Monday, January 11, 2010
The York Cable Course No. 2The York Barbell Company produced many training courses over the years, and among them, several for getting stronger with "Cables" (or chest expanders, or strands ~ whatever you are more comfortable in calling them). Here's a look at York Cable Course No. 2 which covers all the bases pretty well.
Labels: Cable Course, Cable Training, Chest Expander Course, Chest Expanders, Training Course, York Barbell
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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, 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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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 31, 2009
The York Leg Press MachineFive decades ago, the "Leg Press" meant something entirely different. This "Leg Press Machine" from The York Barbell Company was a way to circumvent a few of the issues normally associated with heavy squatting. Note the other pieces of York Barbell training ephemera: The Calflex, Aristocrat Dumbbells, kettlebell handles, Dumbbell handles and the York Chest Crusher.
Labels: Aristocrat Dumbbells, Dumbbells, kettlebell handles, Leg Press, Leg Press Machine, The Leg Press, The York Leg Press Machine, York Barbell, York Calflex, York Chest Crusher
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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, March 25, 2009
Norb SchemanskyNorb Schemansky training at the York Gym in York, PA while preparing for the 1964 Olympics. Norb ended up winning the Bronze medal with a 537.5 kg total, making him the first weightlifter to win four Olympic medals.
Labels: Norb Schemansky, York Barbell, York Barbell Club t-shirt
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Friday, March 20, 2009
45 lb. York Barbell PlateFor years anything manufactured by the York Barbell Company was the standard... and if you wanted quality barbell plates, they were the folks to see. Hang on to your vintage York plates, they are hard to come by.
Labels: 45 Pound Plate, York Barbell, York Barbell Company
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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 19, 2009
Bob Hoffman's Simplified System of Swingbell TrainingBob Hoffman and the York Barbell Company produced a number of books, courses and training guides featuring their equipment. This course, written for the York swingbell was written during the early 1940s. You can make your own swingbell pretty easily out of a dumbbell handle and some plates.
Labels: Bob Hoffman, swingbell, Swingbell Exercises, Swingbell Training, Training Course, York Barbell, York Barbell Company
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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
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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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 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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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, January 24, 2009
Stan StanczykThe great Olympic lifter Stan Stanczyk was the first lifter to win three successive World titles in three different weight classes. Lifting for the York Barbell Club, he won five in all. He also won six Senior National titles, a Gold Medal at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, England, a Gold at the 1951 Pan-American Games and a Silver Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Games.
Stanczyk set eight word records during his lifting career. He was also a fairly good bodybuilder, placing very respectably in the few contests he entered. Once his competitive weightlifting career ended Stanczyk moved to Miami and opened a bowling alley. He was as meticulous with his bowling as he was with weightlifting, he kept track of every game he ever bowled (lifetime average of 190!)
Labels: 1948 Olympics, olympic weightlifter, Stan Stanczyk, World Champion, York Barbell, York Gang
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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
Sunday, December 28, 2008
York BarbellsA selection of York Barbells and dumbbells in a classic wooden rack. They were marketed as "second to none" and they were. Notice the plates are positioned on the bars to minic a globe shape.
Labels: Barbell Plates, Barbells, Barbells Dumbbells, Dumbbell, York Barbell, York 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
Friday, December 26, 2008
 The York Hand Balancing Course | The name York Barbell is synonymous with freeweights -- barbells, dumbbells and the like, but they were all about "Strength" in all its many forms. Hand Balancing was, of course, a very popular method of training even with the typical "barbell" man. Articles with hand balancing techniques regularly appeared in Strength and Health Magazine. And, as many past champions demonstrated, hand balancing was a good method for improving one's barbell overhead press. An advertisement for the York Hand Balancing course is shown at the left. |
Labels: Advertisement, Hand Balancing, Strength and Health, Training Course, York Barbell, York Hand Balancing Course
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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 27, 2008
| The Jefferson lift, also known as the straddle lift or straddle deadlift, was a favorite leg exercise of many of the York lifters. It certainly worked for Steve Stanko who won the 1944 AAU Mr. America contest and was the first man to break the 1000 pound barrier in Olympic Weightlifting. If you train on this lift, make sure to do a set in each direction. |  The Jefferson Lift |
Labels: Jefferson Lift, Leg Exercise, Steve Stanko, Straddle Deadlift, Straddle Lift, York, York Barbell
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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
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Steve Stanko and The Hub LiftOne of the classic classic grip feats was to pick up a York Deep-Dish 45 Pound barbell plate just by the hub, something weightlifting and bodybuilding champ Steve Stanko could do with ease, even with an added 10 pounds. Steve's best was with over 90 pounds!
