Bert Elliott's 276 Pound Bent Press

Bert Elliott's 276 Pound Bent Press
Bert Elliott performs a bent-press with 276 pounds on a russian Olympic set at a strength show at Pasedena, California in the 60's. This lift was approximately 100 pounds over bodyweight for Bert. That's Pat Casey spotting on the right.

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Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting

Bert Elliott - Stone Lifting

When the great weightlifter Bert Elliott was stationed overseas during the Korean War -- did he miss any workouts? No... he just lifted rocks instead of weights. That's a pretty hefty sized boulder that Bert is Bent-Pressing.

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Bert Elliott's Bent-Press

Bert Elliott Bent-Press

The great weightlifter Bert Elliott was also a specialist in the bent-press. He had a special 201-pound globe "Challenge" Dumbbell that few could budge but which he could lift with ease. It was thought by many "old time" weight lifters that due to the incredible midsection strength that was developed by the bent-press, improving that lift would also improve one's total. Sure looks that way here.

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Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott

Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliot

Two fixtures in the Santa Monica, California Muscle Beach scene share a laugh in the late 1950's - Chuck Ahrens and Bert Elliott. Chuck Ahrens was a man of immeasurable power, and Bert Elliott was a champion weightlifter and bodybuilder (He won the 1954 Sr. Nationals Weightlifting Title in the 165 Plound Class (totalling 765 pounds), the 1953 "Iron Man" bodybuilding contest as well as the 1954 AAU Mr. Southern California.) At their feet is Bert Elliott's 201 pound "challenge" dumbbell which he could bent- press with ease.

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Bert Elliott and Classic Equipment

Bert Elliot was a bodybuilding champ in the 1950's and 60's who had an interest in real oldtime strength training. He even shaved his head and dressed like a turn of the century strongman to complete the effect. Here he is standing in front of some pieces of his famous collection of oldtime equipment: globe barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and indian clubs. (Notice the very old Hand Grippers on the wall.) Wonder were his stuff is now?

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