Thursday, September 17, 2009
Anton Matysek
Anton Matysek preparing to "rock to the shoulder an enormous barbell with 16-in spheres, which weighs 231 pounds empty, and is 7-1/2 feet long over all. After this picture was taken, Matysek placed this bell on the floor, raised it to the shoulder with two hands, jerked it until it rested across his shoulders behind his neck, jerked it aloft again and replaced it on the floor.
The handle-bar is nearly 3-inches thick: it takes a tremendous grip to use a thick handle-bar like this. Some of the athletes who witnesses this feat of Matysek's were unable to lift the bell from the floor.
After performing the above feat, Matysek stood the bell on end, as shown in this picture, rocked it to his shoulder and then pressed it to arm's length with one hand.
Labels: Anton Matysek, Bent Press, Bent Press Feat, Grip Strength, Thick Bar, Thick Bar Lifting, Thick Handle
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, July 11, 2009
The Shafran DumbbellHere's a famous dumbbell which you have probably never heard of... This unique dumbbell once belonged to the great strongman Harry Shafran who lifted it during his Vaudeville performances. Like many stage weights, the Shafran Bell is hollow so the weight can be made much heavier by filling it with shot, if need be and also features a thick handle which necessitates a great amount of grip strength in order to lift. You can visit the Shafran Bell at the York Barbell Company Museum.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Dumbbell, Famous Dumbbell, Grip Strength, The Shafran Dumbbell, Thick Handle, York Barbell Company Museum
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
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Millennium DumbbellThe Millennium Dumbbell was created around ten years ago as a tribute to a weight once lifted by the great French Strongman Apollon. At 225 pounds, The Millennium outweighs the famous Thomas Inch dumbbell considerably. Needless to say the 2-3/8 inch thick handle necessitates a tremendous level of grip strength in order to lift.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Famous Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Grip Equipment, Grip Strength, Hand Strength, Millennium Dumbbell, The Millennium Dumbbell, Thick Handle
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, March 24, 2009
Lorenz GeerLorenz Geer, the popular oldtime strongman from Munich, Germany, was known as "King of The Snatch" in the later part of the 19th century. He achieved a right-hand snatch of 165 pounds and 9 reps with 142 pounds. Geer was particularly fond of working with thick-handled equipment.
Labels: German Strongman, Lorenz Geer, Oldtime Strongman, one arm snatch, Thick Handle
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, March 17, 2009
Small Thomas Inch DumbbellsThomas Inch is famous for the Thomas Inch Challenge Dumbbell which weighs 172 pounds... What most people do not know, however, is that there where actually three other Inch Dumbbells which were smaller and which allowed him to progressively gain strength in order to lift the biggest one. The smaller "Inch" bells weighed 75, 140 and 153 pounds respectively.
Since the original Inch Dumbbell is now sitting in my living room back home, I recently, decided to commission a series of smaller bells which would not only keep that tradition alive but also better help in bridging the gap while training with the 172-pound Inch bell.
These dumbbells were cast in a far off land and brought to the U.S. at great personal expense. They are currently the only bells of this sort on U.S. soil. The two larger ones weigh 53 kg (116.6 pounds) and the two smaller bells in the back weight 40 kg (88 pounds). I wanted to get a pair of each size for farmer's walk training.
You'll be seeing these bells in action soon...
Labels: Globe Dumbbells, Grip Equipment, Inch Dumbbell, Small Inch Dumbbells, Thick Handle, Thomas Inch, Thomas Inch Dumbbells
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
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Dave Sheppard Lifts Apollon's DumbbellA famous picture of Dave Sheppard lifting a classic stage dumbbell that once belonged to the French strongman Apollon. This is the very same dumbbell that I can be seen lifting here. You can't tell by the picture but the handle is made of polished brass, and a true work of art.
