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G&S, 1963

Photo Credit: San Diego Historical Society
Photo Credit: San Diego Historical Society

Floyd Smith and Larry Gordon, 1963. The duo started Gordon and Smith Surfboards four years earlier.

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A local surfboard shaper, who did fiberglass work for Gordon and Smith in the ’70s, says for each fin he glassed on a surfboard they wanted to pay him four dollars; another board manufacturer paid ten dollars each. When the shaper asked why they weren’t willing to pay more, he was told that they could offer a steady amount of work. The shaper moved on, understanding that such an arrangement would cut into his surf time.

Gordon and Smith worked their business into an international enterprise that still thrives.

To order this photo please contact the San Diego Historical Society at [email protected].

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Photo Credit: San Diego Historical Society
Photo Credit: San Diego Historical Society

Floyd Smith and Larry Gordon, 1963. The duo started Gordon and Smith Surfboards four years earlier.

Sponsored
Sponsored

A local surfboard shaper, who did fiberglass work for Gordon and Smith in the ’70s, says for each fin he glassed on a surfboard they wanted to pay him four dollars; another board manufacturer paid ten dollars each. When the shaper asked why they weren’t willing to pay more, he was told that they could offer a steady amount of work. The shaper moved on, understanding that such an arrangement would cut into his surf time.

Gordon and Smith worked their business into an international enterprise that still thrives.

To order this photo please contact the San Diego Historical Society at [email protected]. Comments
Sponsored

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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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