Liederman on Chest Expander Training

Liederman on Chest Expander Training

"I have spent considerable time in showing people how to get strength and development by using chest-expanders; a device consisting of two handles connected by steel springs, or rubber-cables.

If a pupil asked me to give him an exercise that would develop only the triceps, I would have to tell him to proceed in this manner. To hold the expander loosely across his chest; hold the upper arms out horizontally to the sides so that the elbows pointed straight out; and then to stretch the expander by straightening his arms.

Since the upper arms are held still, the cables are stretched by moving the forearms only; and practically all the work would be done by the triceps, which by their contraction would bring the forearms into line with the upper arms.

But that would be a particularly poor exercise, for it would make the triceps work separately, instead of in conjunction with other muscles. So I prefer to hold the expander across the chest with the elbows close to the body, and the hands near the shoulders; and then to stretch the cables by pushing the hands out straight to the sides, and extending the arms as I straighten them.

For that develops not only the triceps, but all the shoulder and upper-body muscles, which move the arm away from the body; the muscles you would use in "putting the shot," or in striking a hard blow with your fist."

-- Earle E. Liederman, Secrets of Strength, 1930

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Abe Boshes

Abe Boshes

Abe Boshes of Brooklyn New, York won Bernarr Macfadden's gold medal at Madison Square Garden in 1903 and was featured prominently in MacFadden's "Physical Culture" Magazine. Boshes would go on to become one of Earle E. Liederman's top students. Boshes became an expert in Chest Expanders, wrote several training courses on the subject and eventually employed a young Angelo Siciliano (later becoming Charles Atlas) to demonstrate his wares.

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Simon Javierto

Simon Javierto shows incredible abdominal Muscle Control circa 1922. This feat is acomplished by complete exhalation of the air from the lungs, drawing in the abdominal wall to fill the vacuum, and then, by bending slightly forward, contracting the rectus abdominus. Simon lived in the Philippines and learned his training entirely through Earle E. Liederman's mail-order courses.

Simon Javierto

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Bert Goodrich - The First Mr. America (1938)

Bert Goodrich The First Mr. America

The first ever AAU Mr. America was Bert Goodrich, shown here on an early cover of Iron Man Magazine. Bert got his start by training with Earle E. Liederman's courses and was a tremendous athlete in highschool, excelling in hand balancing, swimming, and track and field events. He went on to became a stuntman in several Hollywood Movies and later opened up his own gym.

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Earle E. Liederman

Earle E. Liederman

Earle E. Liederman began his strength career as a strongman on the vaudeville circuit, traveling the country performing feats of strength and acrobatics. Eventually he grew tired of the traveling life and wrote a series of training courses which became incredibly successful, making him one of the first Mail Order Muscle Barons. His first training course showcased a number of exercises that could be done with chest expanders and bodyweight exercises. Theses courses were very popular since they did not require a lot of equipment and could be done at home.

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Earle E. Liederman's Business Card

Earle E. Liederman's Business Card

Earle E. Liederman was a great oldtime strongman and strength author as well as one of the best known of the Mail Order Muscle Barons. Here's a look at his business card from the 1920's when he was billed as "America's Leading Director of Physical Education." It lists 305 Broadway, New York City as his address. Wonder what's at that address these days?

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Earle E. Liederman - Why Anyone Can Become Strong

"...So I say that a man can become strong no matter how much nature has handicapped him by giving him a lack of inches, or a small frame. Even those in ill-health can be made strong, because exercise promotes health.

In turn muscle can be made to grow on the healthy body, and with muscle will come strength.

Some of the strongest men I know are little fellows; that is, little so faras height goes, for in every other way they are miniature giants. And most of them are strong today because they got tired of being snubbed and imposed on for their lack of inches and their dearth of strength. Almost anyone who earnestly desires to, can make himself strong; not just ordinarily strong, but very much stronger than the average man, little or big.

Earle E. Liederman

And to become strong - to add size and strength to your body, or in other words to develop it - takes much less time than to cultivate the mind."

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