In 1897, the Lingo family business was started by John E. Lingo. The founder was a tug boat captain on the Delaware River and started the business becoming one of 27 spar yards located along the river. He began making ship masts and spars for damaged sailing ships that came up the river looking for repair. Along with masts and spars, he began making wooden flagpoles as well. John passed away in 1921 at the age of 67. His son Archibald took over the business at that time and started producing steel flagpoles shortly thereafter. The business quickly became one of the largest manufacturers of steel flagpoles in the country. In 1930, Lingo produced and distributed the first ever flagpole only catalog. Titled “Architects’ Guide and General Catalogue of Flagpoles”, the publication contained standard flagpole sizing, design details, and detailed descriptions of all flagpole parts. The catalog became the most widely used flagpole reference by architects and designers.
Archibald died in 1941 at the age of 58 and was replaced by his son John E. Lingo. John continued to produce steel flagpoles throughout the 40’s but in 1950 he produced the first ever tapered aluminum flagpole. Unlike steel, aluminum does not rust and does not have to be painted. Aluminum quickly became the material of choice for flagpoles and is the most popular flagpole produced today.
Acme/Lingo had several other “firsts” along the way. The first tapered stainless steel flagpole, the first tapered steel flagpole made from pipe and the first bronze flagpole made from heavy wall tubing were all pioneered and developed by Acme/Lingo.
John E. Lingo passed in 1970 at the age of 64 at which time the 4th generation, John E. Lingo, Jr. (Jack) took over the business. In the early 80’s, Jack was highly involved in the development of what was to become the ANSI/NAAMM Guide Specification for the Design of Metal Flagpoles. This standard was the first ever, industry agreed upon, guide for designing metal flagpoles. The business continued to produce metal flagpoles for many prominent installations worldwide under his watch.
Jack’s son, Jeff, began working in the business in 1982 and is the 5th generation Lingo in the flagpole business. In 2004, John Jr. retired and the Camden location was sold. Jeff opened a new location in Southampton, NJ and continues offer aluminum flagpoles to 80’ tall, steel flagpoles over 80’, stainless steel flagpoles and a new “Automatic” flagpole that raises and lowers the flagpole automatically at sunrise and sunset.
In December of 2020, Acme/Lingo Flagpoles acquired A-Cos-Con, Inc, a flagpole winch manufacturer based in Bethel, CT. A-Cos-Con was a vendor of Acme/Lingo for over 15 years and produced high quality, POSI-LOK flagpole winches and flagpole lights. This acquisition has allowed Acme/Lingo to better serve its customers and the industry as a whole.
Through five generations, Acme/Lingo continues to lead the way in design and innovation.
business was started
by John E. Lingo
producing steel
flagpoles.
tapered aluminum flagpole
(Jack) took over
the business
began working
in the business
location in
Southampton, NJ
Winch Company
Office Contacts
We appreciate your interest in the products and services offered by Acme Lingo. We are pleased to provide two quick quote options for your project. Feel free to complete our online form on the left with as much detail as possible. The more information you enter, the better informed we can be during our follow-up conversation. Or to have a conversation right away, you can reach us direct by telephone via 1-800-260-1897. Thank you.
Southampton, NJ