Thursday, January 28, 2010
50-Pound Block Weight"Every one who uses weights should have one" ... and I couldn't agree more. Blockweights are very useful and a lot of fun to train with which is why they have been a favorite of many of the Oldtime Strongmen for a long time. This particular blockweight was advertised by Alan Calvert and sold by the Milo Barbell company in the mid-1920s.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Block Weights, Equipment
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Thursday, January 07, 2010
Narragansett Machine Co. Adjustable Barbell SetA look at an adjustable barbell Set from the Narragansett Machine Co., circa 1910 or so. Each plate weighs 5 pounds and the bar weighed ten pounds so when fully loaded, this set weighed 130 pounds in total which makes it just about perfect for home use. This set also featured something that I have never seen before or since: latches on the inner collars to keep the barbell plates in place.
Also of note is that fact that barbell plates and equipment from just about every other equipment company, including those who were older, is fairly "common" in comparison to this set. I know of no one who has even seen a single Naragansett Barbell or plate in the flesh, let alone owned one. If you should come across any, please let us know.
Labels: Barbell, Barbell and Plates, Barbell Set, Equipment, Narragansett Machine Company
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Wednesday, January 06, 2010
Blockweight!The oldtime strongmen lifted just about any weight they could get their hands on. Shown here is a blockweight, an obvious precursor to the kettlebell. These were used for "weight" mostly for measurement or scale purposes and the handle made transportation a little easier. I suspect that many of the oldtime strongmen noticed them backstage at the theaters where they performed (where they were used as ballast to counterweigh theatre props) and decided to perform interesting feats with them.
Labels: Block Weights, Classic Equipment, Equipment, Kettlebell, Kettlebell History
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Sunday, November 08, 2009
Terry's Wrist Exerciser!Throughout the years there have been a number of devices created for building grip strength. Here's a look at "Terry's Wrist Exerciser!" which was simple but effective. Terry's brand of equipment was most often advertised in the British strength publications.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Equipment, Grip Strength, Grip Training Equipment, Hand Gripper, Terry's, Terry's Wrist Exerciser
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Monday, October 12, 2009
The Joe Bonomo Mini-GymJoe Bonomo was ahead of his time on a lot of levels. This training device -- The Mini-Gym -- is particularly useful when trying to train without equipment, or while traveling. It is portable, lightweight and can give a well-rounded workout. It'll be a while before you ever see another one with the box intact. The nifty training course booklet that came with it is particularly well-written.
Labels: Equipment, Joe Bonomo, Mini-Gym, Unique Equipment
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Sunday, September 27, 2009
The Wrist RollerThe Wrist Roller is quite versatile for such a simple piece of equipment. You can perform heavy "singles" times holds, extended range training, "reps" and any number of other methods to build forearm strength. Look for a complete course on wrist roller training some time in the near future.
Labels: Equipment, Forearm Strength, Grip Training, Grip Training Equipment, wrist roller, Wrist Roller Training
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Sunday, September 13, 2009
| Another look at a version of the Half Moon Bench used for chest and ribcage development. These used to be quite common in gyms in the old days but are rarely found now. These benches work best when used in combination with leavy leg work and light dumbbell pullovers or flys. That's 1953 AAU Mr. America Bill Pearl demonstrating. Also note the Iron Boots on the wall, as well as the Stall Bars on the right. |  The Half Moon Bench |
Labels: Bill Pearl, Chest Development, Dumbbell Exercise, Dumbbell Fly, Equipment, Half Moon Bench, Iron Boots, Stall Bars, Swedish Bars, Unusual Training Equipment
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Friday, August 07, 2009
Professor Anthony Barker's Herkules ExerciserThe need for great equipment hasn't changed much over the last hundred years which is why chest expanders work just as well today. This ad for Professor Anthony Barker, Herkules Exerciser originally appeared in 1910.
Labels: Advertisement, Anthony Barker, Chest Expander, chest expander training, Equipment, Professor Anthony Barker
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Iron TeardropsPeople often say there's nothing new under the sun but I would disagree. Case in point, here's a unique training idea from a muscle magazine from about 20 years ago that I have never seen before or since. These "Iron Teardrops" slipped on your barbell just like plates and moved around while you lifted, adding a whole new dimension to standard lifts.
A few years back, I called the number listed on the ad just to see what would happen. A woman answered the phone and told me that yes, it was her brother which came up with the idea for the Iron Tear Drops but he was not home at the moment. She took down my address and said she would send some info but I never did hear from them. Anyone out there ever get to train with these?
