Vintage Ray Flores Boxing Gloves

Thank you everybody that responded. I did feel bad, because I DO understand that for some that good gloves are hard to come by today and the one man operation is long gone. I wrote an article back in Nov. 2000 on Cyber Bozing Zone that explains my passion. Some people have asked me" Of all the things in the world, why boxing gloves"? It's because in the old days,I'd order something out of Ring magazine and when it arrived, it was not at all what wanted, but that's what was available. I wanted to change that. A lot of your old glove makers like my mentor AL ZIMMER were either taylors or shoe makers that could handle a pattern, have innovation, patience and could handle an old Singer 31-15 machine.
 
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[1996]
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Boxing Equipment Manufacturers

"The One Man Operation"

by Bill Beaulieu

Reach, Spalding, Goldsmith, Levinson, Draper, and Maynard. Unless you're an avid boxing fan or historian, these names of early boxing glove manufacturers are meaningless. Yet, probably the most recognized brand -- Everlast -- first appeared nearly 80 years ago.

At one time, the one-man glove making operation was a guy interested in the business end of the boxing game, who could either operate an old Singer 31-15, or 31-19 sewing machine and fashion his own line of gear. Some were lucky enough to have a skilled stitcher that could meet the demand for quality, along with the skill to fill custom mail order requests.

Today, the modern supplier either imports his gear, made for him in a private label deal, or employs skilled stitchers, working on an assembly line set up. Nearly all gloves made today are manufactured in Indonesia, Mexico, China, and Pakistan. Of these, only Everlast, based in the Bronx, NY, and Reyes, the Mexico City manufacturer, actually make their own gear.

I first became interested in this esoteric field, when I visited a small brick front walkup on the lower east side of Manhattan. The year was 1969. Let me tell you of the love affair that began that day.

February of 1969 -- my honeymoon of all things -- brought my new bride and me to New York City. Along with sightseeing, shopping, visiting Radio City Music Hall and Mama Leone's I wanted to purchase some quality boxing gear. On too many occasions, I had been disappointed in what I had received via the mail order route and decided that while in New York, I would purchase direct.

My first stop brought me to G&S sporting goods on Essex Street. The gentleman there told me that G & S made its gear on site and anything I wanted was available. I was not permitted to view the actual manufacturing of equipment, but was assured that G & S was "the best"

I moved on a few blocks to the brick front walkup and entered a second floor door that changed my love of boxing forever. Mr. Gil Spillet, the owner of the world famous Tuf-Wear label, met me at the door and asked me my business. He must have seen my curiosity, as he led me into an area where two women sat at their sewing machines. Watching, I couldn't believe the magic being performed: the women made the most beautiful black leather boxing gloves that I had ever seen. These gloves were worn by champions the world over. The speed bags and shoes were made of kangaroo leather and the green thread was a Tuf-Wear trademark.

To some, the boxing glove was a mere tool of the trade, perhaps a weapon, but to me it was a thing of beauty. I was amazed at how these strips of leather, cut from a pattern and stitched together and stuffed with either horse or hog hair, could turn out so beautifully.

I was hooked. I wanted to learn everything about how leather boxing equipment was made, and the history of the the people that had chosen this to be their livelihood. From that day on, I have studied, talked to written to or personally met with some of these individuals, to better learn this trade.

At one time, the "one-man operation" produced some of the finest gloves used in some of the most famous bouts in boxing history. Virtually all of these men are gone, but the work and art they produced deserves to be remembered. I would like to introduce the readers of the Cyber Boxing Zone to some of the
best --

Al Zimmer, Spartan.
Al Zimmer, once with the popular mail order supplier, Spartan, based in Brooklyn, was already retired and living in Boca Raton, Florida when I contacted him in 1984. Angelo Dundee had given me the contact information as he knew Zimmer from the early 5th. St. Gym days. Living at century village in Boca, the 78 year old Zimmer was delighted that someone had an interest and was more than gracious in not only reminiscing, but to my surprise,
expressing a desire to visit with my wife and I in our home in New Hampshire. Before long, we were at a Singer machine in our basement learning the finer points of glove making. We also learned how to select the right leathers and thread, the rubber and cement necessary to fashion a protective cup

At that moment, my nearly 20 years with the phone company meant nothing to me and I was ready to give it all up for a new profession. Luckily my wife's good sense prevailed and thoughts of a full time career in the boxing equipment business faded. Over the next few years, Al and I visited one another both in Florida and New Hampshire. Al is gone now, but I still have
all the old Spartan patterns and some machinery -- along with the inner love and dream of this profession.

