FLAGGEEKHistorical flag research & documentation

Manufacturer identification

Manufacturer Labels

Manufacturer labels, postal addresses and stamped date codes provide evidence for identifying and dating historical flags. These Bonner, Annin and Defiance examples record observed usage; label styles must be read alongside construction, materials and provenance.

Bonner Fahnenfabrik

Bonner Fahnenfabrik was officially registered as a GmbH (Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung) on 6 December 1944, although the term “GmbH” only began appearing on labels around 1946. The list below outlines the main label variants and address formats used by the company, helping to date production periods from the pre-war era to the present day.

  • 1930s–1945: “Bonner Fahnenfabrik, Reindorfer Str. 224, Bonn a/Rh.” – pre-war and wartime woven labels.
  • 1946–1968: “Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 334, Bonn” – early post-war cotton or linen labels.
  • 1962–1971: Transitional phase using both “Postfach 334” and “5300 Bonn 1”.
  • 1970s–1980s: “BOFA – Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 1280, 5300 Bonn 1” – printed nylon/polyester era.
  • 1990s–2011: “BOFA GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224, D-53111 Bonn” – modern woven labels with 5-digit postal code.
  • 2012–2018: “BOFA-Doublet GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224, Bonn” – after merger with Doublet Group.
  • 2019–present: “BOFA-Doublet GmbH, Meysstr. 22–24, 53773 Hennef (Sieg)” – current label style.

German Postal Codes (PLZ) and Flag Dating:
German flag manufacturers frequently include their postal address on sewn labels or hoist markings, often including a postal code when applicable. As a result, postal codes can be taken into consideration when establishing a chronological framework for flag production. This practice is well documented among manufacturers such as Bonner Fahnenfabrik.

In Germany, postal codes (PLZ) were introduced relatively late and can therefore serve as a useful dating indicator when examining flags, labels, stamps, or printed manufacturer markings. However, postal codes must not be confused with Postfach (post office box) numbers, which are not postal codes and carry no inherent chronological meaning by themselves.

Postal code timeline:
• Before 1962: No numeric postal codes in West Germany; addresses typically list city name and, optionally, a Postfach number.
• 1962: Introduction of four-digit postal codes in West Germany.
• 1965: East Germany introduces its own, incompatible four-digit system.
• 1990–1993: Temporary use of W- (West) and O- (East) prefixes after reunification.
• 1 July 1993: Introduction of the unified five-digit postal code system used today.

Practical application for flag dating:
When a flag or manufacturer label includes a four- or five-digit postal code, this information can be used as a terminus post quem for production or documented use. Conversely, an address listing only a city name and Postfach (with no PLZ) remains fully consistent with pre-1962 West German manufacturing and export practice, and should not be misinterpreted as evidence of a later production date.

Production Date Codes:
From approximately 1961 onward, Bonner Fahnenfabrik began adding production batch markings on the hoist edge of flags. These consist of two digits separated by a slash, indicating the month and year of manufacture (for example, 4/66 = April 1966).
The marking is usually printed or stamped near the size and type line on cotton or early synthetic flags. This system continued through the 1970s and provides an excellent way to date Bonner-made signal flags and naval ensigns. The example below (highlighted in blue boxes) illustrates this pattern clearly.

Bonner Fahnenfabrik production date codes showing month/year markings (e.g. 1/66, 9/67, 12/69)
Example of Bonner Fahnenfabrik date codes showing month/year markings (e.g. 1/66, 9/67, 12/69).
Reference: multi-board.com forum, page 46

The year ranges shown are based on verified examples found on documented flags and cross-checked with historical company data. They indicate observed usage periods, not guaranteed start or end years. Individual labels may have remained in use for shorter or longer spans depending on production batches and material availability. This archive is continuously updated as new verified evidence becomes available.