Labels: Equipment, Iron Teardrops, Unusual Training Equipment
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
Spalding Indian ClubsA hundred years ago, if you wanted to purchase some wooden Indian Clubs, you likely would have ordered them from the Spalding company of Chicago. It is interesting to see just how many different types and styles of clubs they had available. Not the fancy exhibition clubs on the bottom left. This advertisement dates to 1913.
Labels: Advertisement, Equipment, Hardwood Indian Clubs, Indian Club Advertisement, Indian Clubs for Sale, Physical Culture Equipment, Spalding Indian Clubs, Training Equipment, Wooden Indian Clubs
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
York Simplex Weight Training SetsNeed a weight set? York has long been the standard as far as barbells and dumbbells are concerned. Here's a few of the weight sets you could have ordered back in the 1950s. There's no telling how many people built a heck of a lot of size and strength with this very equipment. This was back in the days when you could address an envelope with only "Muscletown USA" and it would be delivered promptly to Bob Hoffman in York, PA.
Labels: Barbell and Plates, Bob Hoffman, Equipment, Muscletown USA, York Barbell, York Barbell Company, York Barbells, York Weight Sets
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Friday, June 12, 2009
The Half-Moon BenchTo the oldtime bodybuilders and strength athletes "Chest Development" used to mean stretching and enlarging the ribcage, not working the pecs (which is what it has become today.) The theory behind this was simple, the deep breathing from intense leg work (i.e. squats combined with light pullovers did so very effectively. Enlarging the rib box meant wider shoulders and a much greater potential for upper-body growth.
To make the technique more effective, a half-moon bench was often used. These unusual pieces of equipment used to be commonplace in many gyms although you're more likely to win the lottery than find one these days.
To find out more about leg work, pullovers and chest expansion techniques, you'll want to check out: Super Squats by Randall J. Strossen, The Complete Keys to Progress by John McCallum and The New Bodybuilding for Oldschool Results by Ellington Darden.
Labels: Bench, Chest Expansion, Ellington Darden, Equipment, Half Moon Bench, John McCallum, Keys to Progress, New Bodybuilding for Old School Results, Pullover, Randall J. Strossen, Super Squats
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Monday, May 04, 2009
Black Iron Strength KettlebellsKettlebells are pretty common these days but you probably haven't seen anything like these before: precision diamond-point knurled handles, polished stainless steel, 25 ton press through construction AND made in the USA.
These kettlebells were made by Black Iron Strength the same folks who make our thick bars. Of course the inevitable question is going to be "How do they compare to cast iron kettlebells?"
The answer is "they don't" - both styles are good but in their own way and for different reasons. We may carry these at some point in the future...
Labels: American Kettlebells, Ancient Kettlebells, Black Iron Strength, Equipment, Kettlebell, Kettlebell Exercises, Kettlebells, Unusual Training Equipment
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Friday, March 27, 2009
Sandow's Adjustable Grip Testing DumbbellsA rare look at the box for a later version of Eugen Sandow's grip dumbbells. Unlike earlier versions, which had only springs, these had molded handles and rung a bell when the handles were squeezed together.
Labels: Dumbbells, Equipment, Grip Equipment, Sandow's Grip Dumbbells
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Jowett Barbell PlatesLike many strongmen, George Jowett had his own brand of barbell plates. These were likely cast by the same foundry which produced equipment for the Milo Barbell Company. Jowett and Alan Calvert were both based out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the time and also worked together on several projects.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Barbell Plate, Equipment, George Jowett, Jowett Barbell Plates, Milo Barbell Company, Oldtime Strength Equipment
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Monday, March 23, 2009
Ring WeightsOne of the most interesting pieces of training equipment often used by many of the oldtime strongmen were ring weights. An early version of the kettlebell, ringweights were most often used for a variety of training techniques including throwing, such as in the Scottish Highland Games (in which the 56-pound weight for height is contested) as well as the popular oldtime lift "the muscle out."
Labels: 56-Pound Weight, Ancient Kettlebells, Antique Equipment, Equipment, Highland Game Events, Highland Games, Kettlebell, Muscle Out, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Ring Weights, Weight Throwing
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Sunday, March 15, 2009
York DumbbellsFor a long time, the solid dumbbells produced by the The York Bartbell Company were of the globe variety. Sometime around the early 80's they switched to the dumbbell shown here. This style was made until the late 90's. Today, they are quite rare. If you have any dumbbells like these, hang on to them, but don't let them just gather dust, use 'em!
Labels: Equipment, Solid Dumbbells, York Barbell, York Barbell Company, York Dumbbells, York Equipment
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Thursday, March 12, 2009
The York CalflexOne interesting training 'gizmo' from strength training yesteryear is the York Barbell Calflex. According to the literature the York Calflex allowed the tension to be increased in both directions for complete calf development. Nice.
Labels: Calf Development, Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment, York Barbell, York Barbell Company, York Calflex
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Chinese Stone Padlocks in ActionThe Shaolin Monks referred to traditional stone lock training as Shi-Suo and have been using them for centuries. These stone weights are lifted, pressed, thrown and caught in a variety of ways in order to build upper body strength and stamina. Based on how they are used, stone locks are obviously a distant relative of the kettlebell.
Labels: Chinese Stone Lock, Equipment, Kettlebell, Martial Arts, Martial Arts Training, Shaolin Monks, Shi-Suo, Stone Lock, Stone Weight, Traditional Exercise
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Friday, March 06, 2009
Milo Barbell PlatesAlan Calvert began the Milo Barbell Company in 1902 and manufactured primarily globe barbells and dumbbells. In 1935, The Milo Barbell Company was purchased by Bob Hoffman as he established the York Barbell Company. Hoffman, however, still kept the name alive and sold "Milo Barbell" plates and bars for years afterwards. This is an example of one of the later "Milo Barbell" plates. -- Not quite the same as the old globes but still fun to train with.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Barbell Plate, Bob Hoffman, Equipment, Milo Barbell, Milo Barbell Company, Milo Barbell Plate, Weight Plate
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Thursday, March 05, 2009
 The York Health Shoe | "This is what the new York "IRON BOOT" is. A super leg developer. Merely strap the five pound Iron Boot on your foot and attach your adjustable dumbbell to it. There you have the most progressive leg builder ever devised. It is like being able to pick up a dumbbell with your feet. Back your legs with that snappy, springy power! No use dragging around as if your feet weighed a ton. Get speed and lightness into your stride. The Iron Boot will increase your running, jumping, gymnastics and lifting." |
Labels: Equipment, Iron Boots, Leg Development, York Barbell Company, York Health Shoe
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Thursday, February 26, 2009
Nautilus Leverage MachinesWhen most people think of Nautilus Machines they picture cams and weight stacks, which were certainly the case... But later on, Nautilus came out with a series of leverage pieces with the look of machines but the feel of free weights. Pictured here is Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro Linebacker Reggie Williams demonstrating the shrug/row combo piece. This photograph was taken in the world famous "Kong Room" and if you were ever there, you sure never forgot it.
Labels: Back Machine, Equipment, Kong Room, Nautilus, Nautilus Leverage Machines, Nautilus Machines, Reggie Williams, Training Equipment
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Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Chinese Stone LocksKettlebells go back a long way but Chinese Stone Locks predate them by several thousand years. Martial artists in China have been using stone weights like these to develop their bodies for centuries. There are, of course, many 'kettlebell' exercises that can be done with stone locks, but they carry with them their own specific kind of training -- and a specific set of results. Stone locks training is particularly good for grip and forearm work.
Labels: Chinese Stone Lock, Equipment, Grip Equipment, Grip Exercise, Kettlebells, Stone Weight
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Sunday, February 22, 2009
| Hand grippers go back a long way, even farther than plate-loaded barbells, in fact. While the materials and spring quality have changed with modern advancements, you can see that the overall design has not changed one bit over the last century. The very first advertisement for spring nutcracker-type hand grippers is pictured on the right and dates to 1901. |  Vintage Hand Grippers |
Labels: Advertisement, Equipment, Grip Equipment, Grip Training Equipment, Hand Gripper, Hand Strength, Hand Strength Equipment, Vintage Hand Gripper
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Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Sandow's Combined DeveloperOne reason why Sandow is still such an influential figure over a century later was that he laid the foundations for things that are commonplace today. He was quite the entrepreneur. His Grip Dumbbells and the Developer shown here were among the very first commercially available fitness equipment. This Developer mimicked the exercises normally done with a Wall Pulley without, of course, the need for weight stacks.
Labels: Equipment, Eugen Sandow, Sandow's Combined Developer
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Friday, February 06, 2009
Reg Park and The Iron Shoe ExerciserMr. Universe Reg Park showing how it's done with the Iron Shoe Exerciser. The Iron Shoe was a very good exercise choice for building upper body strength and a strong grip and was a favorite of many oldtime strength athletes.
