Sleeve Liners - A few of the flags, in particular one sample that had seen significant deterioration, showed their sleeve liners and I was able to inspect these for material thickness, color of thread and method of sewing. The canvas liner had the thickness of what I would call #10 wt cotton canvas (about the wt of a shelter half). It was not twilled but a plain coarse canvas that was used on those flags inspected.
 
Thread colors - We found every color in the rainbow present from red, blue, white, logwood, black and what looked like brown. It appears that any and every color was used irregardless of where. No effort was made to match up color but the darker colors seemed to dominate the mix. Thread was very fine in all cases observed.

 

Cords and Tassels - Those samples observed were in most cases found to be in exceptional condition with a few very haggard looking. All tassels were of the regulation blue and white color and had the wooden filler with silk thread wound over each wooden insert. The fringe on the bottom of each tassel was alternating sections of dark blue and white (per regulations 1861)
 
Flag Staffs - The flag staff's inspected were uniformally of 1.25 inch diameter and appeared to be made of ash. Most were light color "natural" and some stained dark reddish brown in color. Some of the staff's were in 2 pieces with a brass sleeve present in one case. Finial tops were missing for the most part and finial base was threaded. Finial tops present in the collection were of the "spearpoint" pattern and made of solid brass.
Interestingly, some of the staffs were shortened significantly shorter than the 9' 10" length that regulations call for. I understand that these "cut off" sections were made into wooden chips (like a poker chip) and given to veterans as momento's at post war reunions. This shortening also allowed the flags to be placed into cabinets at the State Capital in St. Paul, where some remain today wrapped around their flag staffs awaiting conservation efforts.

Silk Ties - Not all flags we observed were sleeved. A few of the Regimental Colors were fixed with ties along one edge. This varied from 4 to 6 and uniformly were doubled over pieces of dark blue silk that was pleated to 3 thickness's  (actually 6 layers of silk) at the flag junction. The appearance was that of a fan with the material bunched at the flag and a flat piece about 3 inches wide at the end. Ties were of varying lengths but commonly about 10 inches in length. Silk appeared to be same thickness and color as that of the flag.