Saturday, February 20, 2010
Steamship GymnasiumBack in days of yore, the steamship was a very popular method of international travel. Given the upscale nature of their clientel, and that it took several weeks of travel time, these steam ships offered all the amenities of home, including a fully stocked gymnasium like this one with its Indian Clubs, Swedish Bars, Wall Pulleys etc.
This particular gym was aboard the R.M.S. Franconia, which took thousands of immagrants from Liverpool to Boston during the years of 1912 and 1916. It was also owned by the White Start Line, which also owned the Titanic.
Labels: Gymnasiums, Indian Clubs, Steamship, Swedish Bars, Titanic, Vintage Exercise, Vintage Gymnasiums, Wall Pulleys
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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
Monday, February 15, 2010
Harry Truman's GymIn honor of President's Day and all, I thought you might be interested in seeing Harry Truman's gym in the White House, circa 1948.
It is sparse, but certainly contains everything someone would need to stay in shape: medicine balls, Swedish Bars, Wall Pulleys, Gymnastic Rings, Rowing machine, health rider bike, situp board, and a rack of dumbbells (more of which are out of the frame.)
Labels: Classic Gym, Gymnastic Rings, Harry Truman, Health Rider Bike, Medicine Balls, Physical Fitness, Rowing Machine, Swedish Bars, Wall Pulleys, White House
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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
Saturday, December 12, 2009
The equipment produced by The Narragansett Machine Co. was top notch all the way. Check out the specs on this interesting piece from 1910:
 The Narragansett Machine Co. Triplex Pulley | This illustration of details of the Triplex Pulley weight shows the thoroughness and care we put into the design of all our apparatus, particularly the pulley weights. The ceiling pulley is adjustable to provide for varying rope angles. The top pulley also swings to lead correctly to the ceiling pulley. The swivel chest weight pulley, with its sliding block, is a fine example of neat design and the swivel floor pulley reaches down over the floorboard to draw the handles as close to the floor as possible. The mounting boards are made of Oak hardwood, the pulleys themselves are made from cast iron and other fixtures are made of polished brass. |
Labels: Antique Equipment, Narragansett Machine Company, Pulley Weight, Wall Pulleys
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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
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Clark GableBeing a swashbuckling leading man in Hollywood is tough work, which is why Clark Gable here, regularly engaged in physical training throughout his acting career. Not only that, but the posture, and body control developed from this physical training increased screen presence - Gable was one of the most popular actors of his time. The wall pulleys are likely from The Narragansett Machine Company.
Labels: Clark Gable, Movie Star, Physical Training, Speed Bag, Wall Pulleys
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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
Monday, October 12, 2009
Neck TrainingPhysical training was frowned upon for many years by the medical community but there were still many athletes who understood its value, even way back when. Here's a fellow who did: Chalmer William "Bill" Cissell, who was playing infield for the Chicago White Sox at the time this photo was taken.
Cissell regularly trained at the gym in the winter months to keep himself fit and trim for the season. This was back in the late 1920's mind you. Among the basic exercises he chose for his workout was this novel way to build neck strength using a Wall Pulley
Labels: Build Neck Strength, Neck Strength, Wall Pulleys
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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
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Tug-o-War Practice Inside Hemenway GymnasiumPictures from the inside of Hemenway Gymnasium are exceedingly rare. This one shows the Harvard Tug-o-War team getting in a some practice time around 1896 or so. Note the Wall Pulleys and Gymnastic Rings. Looks like a great place to train.
Labels: Gymnastic Rings, Hemenway Gymnasium, Tug O War, Vintage Gymnasiums, Wall Pulleys
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, August 20, 2009
1865 GymnasiumA look at a rare engraving of the Myrtle Street Gymnasium in Liverpool, England, circa 1865. Look closely and you will see climbing ropes and ladders, wall pulleys, dumbbell lifting and a variety of other interesting methods of training. It was at this Gymnasium where the first Olympic Festivals were held. These early athletic contests gave rise to the "Modern" Olympic games.
Labels: Climbing Ladders, Climbing Ropes, dumbbell lifting, Gymnasiums, Gymnastic Equipment, Gymnastics, Physical Culture, Physical Culture Gym, Vintage Gymnasiums, Wall Pulleys
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, July 24, 2009
A Presidential WorkoutRunning the country is hard work which is why a regular workout schedule is a good idea. Here's Calvin Coolidge swinging the Indian Clubs while House Speaker Frederick H. Gillett trains on the wall pulley in the White House Gym. This picture was taken on January 31st, 1923.
Labels: Calvin Coolidge, Classic Gym, Indian Club Swinging, Indian Clubs, Physical Culture Equipment, President, Wall Pulleys
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
The College of the City of New York GymnasiumThe College of the City of New York Gymnasium, circa 1916. Note the 18 full sets of wall pulleys, dumbbells, Indian Clubs and the elevated track. Pretty much everything you need -- looks like a great place to get in a workout.
Labels: Classic Strongman Gyms, Gymnasiums, Indian Clubs, New York Gym, Wall Pulleys, Wooden 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
Saturday, March 14, 2009
"The Tipton Slasher" Benny Yanger"The Tipton Slasher" Benny Yanger gets in a workout with the wall pulley at an oldtime Chicago gym circa 1906. Note the small dumbbell which has been added to the weight stack. Like most boxers of that era, Benny was also fond of throwing the medicine ball around to build upper body strength and stamina. Over his career, the New York lightweight was 51-9.
Labels: Benny Yanger, Boxing, Boxing Training, Classic Gym, Medicine Ball Training, Oldtime Boxers, Upper Body Exercise, Wall Pulleys
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 12, 2009
The Narragansett Machine CompanyAt the turn of the century, The Narragansett Machine Company was the very first widespread manufacturer of physical training equipment. They made everything from Climbing Ropes and Indian clubs to traveling rings, Wall Pulleys climbing ladders, and even sophisticated strength machines made very eloquently with oak and brass.
I didn't realize it until much later but my grade school gym was outfitted back in the 1920's entirely with classic physical training equipment from The Narragansett Machine Company -- and we were still using it fifty years later.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Climbing Ladders, Climbing Ropes, Gymnastic Rings, Indian Clubs, Narragansett Machine Company, Physical Culture Equipment, Physical Training, Providence Rhode Island, Wall Pulleys
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, January 16, 2009
Wall PulleysWall Pulleys were one of the first commercially available pieces of training equipment and were a common sight in gyms in the later 19th and early 20th century. Pugilists used to use them for building punching power as well as developing upper body endurance.
Here the great Light-heavyweight boxer from Philadelphia Tommy Loughran gets in a quick workout while his trainer Jack Brady looks on. These two shots are especially rare as they are two different shots taken at the same moment from two different cameras. They were taken in 1929.
Labels: Antique Equipment, Boxing Training, Oldtime Boxers, Tommy Loughran, Wall Pulleys
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, November 01, 2007
Classic Gymnasium from 1888Check out this wood engraving of a classic gymnasium: It was the YMCA at Longacre, London. This particular gymnasium was opened by the Prince of Wales on June 16, 1888.
Notice the variety of physical training going on: Indian Clubs, Tumbling, Parallel Bars, High Bar, Pommel Horse, Wall Pulleys, Climbing Ladders, Gymnastic Rings, Climbing Ropes and a rack of Barbells along the wall.
Labels: Barbells, Classic Strongman Gyms, Climbing Ladders, Climbing Ropes, Gymnastic Rings, Gymnastics, High Bar, Indian Clubs, Parallel Bars, Physical Culture Equipment, Tumbling, Wall Pulleys, YMCA
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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