April 12 meeting: Bob Meistrell, founder of Bodyglove
Please join us next Monday, April 12 when we have Bob Meistrell, co-founder of Bodyglove,
makers of the first neoprene wetsuit. Bob’s brother Bill has passed on, but Bob still loves to get out
and talk about his love for the ocean and diving. As I understand it, he did a dive on his 81st bday to 162 feet!
That’s a foot for every year of he and his brother’s life. Nice.
Bill and Bob Meistrell
In 1953 twin brothers Bill and Bob Meistrell co-founded Body Glove when they designed the first practical wetsuit. Fifty-six years later Body Glove is one of the last family owned surf brand in the world. And it all began in a pool in Booneville, Missouri…..
Twin brothers Bill and Bob were fascinated with the water. When they were 14 years old they fashion their own diving helmet out of a vegetable can and a tire pump. They explored the bottom of a pool reading bad magazines while the other manned the air pump on the surface.
The Meistrell family packed up and moved to Manhattan Beach in 1944. They immediately fell in love with the ocean. Bill and Bob soon began surfing as balsa boards started to catch on and were among the first to glass the nose of their foam-filled plywood boards. During their time at El Segundo High School the boys bought a dive helmet for $25, it was so cheap because the previous owner died while using it. The two boys marched all over the breakwater and it opened up a whole new world for Bill and Bob.
The Meistrell’s became full-time lifeguards after graduating El Segundo High. Shortly after the brothers were drafted into the Army, Bill was sent to Korea while Bob was transferred to Monterey. Bill earned a Bronze Star during his time in Korea and Bob spent his nights surfing Santa Cruz by car light.
In 1953, Bill’s friend Bev Morgan made Bill an offer to buy into his local sports shop, Dive N’ Surf. Bev owned the shop with Hap Jacobs, who later pioneered the modern surfboard, but Jacobs wanted out, Bill accepted the offer on one condition, that his brother Bob be brought in as a partner as well. Bev agreed, Bob and Bill borrowed $1800 from their mother and each bought one third of the business. To keep themselves afloat the twins continued lifeguarding on a part-time basis.
Bob and Bill needed to find a way to combat California’s cold water. They tried everything from electrically heated flyers’ suits from the war to wool sweaters that lasted only as long as they were dry. Finally in 1953, they discovered an insulating material used in the back of refrigerators. This material was called neoprene and with it the Meistrell brothers fashioned the first practical wetsuits. Their new innovation helped them buy out their remaining partner in 1957 and Dive N’ Surf became the home of Body Glove Wetsuits. Body Glove’s success was not lost on Hollywood. Hired to consult, they provided equipment and custom wetsuits for “Sea Hunt,” the TV show that made Lloyd Bridges a star. The custom wetsuit sported by Bridges was integral to his character. They have been involved in dozens of movies since. Bill and Bob taught the entire Bridges family to dive as well as Gary Cooper, Hugh O’Brien, Charlton Heston, Jill St. John, and Richard Harris. Bill and his son, Billy even made a custom wetsuit for LA Laker legend Kareem Abdul Jabbar. Bill also retrieved millions in gold coins from shipwreck Brother Jonathan off the Northern California coast.
It is this history of innovation and love of the ocean that challenges Body Glove to make products to fit the needs of every waterman. Body Glove is proud to be one of the last family owned surf businesses and pledges to continually build products that enhance and protect both above and below the ocean’s surface.
May won’t be nearly as exciting, so let’s make this fun for Bob!