Body Glove Company History
Body Glove was started by identical twins in Missouri, Bob and Bill Meistrell, who were always interested in the water. Moving to Manhattan Beach in California in 1944, they suddenly got interested in surfing, and were one of the first to put fiberglass on the nose of their surfboards to protect the foam filled plywood boards. Becoming lifeguards and surfing by the lights of their car, they realized how cold the water could be. Finally in 1953, they found the insulation used in the back of refrigerators, neoprene, worked well for first practical wet suits. Bob and Bill borrowed $1800 from their mother and each bought one third of the local sports shop called Dive N' Surf.
Business started slow so the Meistrells were grateful for any extra sales and happily designed and tailored their own brand of wetsuits. In the beginning the wetsuits were named Thermocline.The Meistrells didn't think this was a great name so they hired a marketing consultant, Duke Boyd. Duke asked about the characteristics of the suits and Billy said, "They fit like a glove," so Duke came up with the name Body Glove.
They were among the very first crop of South Bay lifeguards and are part of an elite group of watermen who were inducted to both the surfing and diving halls of fame. The company's headquarters is in Redondo Beach, California.
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