Bonner label used circa 1925 (pre-1930), early Reindorfer address format
Used circa 1925 (pre-1930). Early Reindorfer address format; woven type.
Bonner label used 1933–1940, seen on Alter Art Kriegsflagge
Used 1933–1940. Seen on Alter Art Kriegsflagge (Kriegsmarine pattern); woven.
Bonner label used 1940–1945 (wartime series)
Used 1940–1945. Wartime series; Reindorfer address; woven/printed variants exist.
Bonner label used before 1945; possibly post-war carryover; seen on NS banner
Used before 1945; possibly continued post-war on leftover stock. Seen on NS banner.
Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH label used 1955–1965 (Postfach 334)
Used 1955–1965. “Bonner Fahnenfabrik GmbH, Postfach 334, Bonn”. Cotton/linen labels.
Transitional Bonner label 1962–1965 (Postfach 334; early PLZ era)
Used 1962–1965. Transitional period (Postfach 334; early 4-digit PLZ era starting 1962).
Bonner label 1966 with month/year production code
Used 1966. Often carries month/year production code (e.g., 4/66) near size/type line.
Bonner/BOFA label 1971; 5300 Bonn 1 appears
Used 1971. “5300 Bonn 1” appears; BOFA branding begins to standardise.
BOFA label 1974; printed nylon/polyester era
Used 1974. BOFA printed label; nylon/polyester era; common on signal flags.
BOFA label 1976–1979 (Postfach 1280, 5300 Bonn 1)
Used 1976–1980. “BOFA – Postfach 1280, 5300 Bonn 1.
BOFA GmbH label 1984–1996; Reindorfer Str. 224; 5-digit PLZ appears in 1993
Used 1984–1996. “BOFA GmbH, Reindorfer Str. 224”. 5-digit PLZ (D-53111) from 1993.
Bonner/BOFA label – year unknown
Year unknown. Bonner/BOFA label; requires cross-check against address and PLZ format.
Maybe 1970s – unconfirmed (BOFA era)
Maybe 1970s (unconfirmed). Likely BOFA era; verify against material and stitching.
Maybe 1970s – unconfirmed (variant)
Maybe 1970s (unconfirmed). Variant label; needs PLZ/address correlation.


Documented examples of Annin & Defiance manufacturer labels observed on U.S. flags between the early 1930s and the 1970s. Year references below indicate the dates of the flags on which these labels were found and verified; they do not necessarily represent the full production range of each label style.
Between mid-1942 and early-1943, U.S. flag manufacturers temporarily replaced the traditional brass grommets with steel or zinc types due to wartime brass shortages. This short-lived material change provides a valuable dating clue for mid-war label variants. The gallery is continuously updated as new verified examples are discovered.

Annin label seen on 48-star flag from 1924
Annin label seen on 48-star flag from 1924.
Annin label used before 1946 – possibly mid-1930s (Clarence Rungee collection)
Used before 1946 – possibly mid-1930s (Clarence Rungee collection).
Defiance label seen on flags dating 1942–1943 based on zinc grommets (professional assessment)
Defiance label seen on flags dating 1942–1943 (zinc grommets, professional assessment).
Defiance label seen on 1943 flag
Defiance label seen on 1943 flag.
Defiance label seen on 1944 flag
Defiance label seen on 1944 and very early UN flag (late 1940's)
Defiance label used 1942–1945 on zinc-grommet flags
Defiance label seen on flags dating 1942–1943 (zinc grommets); also on 1944–1945 examples.
Defiance label used before 1959 on 48-star flags
Defiance label used before 1959 on 48-star flags.
Alternate Defiance label variant used before 1959
Alternate Defiance label variant used before 1959 on 48-star flags.
Annin Nylanin label from the 1970s
Annin “Nylanin” label from the 1970s.

Source material from the migrated FlagGeek Resources page.

© 2025 FlagGeek / Kenny Ytrup – Licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0.
Published · Updated
Non-commercial sharing with attribution permitted. Commercial use requires permission.
Open detail image ↗