Sammy Frager. Frager gloves, Chicago.
Frager was born in Constanta, Romania in the early 1900s and immigrated to America, settling in Chicago. He ran a small shop on Randolph Street and from the early 30's to the mid 60's, made gloves for some of the most important fighters in the game. He would take a traced print of the fighter's hand and make custom fitting gloves for a perfect fit. The smallest were said to be those of Tony Canzoneri, while Abe Simon had the largest, 14 inches, until Sonny Liston ventured on the scene and becoming a regular customer for his 15" fist. Liston and Ali wore Frager's for both their championship fights. Sammy took approximately 6 hours to make a set of four fight gloves, using lamb or sheep skin and stuffed with goat hair padding. Later he introduced foam to his gloves, which helped change the modern fight glove.


Sol Levinson, the San Francisco dress glove maker of the late 1890s. Who was approached to make a more comfortable boxing glove. One that a fighter could make a natural feeling fist and could close the fist readily. Before long, the Levinson glove was being asked for and used in all the championship fights of that era. When James J. Jeffries beat Bob Fitzsimmons, Levinson's gloves were used and when jack Johnson won over Jeffries in Nevada, his gloves were used again. Jess Willard wore the largest glove Levinson had made. Jeffries is said to have used another brand in his fight with Gus Ruhlin, having picked up a random pair at a local San Francisco sporting goods store. In the battle, Jeffries broke his hand. He blamed the accident onto the gloves and from then on never used anything except Levinson's. Sol Levinson utilized the curved thumb and also the bump to eliminate eye gouging long before it was adopted as standard on the so-called modern glove.

I have studied the history of many, many more of these famous and not so famous glove makers and continue to be fascinated by their closed, but necessary field of boxing business.

My list goes on and there isn't a day that I don't wish I was a part of it.







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There is so much more to this story and what it takes to be in the very closed field and the politics involved, regardless of the quality of your gear. Like I said before, It's a very tough nut to crack. GRANT is fighting this battle everyday and I have endorsed his gear and now call it "The Best".
 
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Thanks for the History lesson, Bill.

Here's a few shots of the master glove maker at work.

488bd422.jpg
 
Everyone thinks that glove making and it's process should be passed on, and call me an asshole for not sharing with the world, but the first time I talk of the trials and hard work involed they leave. Well I can provide patterns, knowledge of machinery needed, raw materials needed,etc. to any SERIOUS person willing to learn and pay the price for this veture. Nothing is free in this world, especially trade segrets in any business venture. As soon as this proposition is offered, many who are calling me out run for the door.You guys ask GRANT, Shevlin, anyone in this field and ask them the same question of, I want to learn. Will you teach me and see what their reply is. Dan Mosby of FLORES was a very close and personal friend of mine and we talked gloves forever. I worked hard learning from a master glove maker other than Dan and I offered my thoughts to Dan to help him improve upon his "Old School" hair filled training glove. Dan is gone now, R I P and his glove making steps are wth me now and if someone were really serious and showed that to me, rather than complaining on here, he'd have somethig too.
 
billboxing said:
Everyone thinks that glove making and it's process should be passed on, and call me an asshole for not sharing with the world, but the first time I talk of the trials and hard work involed they leave. Well I can provide patterns, knowledge of machinery needed, raw materials needed,etc. to any SERIOUS person willing to learn and pay the price for this veture. Nothing is free in this world, especially trade segrets in any business venture. As soon as this proposition is offered, many who are calling me out run for the door.You guys ask GRANT, Shevlin, anyone in this field and ask them the same question of, I want to learn. Will you teach me and see what their reply is. Dan Mosby of FLORES was a very close and personal friend of mine and we talked gloves forever. I worked hard learning from a master glove maker other than Dan and I offered my thoughts to Dan to help him improve upon his "Old School" hair filled training glove. Dan is gone now, R I P and his glove making steps are wth me now and if someone were really serious and showed that to me, rather than complaining on here, he'd have somethig too.
Click to expand...

