Unknown Strongman Archives - www.oldtimestrongman.com

Unknown Strongman #9

Posted on Saturday, March 9th, 2019 by John Wood

Another entry in our unknown strongman series. Like all of them, this fellow has great equipment AND is a snappy dresser.

Unknown Strongman #8

Posted on Friday, August 17th, 2018 by John Wood

Another unknown strongman… That’s one great barbell, though.

Unknown Strongman #7

Posted on Friday, May 13th, 2016 by John Wood

There are a lot of well-known “names” throughout strength history. Just spend a few minutes on this site and you’ll get a good idea of most of them. But there are also hundreds, if not thousands of strongmen out there whose names and feats have been lost to the sands of time.

Take this gentleman, for example: All we know is that he was active in the Holyoke, Massachusetts area at the turn of the century… and he had good taste in equipment. That’s a fine looking dumbbell by his feet. Only time will tell if we ever learn anything more about him.

Unknown Strongman #6

Posted on Tuesday, July 14th, 2015 by John Wood

[https://www.ironleague.com] – Unfortunately this fellow’s name is lost, which is unfortunate since this is one of the more impressive feats of strength that we have ever highlighted (and that is really saying something!) Even if we are pretty conservative with the bodyweights, that’s got to be close to 900 pounds. Supporting feats always go over well because very heavy weights can be used but doing so in a full backbend is utterly ridiculous.

Unknown Strongman #5

Posted on Thursday, February 6th, 2014 by John Wood

Unknown Strongman #5

Unfortunately the details of these fellows has been lost but I have to say I have certainly never seen this version of the Human Anvil feat before. The Human Anvil feat always goes over well with an audience but the stakes have been raised with this version: on a bed on nails, with an assistant chopping away at a large log with an ax!

UPDATE: we found out that the fellow chopping wood is 17-time world champion axeman Leo Appo.

SOLVED: The “hitee’ here is great Australian strongman Don Athaldo, this took place in New South Wales in 1933.

Unknown Strongman #4

Posted on Monday, January 20th, 2014 by John Wood

UNknown Strongman #4

Here’s another unknown strongman whose identity is unfortunately lost to history. I believe he was German, and whoever he was, clearly has a strong set of choppers on him. That’s a pretty nifty globe barbell too!

Unknown Strongman #3

Posted on Wednesday, March 28th, 2012 by John Wood

Unknown Strongman #3

Unknown Strongman #3… We’ll never know his name but he has some sweet weights. Based on his attire, it looks like he may have been a wrestler as well.

Unknown Strongman #2

Posted on Thursday, March 15th, 2012 by John Wood

Unknown Strongman #2

Here’s another good example of an unknown strongman, whose name and feats are unfortunately lost to the sands of time. This fellow is obviously a big fan of barrel lifting and blockweights or kettlebells. Notice that while his arms are not particularly large his forearm development is exceptional — no doubt the result of lifting, heavy, awkward objects.

UPDATE: Unknown no more! He is Signor Dondretti, Iron Jaw Athlete and contortionist – he performed with the King & Franklin’s New Colossal Shows in the late 1800s and lifted a 1000 lb. horse with his teeth!

Unknown Strongman #1

Posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 by John Wood

There were hundreds, if not thousands of strongmen who were very successful yet never got their due since the flow of information back then is certainly not what it is today. Consequently, there are many examples of oldtime strongmen whose images remain but whose names are lost to history. Here’s one example of an image you probably haven’t seen before and won’t see anywhere else. We don’t know who this guy is, but he certainly had excellent taste in equipment.