Labels: Apollon, Apollon's Dumbbell, Dave Sheppard, Globe Dumbbell, Thick Handle
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
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Melvin TampkeMelvin Tampke was frequently featured in Alan Calvert's Strength Magazine. Here he does a one arm clean and jerk with an excellent Thick Handled globe barbell.
Labels: Alan Calvert, Globe Barbell, Melvin Tampke, Strength Magazine, Thick Handle
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
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Hermann Goerner's Challenge BarbellA look at Hermann Goerner's challenge barbell: 330-3/4 pounds with a 2-3/8-inch thick handle. Goerner could easily clean and jerk this unique barbell without moving his feet, a feat no one else was ever able to duplicate.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Hermann Goerner, Thick Bar, Thick Handle
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
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Arthur LeslieArthur Leslie was just a guy who trained at Sig Klein's Gym in New York City. The reason Leslie began training in the first place is that he became tired of being weak and overweight. At 46 years years old he had never touched a weight before but soon after he began training he began to see tremendous results. In fact his results were so dramatic, Sig Klein featured him in several occasions in his publication Klein's Bell. Here he is with a great Thick-Handled show barbell. Leslie was 59 years of age when this picture was taken.
Labels: Arthur Leslie, Globe Barbell, Kleins Bell, Sig Klein, Sig Kleins Gym, Thick Handle
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, 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
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
Friday, November 28, 2008
Louis Cyr's WeightsA rare picture of some of Louis Cyr's weights. Note the Ring Weight in the foreground and the fact that most of these classic weights have thick handles. You can tell a lot of strength was built with these weights.
Labels: Dumbbell, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbells, Louis Cyr, Ring Weights, Thick Handle
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, June 21, 2008
| Sometimes you'll have to improvise if you still want to get in a workout. Back during the second World War, our troops overseas had to do just that if they wanted to keep training. Here, Cpl. Robert Hamilton of the 1st AAF in Italy fashioned a nifty dumbbell out of some narrow-gauge train wheels. I'm sure the thick handle made for some interesting workouts. |  Train Wheel Dumbbell |
Labels: Dumbbell, Thick Handle, Train Wheel, Unique Equipment, Unusual Training 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
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
| Tommy Kono succeeds in jerking unusual classic barbell at Cayeaux's Paris gym (the same place where Norb Schemansky lifted the Apollon Wheels.) This non-rotating thick-handle barbell weighed 358 pounds and the smaller plates necessitated a longer pull making it quite a challenge. The first two men to clean and jerk this weight were Charles Rigoulot and John Davis. |  Tommy Kono |
Labels: Charles Rigoulot, Classic Gym, Clean and Jerk, Famous Barbell, Jerk, John Davis, Thick Handle, Tommy Kono
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
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Thomas Inch's Challenge"Can you lift it?" - That's what Mr. Inch's challenge boiled down to. Here's the great historian David Webster with a placard announcing Mr. Inch's Challenge at the Aberdeen Sports Review in the early 1950's -- and Mr. Inch's famous Challenge Dumbbell.
The prize for lifting the Inch Dumbbell was announced as 30 British Pounds -- adjusted for inflatation that's over $450 in today's dollars. Whether then or now, to conquer the Inch Dumbbell's thick handle, you'll need a tremendous grip.
Labels: Challenge Weight, David Webster, Grip Feat, Grip Strength, Inch Dumbbell, Inch Dumbbell Challenge, Thick Handle, Thomas Inch
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
Thursday, April 10, 2008
George Zottman Globe BarbellsA rare picture of a young George Zottman with some of his great oldtime stage equipment. Grip strength is a premium for any oldtime strongman. Gotta love those thick-handled globe barbells and dumbbells. You can tell a lot of great workouts happened with those.
The globe dumbbell in the foreground weighs 175 pounds -- and the dog's name was Sphinx. Tullus Wrtght "The American Sampson" is pictured sitting on the left.