Labels: Equipment, Iron Shoe, Iron Shoe Exerciser, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Reg Park, Strength Equipment
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Monday, February 02, 2009
Competitive Strand PullingA look at the setup used for competitive Strand Pulling which came directly from over across the pond many moons ago. Note the 10 springs and that the handles can be adjusted. A list of the 20 official "pulls" can be found here.
Labels: Competitive Strand Pulling, Equipment, Spring Expander, Strand Pulling, Strand Pulling Equipment
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Standard BarbellMany a strength athlete began his strength career on a standard barbell set just like this one. Note the plates positioned to resemble globes.
Labels: Barbell, Equipment, Standard Barbell
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Wednesday, December 10, 2008
The Neck HelmetA "strongman" should be strong everywhere and that means building a strong neck too. One of the best ways to build a thicker stronger neck is by using a "neck helmet" a football helmet with a retrofitted weight horn. This setup makes it very easy to train the neck from several different directions. This particular neck helmet was using some plans from an old issue of Iron Man Magazine and has been in use for over 10 years (no, it's not for sale.)
Labels: Equipment, Iron Man Magazine, Neck Exercise, Neck Helmet, Neck Strength, Unique Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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Tuesday, December 09, 2008
| Today you can go to a sporting good's store and get a barbell and a weight set but this wasn't always the case. Years ago, some folks had to be resourceful if they wanted to get strong. Here Steve Minnaji of East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania presses a great thick-handled custom barbell made of automobile parts. Steve is 71 years of age in this picture. |  Steve Minnaji's Custom Barbell |
Labels: Custom Barbell, Equipment, Thick Handle
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Monday, November 10, 2008
York Chest ExpandersThe York Barbell Company was most famous for selling barbells, but they featured a variety of other types of equipment as well. One of the most popular was chest expanders which were much easier to transport places than heavy weights.
In fact, York had several different types of chest expanders, the flat band type, similar to Noe's Graduated Xercisor, the round cable type, similar to modern chest expanders and the metal spring type, similar to those used in Strand Pulling Contests.
Regardless, you can get a great workout with all of them (but be sure to wear a shirt if you're training with metal springs!)
All About Strand-Pulling Labels: Chest Expanders, Equipment, Noe's Graduated Xercisors, Rubber Chest Expanders, Strand Pulling, York Chest Expanders
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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
The Magic SquareYou've heard of the Magic Circle... but have you heard of the Magic Square?
It was another experiment to make intense leg work more "comfortable." However, like the Magic Circle, it also changed the lifter's center of gravity which was somewhat problematic.
Still, the Magic Square was GREAT for Hise Shrugs and calf work.
Labels: Equipment, Hise Shrugs, Leg Development, The Magic Circle, The Magic Square
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
| Bob Peoples always felt that the key to a strong deadlift was a super strong lower back -- he would know, since he's history's strongest deadlifter. To accomplish certain tasks in his training, Bob often had to make his own equipment. For example, in order to gain a deeper range of motion, Bob created what he called a "Deadlift Ring," which is demonstrated here by young Bob Hise. This ring allows for roughly an extra foot of "pull." A similar exercise can be performed very effectively with a Gerard Trap Bar |  Deadlift Ring |
Labels: Bob Peoples, Deadlift, Deadlift Ring, Equipment, Gerard Trap Bar, Unique Equipment
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The Dymek Curling BarThe Dymek Curling Bar -- every gym in the county has one although you probably know it by its more common name of the "EZ Curl bar." The angled handles stress the biceps in a much different manner than a normal straight bar. I don't particularly care for them but a lot of people swear by an EZ Curl Bar for their arm workouts. Today there are many copy-cat versions but this one is the original.