Labels: 45 Pound Plate, Bending Feat, Finger Strength, Grip Feat, Hub Lift, Steve Stanko, York Barbell, York Deep Dish 45 Pound Plate
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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, December 18, 2007
The York Big 12 SpecialThis is the weight set that helped put a lot of muscle on a lot of people - The York Big 12 Special as advertised on the back of the June, 1952 issue of Strength and Health Magazine.
That's Jack Delinger (Mr. America, 1949) on the left, and John Farbotnik (Mr. America, 1950) on the right.
This set included 240 pounds of barbell plates, long barbell bar, short dumbbell/swingbell bar, health boots, a head strap for building neck strength, wrist roller, kettlebell handles, collars and four York training courses (York Dumbbell course 1 & 2, Leg Development and Swing Bar Training.)
Labels: Barbell, Big 12 Special, Collars, head strap, Iron Boots, Jack Dellinger, John Farbotnik, kettlebell handles, Mr. America, swingbell, Training Course, Training Equipment, wrist roller, York Barbell
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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, December 10, 2007
The York Olympic BarbellIf there's one thing that every Strongman needs, it's a quality barbell. Here's a look at a York Olympic Set circa 1939. Kind of amazing that the barbell hasn't changed much since it was invented in the early 1900's -- and equally amazing that a century later it's so difficult to purchase a quality set. (Note the "Deep Dish" plates.)
Labels: Barbell, Olympic Barbell, Training Equipment, York Barbell
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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 03, 2007
 Strength and Health Magazine #1 | Just in case you ever need to know who was on the cover of Strength and Health #1, the answer is Walter "Wally" Zagurski. Zagurski was an original member of the "York Gang" who lifted back when it was called the "York Oil Burner Athletic Club." He competed in the 1932 Olympics, won the 1933 Sr. National Weightlifting title at 165 pounds and was a very good all-around strength athlete. He was also one of the few men who could lift the Louis Cyr Challenge Dumbbell overhead. |
Labels: Muscle Magazine, Olympics, Strength and Health, Wally Zagurski, weightlifting, York, York Barbell
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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
Friday, November 02, 2007
Horseshoes Bent by The Mighty AtomThe Mighty Atom bent these horseshoes and iron bar at the 1962 York, Pennsylvania Interstate Fair. That year marked his 42nd consecutive appearance at that particular fair.
These bent horseshoes are currently on display at the York Barbell Company museum in York, Pennsylvania.
It takes quite a bit of grip and forearm strength to be able to accomplish that strength feat. To see footage of horseshoes being bent by modern Strongman Pat Povilaitis, you'll want to check out 336 Pounds of Fury.
Labels: Bent Horseshoes, Pat Povilaitis, Steel Bending, Strongman Feat, The MIghty Atom, York Barbell, York Barbell Company
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, October 07, 2007
Classic Muscular Development MagazineBob Hoffman and the York Barbell Company began Strength and Health Magazine in 1932 to highlight and promote the wonders of proper strength training to the world. These early Strength and Health magazines covered a variety of topics including bodybuilding, Olympic weightlifting, Nutrition, athletic training and more.
In 1964, the York Barbell company started its second magazine entitled "Muscular Development" which was devoted specifically to bodybuilding. The editor of Muscular Development Magazine from 1964 until 1986 was none other than John Grimek (who also graced the first cover.)
The first five issues are featured above (January to May 1964) Covermen from left to right John Grimek,Bill Pearl, Bernie Earnst, Larry Scott and Hugo Labra.
Labels: Bernie Earnst, Bill Pearl, Bob Hoffman, Bodybuilding, Hugo Labra, John Grimek, Larry Scott, Muscle Magazine, Muscular Development, York Barbell
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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, September 06, 2007
 Bob Hoffman | At a time when just about everyone frowned upon weight lifting, Bob Hoffman was one of the few that understood its benfits. He made high-quality training equipment and sound training advice available to everyone and under his leadership York, Pennsylvania (a.k.a Muscletown USA) became the center of the Strength world. Hoffman's "boys" were Champions, plain and simple. Among them: John Grimek (God of Bodybuilders, Mr. America of 1940 and 1941), Steve Stanko (first man to break the 1000 lb. barrier in Olympic Weight Lifting) and Tommy Kono (2-time Olympic Gold Medal Winner.) |
Hoffman's books, training courses, and magazines ("Strength and Health," and Muscular Development) taught millions of young men the thrill of strength.
We all owe a debt of gratitude to Bob Hoffman.
Labels: Barbells Dumbbells, Bob Hoffman, Bodybuilding, Pennsylvania, Strength and Health, York, York Barbell
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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