In Cincinnati, National Flag Co. celebrates 150 years making American flags

Alexander Coolidge
Updated
July Fourth marks the end of 'flag season' for the West End's National Flag Co., a local manufacturer that deals in American and other flags.

July Fourth marks the end of "flag season" for the West End's National Flag Co., a local manufacturer that deals in American and other flags.

In 2019, the small factory with 31 workers produced 500,000 flags.

Factory workers were busy this week turning out the last batches of four-by-six-inch handheld flags for parades and other celebrations.

"The employees get to relax a little bit with an extended weekend," said Artie Schaller III, the company's general manager and the fourth generation to run this family-owned business.

Schaller himself is looking forward to participating in a parade in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky this week. He also enjoys seeing the company's handiwork in local communities nearby.

"It's just great seeing all the flags up in small-town America – St. Bernard, Fairfield," Schaller said.

National Flag is looking forward to the upcoming election cycle, which helps boost business. Schaller said the company does the best when times are good and people feel patriotic.

"Sales are better when people are happy and want to show their pride," Schaller said. They haven't noticed any change in sales under President Trump, he said.

Looking ahead the company, which is celebrating its own 150th birthday this year, will focus on custom flags that it produces year round.

One of a dozen small U.S. flag makers nationwide, National Flag Co. believes it may be the second-oldest.

Donna Barnes stacks sheets of mini American flags at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Barnes has worked at The National Flag Company for 32 years.
Donna Barnes stacks sheets of mini American flags at The National Flag Company in the West End Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Barnes has worked at The National Flag Company for 32 years.

Established in 1869, the company is 22 years younger than New Jersey's Annin Flagmakers, the nation's oldest and largest flagmaker and one of half a dozen larger manufacturers of flags.

The company is already helping produce a monster "93 - Let's Roll" blue banner for a San Diego customer marking the 18th anniversary of the hijacked United Airlines Flight 93 on Sept. 11.

Besides both retail and wholesale business, the company is responsible for the American flags at the top the Carew Tower and U.S. Bank in Downtown as well as the new U.S. and state flags flying above the newly-renovated Cincinnati Museum Center in Queensgate.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: In Cincinnati, National Flag Co. celebrates 150 years making American flags