1924 Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Farmer Burns School of Wrestling Advertisement

Posted on Wednesday, March 3rd, 2021 by John Wood

Farmer Burns established his school of wrestling in Omaha, Nebraska in 1911 but for those who could not make the trip and study in person, he also had his mail-order training course. (Which, by the way, we are in the process of posting The Iron League.) This outstanding advertisement for Farmer Burns’ School is from 1924. By the way, when actor in inflation, $15 in 1924 equals over $229 in today’s money so an Iron League membership is a steal.

Saul Hallap

Posted on Monday, July 18th, 2016 by John Wood

Saul Hallap was a great Estonian weight lifter who set four world records and seven European records during his career. Hallup also competed in the 1924 Olympic games in Paris where he one-arm snatched 75 kg, one-arm clean & jerked 95 kg, pressed 90 kg, two-hand snatched 90 kg and two-hand clean & jerked 115 kg, which was good for a 465 kg total and a 9th place finish. After his weight lifting career, Hallap became a circus acrobat.

If a Snake Had Brains…

Posted on Monday, April 27th, 2015 by John Wood

If a Snake Had Brains… he would still be a snake. Another great ad by Earl E. Liederman, circa 1924.

No Longer a Secret ~ Every Man Can Have It!

Posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2014 by John Wood

Some of the finest copy writing ever put down on paper was done for the strength mail order business. This advertisement for Siegmund Breitbart’s Course is from 1924 …much like the training, the lessons in promotion and marketing are just as effective today. If you are in the strength business, it will behoove you to pay attention on both counts.

Saxon Brown

Posted on Friday, March 21st, 2014 by John Wood

Saxon Brown

In 1924, at seventeen years of age, Saxon Brown was Britain’s strongest youth. As a professional, he performed many traditional feats of strength such as Nail Driving, Nail Bending, Card Tearing, The Human Chain and Steel Scrolling.

Brown could also lift a car from the side and would let a motorcycle drive over his neck as a part of his act…he is thought to be the first man to pull a bus with his teeth. Brown was also clearly a big fan of chest expanders.

1924 Olympic Globe Barbells

Posted on Saturday, November 3rd, 2012 by John Wood

1924 Olympic Globe Barbells

In the early Olympic games, the athletes had the choice of using plate-loaded barbells or shot-loaded globe barbells. Shown here is the selection of weights for the 1924 Olympic games in Paris, France, the last time that this choice was available. The great French champion Charles Rigoulot won the Gold medal in the heavyweight class, and, interestingly, was the only lifter who chose to compete with the shot loaded globe barbells.