Globe Barbells Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

The Dammarie-les-Lys Weightlifting Club, 1906

Posted on Thursday, November 2nd, 2017 by John Wood

A look at the Dammarie-les-Lys Weightlifting Club and their awesome training equipment, circa 1906. (Dammarie-les-Lys is a suburb of Paris) Note the chest expander, and ring weights and, of course, an excellent selection of globe barbells and dumbbells. The president of the club, M. Gustave Dechelpretre, sits front row center holding the sign.

Alan Calvert

Posted on Friday, October 7th, 2016 by John Wood

A very rare picture of Milo Barbell Company founder and noted strength author Alan Calvert. Calvert established the Milo Barbell company in 1902, one of the very first training publications “Strength” Magazine in 1914, wrote several training books and courses and helped pave the way for thousands of trainees to develop size and strength.

Gotta love those classic ‘bells!

Bert Elliott’s Classic Strongman Equipment

Posted on Friday, October 30th, 2015 by John Wood

Bert Elliott was a bodybuilding champ in the 1950’s and 60’s who had an interest in real oldtime strength training. He even shaved his head and dressed like a turn of the century strongman to complete the effect. Here’s Burt standing in front of some pieces of his famous collection of oldtime equipment: chest expanders, globe barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells and Indian Clubs. (Note the very old Hand Grippers on the wall.)

Ali Kotier

Posted on Tuesday, June 30th, 2015 by John Wood

Syrian athlete Ali Kotier is shown here lifting a few famous stage weights. Kotier was featured frequently in Alan Calvert’s Milo Barbell literature as a fantastic example of how one could build incredible strength without being huge in stature: Kotier weighed less than 140 pounds but could put well over 300 lbs. overhead.

The La Seyne-sur-Mer Athletic Club

Posted on Wednesday, December 17th, 2014 by John Wood

A look at the few, but hardy, members of the La Seyne-sur-Mer athletic club, circa 1906. La Seyne-sur-Mer is a port town located in south eastern France, and like most all French strongmen, they have an excellent array of training equipment: globe dumbbells, barbells and ring weights.

Anton Riha

Posted on Wednesday, February 26th, 2014 by John Wood

Back in 1890, Anton Riha, of Bohemia, set an unusual record for weight supporting. Using a specially designed harness rig, he was able to support and/or hang 1400 lbs. of globe barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells, ring weights and other miscellaneous weights on his body in a standing position. This record was broken shortly afterwards though by a strongman from Vienna who upped the ante to over 2000 lbs.

The Olympic Club Gymnasium

Posted on Wednesday, February 5th, 2014 by John Wood

The Olympic Club Gymnasium

The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California is the oldest athletic club in the United States (established in 1860). The original location didn’t survive the great earthquake of 1906 but they relocated to a new location on Post Street in 1912. This is what their gymnasium looked like, circa 1915.

With plenty of natural lighting, an indoor track, climbing ropes, Indian clubs, balance beams, medicine balls, wall pulleys, climbing ladders and an awesome selection of globe barbells and dumbbells, I’d say this facility is just about all you could ever ask for in a gym.

Globe Barbells

Posted on Monday, November 11th, 2013 by John Wood

No idea idea who these guys are, their names are unfortunately lost, but one thing we DO know is that they had an awesome collection of globe barbells and dumbbells. Bravo!

The Kiruna Atletklubb

Posted on Thursday, May 30th, 2013 by John Wood

The Kiruna (Sweden) Atletklubb, circa 1902, and their truly epic selection of kettlebells and globe barbells.

1903 German Sport Club

Posted on Saturday, March 23rd, 2013 by John Wood

A look at a German Sport club, circa 1903. As for their equipment, as was the custom with German-style kettlebells, the handles were large and open to enable juggling… the barbells also appear to have thick handles, which encourage grip and forearm development.