 that we begin to see the American flag flying regularly at stations. We have found, however, some photos of early station keepers in the station launch or boat, with a smaller lighthouse pennant flying from the stern.

Regarding the national ensign or colors, the regulations continue that “All light-house vessels under way shall display the national ensign at the peak of the flagstaff when in sight of other vessels, towns and stations. When lying at depots, or at anchor near the same, no colors shall be shown….” Exceptions to the rule would be on Sundays and national holidays when the colors were always shown, weather permitting. Colors were to be hoisted up at 8 a.m. and hauled down at sunset. At such times persons present in the Light-House Service were to salute by facing the colors and removing their hats.

Three other pennants were used in the Lighthouse Service. When the Lighthouse Inspector was on board the tender, the Inspector’s pennant was flown in addition to the Service pennant. The Inspector’s pennant was identical to the Service pennant except that the border was in blue.

When the District Superintendent was on board, his rectangular pennant was flown. This pennant was similar to the others, except was rectangular, with blue border and blue lighthouse silhouette. Likewise, when the Commissioner of Lighthouses was on board, he flew a rectangular standard, blue with white triangle, bearing the blue lighthouse silhouette.

Rarely do we find these original pennants, but occasionally we do find the national ensign with Lighthouse Service markings on the hem indicating that it was flown by the Lighthouse Service. Flags were marked in two different ways. Stamped on the hem in original black vegetable die was one of two labels: “GENERAL DEPOT, THOMPKINSVILLE, N.Y.”, or the emblem of the Lighthouse Service, which consists of a 1” circle, inside of which is the image of a lighthouse, flanked by the letters “U” & “S”. Both markings were done at the Staten Island Light-House Depot, from which they were distributed to the vessels or some depots or stations.

Some time ago we found a number of such marked flags at an estate on Staten Island. To this day, at antique shows, we try always to check the hems of early flags - you never know what you might find.

Like our column? Have suggestions for future subjects?

Please send in your suggestions and questions, or a photograph

of an object that you need help dating or identifying. We will include

the answer to a selected inquiry as a regular feature each month in our column.

Jim Claflin is a recognized authority on antiques of the

U.S. Lighthouse Service, Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service and early Coast Guard. In addition to authoring and publishing a number of books on the subject, Jim is the owner of Kenrick A Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques. In business since 1956, he has specialized in antiques of this type since the early 1990s. He may be contacted by writing to him at 1227 Pleasant Street, Worcester, MA 01602, or by calling 508-792-6627. You may also contact him by email: jclaflin@lighthouseantiques.net or visit his web site at www.lighthouseantiques.net

This story appeared in the December 2006 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

All contents copyright © 1995-2024 by Lighthouse Digest®, Inc. No story, photograph, or any other item on this website may be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of Lighthouse Digest. For contact information, click here.


Subscribe
to Lighthouse Digest



USLHS Marker Fund


Lighthouse History
Research Institute


Shop Online












Subscribe   Contact Us   About Us   Copyright Foghorn Publishing, 1994- 2024   Lighthouse Facts     Lighthouse History