Flag Care

[Reichpaper]

Is it alright if your flag has a bit or a musty warehouse smell? I don't want to seal it up in archival storage tubes if it may have something damaging it over time.

[bodes]

Is it alright if your flag has a bit or a musty warehouse smell? I don't want to seal it up in archival storage tubes if it may have something damaging it over time.

I would say if it's just a smell and doesn't exhibit mold, you could store it.....However to be safe, you may want to place outside until the odor dissipates......Just don't upset the neighbors......Bodes

[oldflagswanted]

about smelly old flags ???

Is it alright if your flag has a bit or a musty
warehouse smell? ...

Hello Rp:
Decades ago when I first started collecting
old flags, I was told that a certain pungent
smell was caused by bunker oil smoke from
at sea service or ship board locker storage -
a desirable odor to retail vs. being a "musty
warehouse smell ". Which one do you have?
OFW
(below) Ship smoke at sea with flags flying.

[tdurbinmas]

Flag odors

I've also acquired many old flags with smells or odors. There is a certain wonderful and characteristic odor of most old flags. This varies a little based on the type of material. Silk and rayon flags have a very distinct and almost sweet smell. Wool and nyl-wool flags have a characteristic odor as well. Other flags I've found that weren't well stored have had strong odors of cigarette smoke or musty, modly, mildewy smells. A few have had very strong odors. You run the risk of damaging these old flags if you clean them, so if I get one that smells really bad I usually do what you proposed....air it out. This is true for all the silk, rayon and wool flags & guidons. I have washed a handful of nylon flags I've bought that wouldn't air out with success. Some of the older ones just don't seem to lose their odor. These problem flags get bagged individually and stored in a separate tote so the smells don't permeate the "clean" ones.

If anyone else has suggestions please share!

Happy new year 2018,

Thom

[Reichpaper]

After letting it air for a few days, it no longer has a small

[Reichpaper]

I've opted to put my flags in an archival roll storage, though, I am not happy about the inability to display at this point. Is anyone familiar with display frame options? Preferably archival.

[oldflagswanted]

flag collecting concerns ???

I've opted to put my flags in an archival roll storage,
though, I am not happy about the inability to display
at this point. Is anyone familiar with display frame
options? Preferably archival.

Rp:
IMO storage and display method depends
greatly on a flag's material - silk flags being
those most susceptible to negative folding
damage, and needing +$ framing support.
Not so with cotton & wool, with all needing
sun, bug, and moisture mold protection. But
not concerns with wood & metal standards.
OFW

[Reichpaper]

I have the sunlight and bug thing covered. As for mold, I am not sure. I live in Pennsylvania. The house is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer. The room the flags are in does not get the full effect of both as the room is colder in the winter and hotter in summer than other rooms. Nothing else has molded in the house so far.

[bodes]

I have the sunlight and bug thing covered. As for mold, I am not sure. I live in Pennsylvania. The house is heated in winter and air conditioned in summer. The room the flags are in does not get the full effect of both as the room is colder in the winter and hotter in summer than other rooms. Nothing else has molded in the house so far.

As long as temperature changes are gradual and not extreme, moisture (and hence mildew) shouldn't be a problem....Now if the item were outside in the cold and than suddenly warmed, condensation could occur....Bodes

[Reichpaper]

One last question, I hope I am not overthinking this. I'm going to roll; storage the RDF and RKF with a no acidic tissue layer in between. I ended up ordering buffered tissue, which is not good for wool items but fine for cotton. Would there be any traces of wool in my flags? Or are they pretty much cotton?

[oldflagswanted]

Cotton or Wool ???

... Would there be any traces of wool in my flags?
Or are they pretty much cotton?

In my experience cotton has a close weave
and a smooth feel, where wool bunting is
the opposite, having a wider weave and a
more coarse feel. See this online info link.
OFW

[tdurbinmas]

Storage

Some of my more special flags are stored rolled, wrapped in unbleached cotton muslin. I purchase pieces large enough to lay the flag on and then fold over giving protection on both sides. This will help protect the flag from unwanted wrinkles and creases. For added protection you can place the roll into a cardboard tube, plastic sleeve or into a drawer.

One last question, I hope I am not overthinking this. I'm going to roll; storage the RDF and RKF with a no acidic tissue layer in between. I ended up ordering buffered tissue, which is not good for wool items but fine for cotton. Would there be any traces of wool in my flags? Or are they pretty much cotton?

[Reichpaper]

I may have went overboard. I'm not sure how good of an idea it is to use the roller, but there was lint and debris to remove.

[Reichpaper]

more pics...

[Reichpaper]

more...