Labels: Arm Development, Arm Exercise, Arm Workout, Dymeck Curl Bar, Equipment
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Monday, May 26, 2008
| Sig Klein came up with a number of innovative training ideas. One day he took the board he had often used for the Tomb of Hercules Feat, chained it to the wall and devised an early version of the "Leg Press" machine. He eventually discarded this design as the resistance decreased too much at the top of the movement due to the physics involved. |  The Leg Press |
Labels: Equipment, Exercise, Exercise Machine, Leg Press Machine, Sig Klein, The Leg Press, Tomb of Hercules, Vintage Strength Equipment
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Saturday, April 19, 2008
| Some of our eagle-eyed Ironman Magazine readers might remember this one from the back cover of the August-September 1970 issue: The Neil Lewis Arm Wrestling Trainer. It was not only featured on the back cover but the inside back cover, the inside front cover and a two-page spread in the magazine with Chuck Sipes, 1970 IFBB Mr. Canada Vince Basile, "Big" Jim Forsythe and several other notables. Looks pretty nifty -- Wonder how many they ended up selling? |  The Neil Lewis Arm Wrestling Trainer |
Labels: Arm Wrestling, Armwrestling Equipment, Chuck Sipes, Equipment, IFBB, Iron Man Magazine, Neil Lewis Armwrestling Trainer, Unusual Training Equipment, Vince Basile
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Monday, March 31, 2008
Traditional Indian Club TrainingThe swinging of "jori and gada" (heavy indian clubs and maces) holds a special place in the ancient art of Kushti - (Traditional Indian Wrestling and Physical Culture Training.)
In the akharas (wrestling gyms) these traditional impliments are decorated in many unique ways. Some are painted with lively decorative patterns, others, used only by the most skilled masters, are studded with nails. Some of these decorative indian clubs weigh as much as 35 KG.
Labels: Akharas, Challenge Weight, Decorative Indian Clubs, Equipment, Gada, Heavy Indian Clubs, Indian Clubs, Indian Wrestling, Jori, Kushti, Wrestling
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Tuesday, February 05, 2008
| The Gada, or Mace, is one of the traditional pieces of training equipment in Indian Physical Culture. The Gada consists of a heavy iron or stone ball attached to the end of a stick. Maces of various weights and heights are used depending on the athlete's strength and skil llevel. For training purposes, the Gada is swung behind the back in several different ways and is particularly useful for building grip strength and shoulder endurance. |  The Gada (Mace) |
Labels: Equipment, Gada, Indian Physical Culture, Kushti, Mace, Training Equipment, Unusual Training Equipment
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Harry Shafran's GymHarry Shafran was an oldtime lifter who owned a couple successful gyms in New York back in the 1920's. Eventually he grew tired of big city lift and retired to a farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania where he converted the large barn in the back of his house into one of the greatest gyms of all time.
Here's a look back in time... Globe dumbbells, climbing ropes, Milo kettlebells, gymnastic rings, swedish bars -- note the double handled kettlebells used for swingbell exercises.
A half-moon bench can be seen in the foreground. This unique piece of equipment was used specifically for chest expansion exercises and used to be quite common.
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Equipment, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Gymnastic Rings, Half Moon Bench, Harry Shafran, Harry Shafrans Gym, Oldtime Strongman Exercises, Swingbell Exercises
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Sunday, January 06, 2008
 The Hammerman's Hammers | Took this shot a few years back at a special dinner honoring Slim the Hammerman. That's Slim's Challenge Ax on the left followed by his two sledge hammers with their distinctive markings on the handles and chromed weights. They are sitting on a special oak carrying case. If those hammers could talk I bet they could tell some stories... |
Labels: Challenge Weight, Equipment, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Sledge Hammer Leverage, Sledgehammers, Slim The Hammerman
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Saturday, January 05, 2008
The Roman ColumnAs mentioned several times on this blog, it was Professor Attila who invented the Roman Column.
Shown here, the Roman Column is an actual column in which the traineee hangs suspended vertially and moves to a horizontal position using the power of his legs and abdominal muscles.
Eugen Sandow used to perform this feat either holding a heavy barbell or a human being.
On the left is the original Roman Column, in one corner of Sig Klein's Time's Square Gym.
Labels: Equipment, Eugen Sandow, Professor Attila, Roman Column, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Strongman Equipment, Vintage Strength Equipment
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Friday, January 04, 2008
The SwingbellA piece that you used to see all the time in the old magazines that has all but disappeared these days is the Swingbell -- essentially a combination of traditional free weights and medicine ball training exercises.
As you can see, a swingbell consists of a dumbbell bar loaded in the middle rather than the ends. It is grasped at either end and used for a variety of rotational and "circular" movements.
