Looking for the fonts used in this vintage G&S boxing glove logo (1960s - 1980s)

[Member G&S…]

Hello, I am looking to identify both the serif and sans serif fonts used in this G&S Sporting Goods (now known as G&S Fight Supply Co.) boxing glove logo.  This logo was used from the 1960s to 1980s.  G&S is a New York City based boxing equipment and apparel manufacturer which has been in continual operation since 1937.  I am one of the new owners.  We are looking to revive this vintage logo.  Thank you!

[Member Ric…]

Not the clearest samples for a positive identification, unfortunately.

Anyway, the closest I could find for |G|S| is Egizio (here is a different digitalisation).

The sans used for the address is pretty generic. Probably some version of Standard/Akzidenz-Grotesk (or AG). Some alternatives may include Söhne, Standard CT, Figgins Standard. But the same effect could easily be obtained using one of the so called American Gothics (Franklin/Trade/News).

[Member G&S…]

Riccardo - Thank you for your time and your reply.  I'm still struck by the uniqueness of the ampersand.  Egizio is very close for the letters, thank you.  Does the ampersand make you think of any additional fonts?

[Ralf Herrmann]

For a revival, I would just redraw that ampersand. Very easy to do for anyone working in the field of type design. 

Here is another image from Google:

[Member Kev…]

Egizio is decent for the G and S, as is Clarendon Black (if you mess with its proportions and round the serif transitions). Abril Titling is also quite similar.

You’ll have to narrow it a bit, but Neuzeit Grotesk might work for the ampersand.

There are clearer images of the old logo on the web—a Google image search turned up a number of vintage pairs of gloves on Worthpoint and other auction sites.

But if you want to revive this vintage logo, your best bet is to locate the largest, sharpest image you can find of it and hand it off to a designer to recreate as vector art—the original logo was likely hand drawn and based on wood or metal typefaces (like Thorowgood) that no longer exist at all, or at least not in that exact weight or width, in digital form.

 

[Member Ric…]

1 hour ago, G&S said:

Does the ampersand make you think of any additional fonts?

You can find something comparable, in terms of quirkiness and stroke variation, looking for woodtype revivals, but it’s unlikely you will find a perfect match. As Ralf and Kevin already mentioned, a professional designer could help you both in case you need a perfect recreation of the old logo, or if you need a new visual identity that references its spirit (for example choosing a typeface with styles that can be used both for the |&| and for the extended text).

[Member G&S…]

Thank you to everyone for your time and help.  As you note, we do plan on having a designer redo the exact logo but are looking for fonts to use in other materials that are as similar as possible.  Thank  you for your suggestions.