Inspired by the vintage departure boards found in train stations and airports, Oat Foundry reimagines Split Flap as custom installations for brands. Our Split Flaps are sometimes compared to Vestaboard Split Flaps, screens, and simulations, despite clear differences in size, quality, and legibility.
In our experience, these comparisons often miss the point.
Quick Links (click to view):
- Quick Overview
- Oat Foundry’s Split Flap vs Traditional Solari Boards
- Digital Monitors vs Vestaboard
- Vestaboard Split Flap vs. Oat Foundry
- Vestaboard Note Array vs. Oat Foundry
- FAQs
An Oat Foundry module used to build a custom Split Flap is 6 inches tall, compared to the 2.5-inch module used in Vestaboard’s displays.
Quick Overview
What it Means to “Reimagine” Split Flaps
Oat Foundry is amongst a few brands that currently sell Split Flaps. While Oat Foundry and brands like Vestaboard both reimagine split flaps, the end products are very different. Without being a “replica”, Oat Foundry’s displays are the most similar in terms of scale, size, and quality to the traditional “Solari board” flip boards found in European transit halls.
First, here’s an overview of Oat Foundry vs. the traditional flip board (Solari).
The Oat Foundry Split Flap at the Kendall Center in Boston is a 7 Row x 168 Column custom transit schedule installation.
Oat Foundry
Modules: 6 rows x 24 columns
Dimensions: 40.2″ x 70.4″
Vestaboard
Modules: 6 rows x 22 columns
Dimensions: 22″ x 41.2″
Image from Vestaboard.com
Standard Sheet of Paper
Sheet of Paper
8.5″ x 11″
Oat Foundry Split Flap and Traditional Flip Boards
Oat Foundry Split Flap
Legibility. Highly legible from 100 ft away with ADA-compliant, 2.5-inch font
Built to last for decades. Our in-house display just hit 50 million rotations (about 250 years of uninterrupted use)
Bespoke installations. Permanent fixtures that become statement walls, supporting wayfinding, communication, and modern branding
An heirloom object. Brands can use our Split Flaps as permanent fixtures, luxury signage, and cultural landmarks
Traditional Flip Boards (Solari)
Custom installations treated as permanent fixtures, similar to wayfinding, communication tools, and urban architecture
A historical object that has been displayed in the Architecture & Design collection at the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art)
Vestaboard’s Familiar Pain Points
Vestaboard is a novel addition for home and personal use, serving as a fun imitation of the classic display’s “flipping” motion. Because Vestaboard displays are fixed in size and cannot be customized, they are often more affordable for brand installations. However, what brands save upfront quickly translates into pain points reminiscent of digital monitors and screens.
A 6 x 40 Row Oat Foundry Split Flap serves as a highly legible, ADA-compliant menu at Buck & Rider in Arizona.
Digital Monitors and Vestaboard
They’re More Alike Than You’d Think
Digital Monitors & Signage
Pain Points
Screens are infamous for causing eye strain due to screen glare, limited viewing angles, and small text size
Digital signage and screens are becoming premium “e-waste,” designed for affordability, rather than sustainability or longevity, and difficult to dispose of in an eco-friendly way
Screens aren’t durable, and typically swapped out every few years due to broken pixels, scratches, and degrading hardware.
Vestaboard
Pain Points
Vestaboards are hard to read. When you’re in front of an actual display, you can see that the boards are only legible from a few feet away
Although it has an analog interface, Vestaboard has the same shelf life as digital. The plastic boards are designed for affordability, rather than longevity
Behind the frame, Vestaboard has fragile plastic gears running the mechanics, each one no larger than a quarter.
Oat Foundry’s Split Flap vs Vestaboard
Choose Vestaboard if…
You’re looking for a novel, decorative message board for your home.
Choose Oat Foundry if…
Your brand is looking to install signage or a display that becomes part of the brand, architecture, and customer experience.
If you’re comparing price tags, you’re likely to jump on Vestaboard’s waiting list.
If you’re designing a brand experience, you’re evaluating Oat Foundry.
EXPLORE SPLIT FLAP
A 5 x 32 Row Oat Foundry Split Flap in KitKat Red serves as kinetic retail signage.
High-Level Comparison
Classic Vestaboard and Oat Foundry
Classic Vestaboard
Vestaboard
Great for home offices, shared family spaces, close sight lines (you need to get up close to read the display)
Used for residential or personal messaging
Update from tablet or phone
Priced for consumers at $1k–$4k
No customizations or branding, shipped as-is
Made in China, shipped to distributor to fulfill waiting lists
Custom Split Flaps
Oat Foundry
Great for offices, lobbies, schools, stadiums, restaurants, bars, retail, and transit hubs
Used for brand messaging in commercial and public spaces
Update from tablet or phone, make it interactive with Algorithm
Priced as custom installations, starts at $15k
Custom colors, fonts, flaps, symbols, logo, 100+ sizes
Made in Philadelphia, shipped directly to you
What It Means to be Truly Mechanical
Ever wonder what makes a Split Flap tick? Behind the frame, Split Flaps rely on robust mechanics to reliably run. At Oat Foundry, our truly mechanical Split Flaps run on fully electric gears. Made with materials such as copper wire coils and metal bearings, the parts that make our Split Flaps run are securely housed in a metal frame. Vestaboard runs on plastic gears no bigger than a quarter.
