GANTNER

Gantner-Mattern  was one of the great swim and sportswear labels to come out of California.  The company was founded in 1876 in San Francisco.  In the 1930s, they were the first company to make men's topless swim suits, called the Wikie.  In 1954, John Gantner, the president of the company, sold the business to shirtmaker C F Hathaway.  They in turn liquidated the company in 1958, due to a lack of profits. 

In the 1980s the Gantner  label was revived.