The origin of the flagpole

Flagpole — a tall pole from which a flag hangs — a pole used to display a flag

A flagpole, flagmast, flagstaff, or staff can be a simple support made of wood or metal.

If it is taller than can be easily reached to raise the flag, a cord is used, looping around a pulley at the top of the pole with the ends tied at the bottom.

The flag is fixed to one lower end of the cord, and is then raised by pulling on the other end. The cord is then tightened and tied to the pole at the bottom.

The pole is usually topped by a flat plate or ball called a “truck” (originally meant to keep a wooden pole from splitting) or a finial in a more complex shape.

Very high flagpoles may require more complex support structures than a simple pole, such as a guyed mast.

Flagpoles have undergone a number of dramatic changes since people started flying flags. Prior to the industrial revolution, flagpoles were made exclusively from wood.

The turn of the century brought more changes to the flagpole industry. Innovation and fabrication introduced new materials and new processes for producing metals in various forms. As early as 1893, steel tubes and the masts from ships were being used as flagpoles.

In the years following the stock market crash of 1929, and during the vast expansion of industry during World War II, items like steel shafts for pile driving and cargo booms on large ships became inspiration for an expanding number of flagpole manufacturers. This type of smooth, tapered steel flagpole dominated the industry for over 20 years.

Aluminum has several distinguishing characteristics which allow it to change at the molecular level, and thus create different products for different applications. The aluminum alloy most commonly used for the manufacture of flagpoles is 6063. The flagpoles utilizing this alloy are extruded pipe or tube.

Today most flagpoles are made of fiberglass plastic.