EXPLORE SPLIT FLAP
Our team cracked open a Vestaboard to directly compare the gears. The top photo shows Oat Foundry gears, with the second showing Vestaboard gears.
High-Level Comparison
New Vestaboard Note Array and Oat Foundry
Note Array
Vestaboard
Scaled by stacking classic Vestaboard “units”
Frame and modules made from plastic and aluminum with plastic gears
Uses small tiles, 1” Text Height, 2.68” Module Height
Ongoing Vestaboard+ subscription fee to unlock a majority of their scheduling and third-party integrations
1-2 Year Limited Warranty for Parts and Labor
Distributed from overseas warehouse after a waiting period
Support and troubleshooting from customer support reps
Custom Installations
Oat Foundry
Scaled up by module for a custom fit
Frame and modules made from metal with fully electrical gears
Uses large flaps, 2.5” ADA-Compliant Text Height, 6” Module Height
Free lifetime access to Oat Foundry’s Portal for content scheduling, curate project-specific integrations, and secure API access
5-Year Limited Warranty Included
Transparent build process and secure shipping times
Support and troubleshooting from in-house engineers and Jon
What It Means to be Tested
Ever wonder how long a Split Flap could run? We have a Split Flap in our Philadelphia workshop that has run continuously for the equivalent of 50 million rotations, which is equivalent to 250 years of simulated use. Our pressure-tested board is one of the best stops on our shop tour!
Check out this video in which our Senior Sales Representative, Colleen, counts down to the 50 millionth rotation live.
Oat Foundry vs Vestaboard
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some commonly asked questions about our installations and Vestaboard’s displays.
What is a Vestaboard?
We define Vestaboard’s consumer signage as a message board that comes ready to use. The display mimics the same fun rotations as a classic Split Flap, and the purchasing process is similar to buying and installing a monitor or digital screen (though there’s often a waitlist).
What are Vestaboards used for?
With around 100 characters per message, Vestaboards are best used for novelty messages between family members and friends.
What is Vestaboard “Note Array”?
Vestaboard made it possible to stack their boards to create larger displays, called the “Note Array”. By stacking their classic “Note”, brands can create a more affordable split-flap reminiscent display.
How much is Vestaboard and Vestaboard Note Array?
As of 2026, Vestaboard consumer signage ranges from $3,000 to $4,000. The smaller-format Note board is available for around $1,000. An optional Vestboard+ subscription provides access to integration and scheduling tools.
The Vestaboard Note Array, which stacks multiple Note displays, can be scoped at around $1k per unit, resulting in large-scale displays priced at around $6k+.
What size is Vestaboard?
A single Vestaboard unit is similar in size and scale to a digital monitor or screen. The text is around 1″ tall, and the module size is just over 2.5 inches. The Note Array uses the same text and module sizes.
How are Vestaboards made?
Vestaboard and the Note Array versions are manufactured and assembled overseas (commonly in China) and then shipped back to the US for distribution.
Grow with Google’s 9 Row by 16 Column Oat Foundry Split Flap.
What is an Oat Foundry Split Flap?
Oat Foundry’s custom Split Flap installations are true mechanical systems. As the closest to the traditional “Solari” boards found in train stations and airports, our boards are redesigned for modern use. We offer Split Flaps with text, images, or color flaps.
What are Oat Foundry Split Flaps used for?
Similar to the classic Solari boards, Oat Foundry installations are designed for public-facing environments such as offices, hotels, bars and restaurants, universities, stadiums, flagship retail stores, and enterprise cafes. Serving as a signature focal point, our boards are engineered for long-distance legibility (up to 100 ft away) with ADA-compliant font.
How much are Oat Foundry’s Split Flaps?
Our Split Flap display starts at $15,000 and scales up with size and customization. Built to order for a specific space, our custom installations are priced in a similar range to feature walls, built-in millwork, and commercial-grade appliances and equipment.
What size are Oat Foundry Split Flaps?
Our displays scale from a single module to fit their designated space. One of our largest, at the Kendall Center in Cambridge, is 7 rows x 168 columns. Our 21-row x 40-column Nespresso installation has 42,000 flaps and displays large-scale logos, artwork, and creative prompts.
How are Oat Foundry Split Flaps made?
Our displays are built by hand in our Philadelphia workshop. Learn more about the process.
What is Portal?
Portal is Oat Foundry’s content management system. Included with every installation for free (no subscriptions, ever), Portal offers a content library, scheduling tools, 32 board transition styles, API connectivity, and support for multiple users. The enterprise-level control our tech offers is perfect for modern networks such as campus systems, hospitality environments, and multi-location commercial deployments.
EXPLORE SPLIT FLAP
Explore Our Custom Split Flaps
Request a quote to learn more about our custom Split Flaps.
The University of Arizona made a Statement Wall using a 5 Row by 7 Column Oat Foundry Picture Flap.
Content and research on this page were curated by Oat Foundry. Some of the brand photography used in this comparison was sourced from Google Images and from consumer signage sites.