Deja vu? Gotta ask, who or what provoked the second rant?
 
Not a rant at all...............Offering to all the chance to come to the plate. They wanted to learn the trade and felt that what I said about a dying art is in fact true. Therefore, I'm willing to sell patterns and knowledge to anyone willing to act. Where are they now ? That's all. This is how I started long ago, asking Al Zimmer, the owner of Spartan Boxing Equipment to pass on the knowledge. He said yes, I paid and learned and have enjoyed dabbling in this knowledge and am willing now to pass it on.
 
On another note. I just sent Shevlin an email asking if they have no one who is interested in taking up their craft, would be willing to teach me the art of glove making. I sent a link to some of my work to show that I'm serious. Hopefully I'll get a positive response this time. :icon_chee
 
billboxing said:
Not a rant at all...............Offering to all the chance to come to the plate. They wanted to learn the trade and felt that what I said about a dying art is in fact true. Therefore, I'm willing to sell patterns and knowledge to anyone willing to act. Where are they now ? That's all. This is how I started long ago, asking Al Zimmer, the owner of Spartan Boxing Equipment to pass on the knowledge. He said yes, I paid and learned and have enjoyed dabbling in this knowledge and am willing now to pass it on.
Click to expand...

I apologize, I misunderstood. Good to know the offer is on the table. If Shevlin shoots me down I might have to take you up on that offer. Cheers!
 
billboxing said:
Everyone thinks that glove making and it's process should be passed on, and call me an asshole for not sharing with the world, but the first time I talk of the trials and hard work involed they leave. Nothing is free in this world, especially trade segrets in any business venture.
Click to expand...

I guess I am spoiled when it comes to learning information. I have walked into different colleges that I did not attend and professors I did not take classes with during my undergraduate studies and had them teach me technique and lab tricks for free and they did.

Likewise with construction, when I turned my garage into a gym I found a house being built and asked one of the guys if they could teach me how to put up sheet rock/mud and they did for free.
 
off topic but Bill do you have any experience with Corti? I saw an old post on Grant's page where you said you'd tried them and I am curious
 
Corti was worn by Argentine fighters and I got an old pair of gloves to look over and study.Like most all others at that time, these were hair padded 50-60' era. Good leather, good workmanship and comfortable too. Typical hair filled glove of that era, just yet another label.
 
Hi Bill. Do you have any Flores patterns? If not, can I ask what patterns you do have?
 
Both the Flores and the Spartan patterns were " Old School" horsehair padded training gloves. They're actully more difficult to make than the modern foam glove and the raw materials needed can be difficult these days. When I sought horse/hog hair they would only sell in large bales, which were also used in upholstering furniture, etc. I have patterns for the modern foam glove and the old school Spartan glove whichis basically similar to the Flores glove.
 
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Both the Flores and the Spartan patterns were " Old School" horsehair padded training gloves. They're actully more difficult to make than the modern foam glove and the raw materials needed can be difficult these days. When I sought horse/hog hair they would only sell in large bales, which was also used in upholstering furniture, etc. I have patterns for the modern foam glove, but know the procedure used for the big hair padded gloves as that's what we learned on at first from Spartan. The hair padded gloves are obsolete and not much call for them these days. I can provide knowledge and patterns for the large foam training glove at any time to anyone able and interested in taking on that closed field venture.
 
Both the Flores and the Spartan patterns were " Old School" horsehair padded training gloves. They're actully more difficult to make than the modern foam glove and the raw materials needed can be difficult these days. When I sought horse/hog hair they would only sell in large bales, which were also used in upholstering furniture, etc. I have patterns for the the modern foam glove, and the old Spartan hair filled glove, whichis basically similar to The Flores pattern.
 
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