Labels: Dumbbell, George Zottman, Globe Barbell, Globe Dumbbell, Grip Strength, Grip Tools, Oldtime Strength Equipment, Thick Bars, Thick Handle, Tullus Wright, Vintage Strength Equipment, Zottman Curl
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
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Doug Hepburn Presses the Jowett DumbbellDuring his pro-wrestling career, Doug Hepburn often performed feats of strength in the ring. Here Doug presses the 169-1/2 pound George Jowett dumbbell overhead. This special dumbbell was said to have a handle "four-times" thicker than a normal dumbbell. -- Yet another incredible pressing feat from the great Canadian Strongman.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Doug Hepburn, Dumbbell, Dumbbell Press, George Jowett, George Jowett Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Overhead Dumbbell Press, Overhead Press, Shoulder Exercise, Thick Handle
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
Friday, February 15, 2008
 Inch Dumbbell Lift | History is made: John Gallacher of Glasgow becomes the first man in modern history to lift the Thomas Inch Dumbbell at the 1957 NABBA Mr. Universe Contest held in London, England. Mr. Gallacher fully deadlifted the Inch Dumbbell 3 times that night and was awarded the Special Plaque by Thomas Inch himself. As you should know, the famous Thomas Inch Dumbbell weighs 172 pounds and has a 2-3/8th inch diameter thick handle making it a tremendous grip challenge for anyone who attempts to lift it. This challenge weight defied thousands of athletes until Mr. Gallacher came along. |
Labels: Barbells Dumbbells, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, Inch Dumbbell, Thick Handle, Thomas Inch
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 29, 2008
| John Grimek had his eye on lifting the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell for a long time. Needless to say the ponderous weight defied his attempts to lift it, just as it had for the better part of nearly a century. Finally, Grimek succeeded in bent-pressing the thick-handled dumbbell overhead and added his name to a very short list. You can currently see the Cyr Challenge dumbbell at the York Barbell Hall of Fame in York Pennslyvania. |  John Grimek Bent-Presses the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell |
Labels: Bent Press, Challenge Weight, Globe Dumbbell, John Grimek, Louis Cyr, Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell, Shot Loaded, Strongman Equipment, Thick Handle, York Barbell Hall of Fame
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 08, 2008
Apollon One of the barbells that the great French Strongman Apollon used to lift during his performances had a 2-1/2 inch thick diameter handle and was made up of two hollow spheres which could be loaded with sand to adjust the weight.
This barbell weighed 143 pounds empty and filled with sand it tipped the scales at 198 pounds. Just before he was to perform, a rival strongman played a trick on Apollon and replaced the sand-filled spheres with solid iron ones which brought the weight of the barbell to 341 pounds.
During the performance, Apollon lifted the barbell with ease... Apollon's strength was so great that he did not even notice the difference!
Labels: Apollon, Globe Barbell, Grip Feat, Oldtime Strongman Feat, Thick Handle
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
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The Thomas Inch Dumbbell ReplicaIn the late 90s, the Staver Foundry of Minnesota produced replicas of the famous Thomas Inch challenge dumbbell. These solid globe dumbbells weighed 172 pounds but the handle is slightly thicker (2.47" vs. 2-3/8" on the original.)
172 Pounds may not seem like much of a challenge to lift but the thick handle makes it nearly impossible. Thousands of athletes have tried to lift the Inch Dumbbell but only a few have succeeded. You'll need a very strong grip if you want to add your name to the list.
Labels: Challenge Weight, Famous Dumbbell, Globe Dumbbell, Grip Strength, Inch Dumbbell, Strongman Equipment, Thick Bar Lifting, Thick Handle, Thomas Inch
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
Welcome to the Strongest Blog on the Net!
This is THE PLACE where you will find interesting bits of Iron Game history, lore and training tips from the strongest men of all time.
Previous Posts
Featured Products
Monthly Archives
Not yet a member? Subscribe now to receive daily doses of Strongman history, training tips, and site updates!
Copyright © 2010 Thunderdome Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved