Friday, August 28, 2009
Clevio Massimo Strongman PosterAn old poster of the strongman Clevio Massimo during the time he appeared on the stage throughout the country, depicting some of the feats of strength he included in his act: harness lifting, the One Arm get Up, Kettlebell Crucifix, card ripping, hand balancing etc. He included quite a variety; many not illustrated here, and his ability as a showman only enhanced his fine performances. Massimo also played the violin in one portion of his act to prove he was a capable musician as well as a genuine strongman.
Labels: Card Ripping, Clevio Massimo, Feats of Strength, Hand Balancing, Harness Lifting, Neck Bridge, One Arm Getup, Poster, Strongman Poster
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Thursday, August 13, 2009
Harness Lifting"In making a harness-lift, the athlete stands on a platform above the weight. The lower platform, which bears the weight, is usually suspended by four chains, which join to one chain which passes through a hole in the upper platform. This chain, in turn, is attached to the lifter's harness... Because of the amount of weight involved, Harness Lifting is no game for the weak or untrained man."
- Super Strength by Alan Calvert (1924), pages 35-36
Labels: Alan Calvert, Harness Lifting, Heavy Partial Movements, Super Strength
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Tuesday, August 04, 2009
Horse LiftingOne of the more unusual (and quite impressive) oldtime strongman feats was to lift a horse through the use of a climbing ladder. The German strongman William Pagel (left) pioneered this feat in the circus in the early 1900's. Many other strongmen followed in his footsteps including the Australian strongman Don Athaldo (right), Paul Baillargeon and Alexander Zass.
Labels: Classic Strongman Feats, Don Athaldo, Harness Lifting, Horse Lifting, Odd Object Lifting, Paul Baillargeon, William Pagel
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
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Paul TrappenThe German strongman and weightlifter Paul Trappen's name isn't mentioned very often but it certainly should be. At the 1913 German weightlifting Championships Trappen defeated both Karl Moerke and Hermann Goerner to win the heavyweight title. Some of his best lifts were a 320 pound Clean and Jerk, 215 pounds in the one hand clean and jerk and 183 pounds in the one arm press.
All impressive marks but the lift which he should be remembered best for is his harness lift of a pair of oxen totaling 5225 pounds - that would make his performance the greatest ever recorded in that particular lift.
Trappen also performed for the Barnum and Bailey Circus as did some wrestling as well in addition to feats of strength.
Labels: Barnum and Bailey Circus, Clean and Jerk, German Strongman, Harness Lifting, Hermann Goerner, Karl Moerke, One Arm Clean and Jerk, One Arm Press, Paul Trappen, Supporting Feat, Wrestler
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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
Thursday, March 05, 2009
William PagelThe German Strongman William Pagel used to perform an amazing feat of strength: carrying a 1050-pound horse to the top of two 18-foot ladders by the use of a harness. Even more amazing was that he did this for 10 shows a day. Pagel was also a great wild animal trainer.
Labels: Circus Strongman, Harness Lifting, Horse Lifting, Odd Object Lifting, William Pagel
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, February 02, 2009
The Good DumbbellOne of the most interesting pieces of historical weightlifting equipment is the Good Dumbbell. This dumbbell which weighs 2150 pounds, once belonged to Warren Lincoln Travis.
It was later purchased by the great weightlifter Bill Good which is where it got its name. Bill Good was fond of harness lifting this great dumbbell to build leg strength, as pictured in the above photo. In fact, he used to do so to celebrate his birthday, lifting the bell for each year of his age, a practice he regularly upheld well into his 90s.
Labels: Bill Good, Famous Dumbbell, Harness Lifting, Heavy Partial Movements, Oldtime Strength Equipment, The Good Dumbbell
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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
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Madame Yucca - The Female HerculesA rare poster featuring Madame Yucca as perforoming in the Forepaugh and Sells Brother Circus. The Female Hercules was shown lifting various globe weights overhead, harness liftnig several animals including an elephant and even lifting an anvil with her teeth. Note the use of kettlebells for one and two arm lifts. The poster dates from 1898.
Labels: Adam Forepaugh, Anvil Lifting, Circus, Circus Poster, Feat, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Harness Lifting, Madame Yucca, Sells Brothers Circus, Strongwoman, Teeth Lifting
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
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Sandow's Harness Lifting One of Sandow's favorite leg exercises was harness lifting a heavy weight. He would adjust the length of the chain to different lengths in order to train different leg muscles. Not only was this a very productive movement in itself, it also allowed him to become accustomed to heavy weights and practice some of the feats for his strength performances.
Labels: Eugen Sandow, Harness Lift, Harness Lifting, Leg Exercise, Performing Strongman, Supporting Feat
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
Saturday, December 01, 2007
 Harry Shafran | Harry Shafran was an oldtime lifter who ran two gyms (one in Brooklyn and one in greater New York City) in the 1920's. Eventually Harry got tired of big city life and moved to a farm near Scranton, Pennsylvania where he converted a large barn into a gym. His collection of oldtime strength equipment was quite impressive, you can see a bit of it in the picture to the left where Shafran is harness lifting 1500 pounds (at 72 years old!) |
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Harness Lift, Harness Lifting, Harry Shafran, Oldtime Strongman, Strongman Equipment
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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