Bob Jones Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Master Hand Balancer Professor Paulinetti

Posted on Monday, December 4th, 2017 by John Wood

Handbalancing goes back a long way although the man that took it to a whole new level was Professor Paulinetti. He perfected many of the most difficult hand balancing feats — and was the first man to accomplish the incredibly difficult one-arm planche. Professor Paulinetti was also the mentor to famed hand balancer Bob Jones. In fact, the image above once belonged to the personal collection of Bob Jones. On the back it is written that this photograph was taken in Italy around the year 1900.

The York Hand Balancing Course

Posted on Saturday, April 16th, 2016 by John Wood

It took a couple years but I finally tracked down an extremely rare copy of the York Hand Balancing Course. It was well worth the wait, you wouldn’t believe what’s in there. No author is listed but I believe that it was written by Bob Jones. We may actually reprint the York Hand Balancing Course at some point in the near future.

Eugene Waddell

Posted on Saturday, October 24th, 2015 by John Wood

Eugen Waddell was a member of the famed “Jackson Trio” and the only man we know of who could replicate Bob Jones’ signature feat of standing atop a series of Indian Clubs and flicking them away one-by-one until left balancing only on his thumbs.

Bob Jones

Posted on Monday, April 13th, 2015 by John Wood

Another look at the inimitable Bob Jones, hopping into his signature ‘thumb-stand’ at a moment’s notice. I can’t find my notes but I believe this was shot at a tv show. I don’t believe anyone has ever duplicated this feat, If I’m wrong, it sure couldn’t have been many folks.

Bob Jones at the York Picnic

Posted on Thursday, February 20th, 2014 by John Wood

Bob Jones Does His Thing at the York Picnic

Bob Jones (who else?) does a one-arm handstand on a (tipped) rocker at the York Barbell picnic some time in the late 1930’s (probably 1937). The early York picnics were held right behind Bob Hoffman’s house on Lightner’s Hill in North York, Pennsylvania. Hoffman can be seen bent-pressing the large globe barbell in the background in another picture taken the same day HERE.

They say that the York picnics were so popular that cars were parked three quarters of a mile in every direction. Hoffman’s house is still there and you can see it if you know where to look.

Bob Jones: Handbalancer Extraordinaire

Posted on Friday, November 4th, 2011 by John Wood

Equaled in talent only by his mentor Professor Paulinetti, Bob Jones performed feats of handbalancing mastery that will likely never be duplicated.

Pictured above is one of his most famous feats: Jones began in a full handstand position with an Indian club underneath each fingertip.
One by one, he flicked away each Indian club until he was balancing on his thumbs alone, an absolutely mind blowing feat of strength and dexterity.