Labels: Equipment, Strongman Equipment, swingbell
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
| This unique piece of equipment, know as Sang, is from Traditional Iranian Martial Arts and is quite literally a "Shield" - just like the ancient warriors used to take into battle, albeit adapted into a training exercise in the "modern" age. Each of these shields are made of hardwood and weigh between 20-40 kilograms. The method for training with these impliments is for an athlete to lie on his back and alternate twisting and turning them in the air for maximum repetitions without letting them hit the ground. A respectable score in youth and adult tournaments is 72 times in 7 minutes. |  Unusual Training Equipment: Sang (The Shield) |
Labels: Back Exercise, Equipment, Iran, Iranian Martial Arts, Sang, Traditional Exercise
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Thursday, December 13, 2007
 The Nautilus Squat Machine | Casey Viator uses the Nautilus Squat Machine during the Colorado Experiment. You may recall that Casey put on 63 pounds of muscle over the course of the 28 day experiment and this machine was a big reason behind that. It has been well understood that intense leg work is the key to super strength. This machine allowed the hips and legs to be trained in a manner more intense than any other method created before or since. This particular Nautilus machine never actually went into production. |
Labels: Bodybuilding, Casey Viator, Equipment, Leg Development, Leg Training, Nautilus Machines, Nautilus Squat Machine, Squat Machine, The Colorado Experiment
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Tuesday, December 11, 2007
The Good BrothersThe Good Brothers, Harry, Walter and Bill, were a trio of weightlifters and Strongmen from Eastern Pennsylvania. Bill was the strongest of the three, winning seven Senior National Weightlifting Titles (1930-1937) and competing in two Olympic Games (1932 Los Angeles, 1936 - Berlin). Bill Good was the first American to Clean & Jerk 350 Pounds.
Walter Good competed in the 1936 Olympics as well.
Harry was the U.S. Professional Champion in 1933 in addition to writing training articles for a number of different strength publications and training courses. Harry Good went on to establish the "Good Barbell Company" in the late 1930s.
Mark Berry also used the Good Brothers to demonstrate several of the exercises in his book Physical Training Simplified (1930).
Labels: Bill Good, Equipment, Good Brothers, Harry Good, Olympic Weightlifting, Walter Good
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Saturday, December 01, 2007
Indian Club Swinging"Indian club swinging can be described as circular weight training and can exercise the shoulder, wrist and elbow in ways not possible with traditional linear weight training.
Club swinging strengthens muscles and ligaments, maintains joint flexibility and improves range of motion.
Regular practice with Indian Clubs will improved grace, rhythm and eye-hand coordination due to the concentration and neural demands necessary to perform the movements. The benefits of Indian Club Exercises are enormous and can greatly enhance the performance of any athlete."
Labels: Circular Weight Lifting, coordination, Equipment, flexibility, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, Physical Culture Equipment
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
York DumbbellsThe York Barbell Company used several different designs for their dumbbells over the years. In the 1970's they came out with the distinctive "hocky puck" design shown above.
This particular design, with its slighly sloping sides, was adopted as a grip challenge with half of the heaviest available dumbbell (the 100 pounder)known as "The Blob."
This design was discontinued in the late 1990's.
Labels: Equipment, Pinch Lift, The Blob, York Barbell Company, York Dumbbells
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All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
 Oldtime Pullover | I've recently read in a few places that there were "no such thing" as machines back when the oldtime strongmen trained... Here's an oldtime pullover (used for expanding the ribcage and deepening the chest) which was installed at Hemenway Gymnasium circa 1885. |
Labels: Equipment, Hemenway Gymnasium, Physical Culture Equipment, Pullover, Strength machine, Training Equipment, Vintage Strength Machines
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
Monday, November 19, 2007
Al Gerard and The Gerard Trap BarAl Gerard was a powerlifter from North Carolina who devised a unique "frame" which allowed him to increase his deadlift without putting undue stress on his back.
He named his invention the "Trap Bar" because of its shape -- using the Trap Bar, Al was able to deadlift over 745 pounds. Soon the Gerard Trap Bar was featured in many strength publications such as Iron Man Magazine, Powerlifting USA and Hardgainer Magazine (above.)
Once people understood its unique advantages, The Gerard Trap Bar became one of the "must have" pieces of training equipment for leg and back development..
Here's a few reasons why:
Unlike most of the classic equipment that is featured on this blog, The Gerard Trap Bar is still available, and you can get your own right here: The Gerard Trap Bar - It's Back!
Labels: Al Gerard, Deadlift, Equipment, Gerard Trap Bar, Hardgainer Magazine, Leg Development, Leg Strength, Powerlifting, Shrugs, Trap Bar Workout, Traps
www.oldtimestrongman.com
All Contents, Including Images and Text, Copyright © 2010 by John Wood and Thunderdome Media Inc., Not to be reproduced without permission, All Rights Reserved
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