Thomas Inch Born Scarborough 27th December 1881 Died Surrey 12th December 1963 aged 81

Thomas Inch was a major figure in the history of British Bodybuilding. His lifts exceeded those of Sandow, his mail order Bodybuilding courses and equipment sales exceeded all others at their peak - it is reported that he had over 70 people working on courses and sales and over 50 typists working 6 days a week on mail order business.

He is also credited with being the first to introduce plate barbells and dumbells.

As with other famous strongmen Thomas Inch also 'played the Halls'. The picture below showing one of his speciality feats.

And dressed as a Roman Gladiator:

He wrote many books and articles. Listed below are articles by and about him taken from Health & Strength of 1904, together with full reproductions of some of his books.

In 1954, when he was 73, W.A. Pullum wrote an article about him in 'Bodybuilder' Magazine entitled 'Ambitions of the Scarborough Hercules'

There are also a range of courses and exercises both using resistance isometrics and weight / exercise equipment listed below.

	Selection of Articles from Health & Strength (UK) - 1904
Ambitions of the Scarborough Hercules
	Aston's Victories over Max Sick and Inch Contributed by
Thomas Inch on Strength Published 1907 Contributed by Gordon Anderson Download here
	Strength Secrets Date Unknown Contributed by Download here
Instructions on Advanced Exercises Date Unknown Contributed by Download here
	The Inch Leverage Exercises extracted from A Manual of Physical Training (1947) see below
Will & Nerve Force in Relation to Physical Culture Date unknown Contributed by Gordon Anderson
	'Something New' Physical Culture Up-to-Date Date unknown Explanatory notes for a series of Self Resistance Exercises Contributed by Gordon Anderson
A Manual of Physical Training 1947 Contributed by John G. McEneany
	Spalding's Book on Boxing & Physical Culture by Thomas Inch - Late 40s/Early 50s Only the section on Physical Culture (Wall Exerciser, Dumb-bell & Barbell) is reproduced Contributed by Peter Luckin