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Mighty Men of Old
The Best Place to Start - being Biographies and Pictures of famous
Strongmen of Old - Some you will have heard of - and some you may
not.
Contributed by
Gil Waldron
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Eugen Sandow
Takes you directly to the Sandow section of this website.
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The Indian Club Exercise
by Sim D. Kehoe
1866
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Health & Strength
or Practical Athletics
for Busy People
Alex Whitely - 1891
Inventor of the
Whitely Exerciser
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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Louis Cyr
1863 - 1912
Legendary Canadian Strongman
includes
'The Strongest Man That Ever Lived'
by George F. Jowett
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Anderson's Physical Education
Published in 1897 to promote Anderson's Exerciser which bears a remarkable resemblance to that of Sandow's and Whitely's.
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
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Home Gymnastics by Professor Hoffman
Published in 1899
Contributed by Jim Bartlett
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William Bankier
Apollo -The Scottish Hercules
Partner of Monte Saldo & author of 'Ideal Physical Culture' written in 1900
Full book plus biography by Ron Tyrrell
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Alois P. Swoboda
One of the leading (and now almost forgotten) Physical Culturalists in the turn-of the-century America
Much here including a 1902 course and many promotional booklets. |
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Bernarr Macfadden
Often described as 'The Father of Physical Culture'
A comprehensive section with books (including Muscular Power & Beauty)
and other pictorial material.
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Al Treloar
Treloar's Science of Muscular Development
1904
A Text book of Physical Development.
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Modern Physical Culture by C. Lang Neil
Extremely rare book published in London in 1904. Amongst other topics
it examines Macfadden's, Sandow's, Apollo's and other systems.
Contributed by Gil Waldron |
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.Physical Culture by Means of Muscular Resistance & Breathing
Exercises.
by Prof. Edward Ittmann
1904
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
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Thomas Inch
Articles about Inch and publications by him including
'A Manual of Physical Training'
and much more.
Contributions by Gil Waldron, Gordon Anderson & John
McEneany
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Arthur Saxon
"The Iron Master"
& The Saxon Trio
The Development of Physical Power
1905 & more
Contributed by Gordon Anderson.
plus articles & photos about the Saxon Trio
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My System
Lieut. J.P. Muller, of Denmark, wrote this book in 1904 - it became
a world best seller, being translated into 24 languages.
Also on site are 2 of his follow-on books.
Contributed by
Gil Waldron
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Adolph E.Nordquest
(The Young Sandow)
Athlete, Strongman & author of 1906 rare book 'Strength & Health'
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Staff-Sergt. Moss
Ex-British Army Gymnastics instructor and Bodybuilding
competitor from the early 1900s.
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Sanford Bennett
The Man Who Grew Young at 70
Author of
'Exercising in Bed' (1907)
and
'Old Age, Its Cause & Prevention (1912)
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Physical Culture
by J.J. Miller
Published in Scotland
circa 1908.
Contributed by Gil Waldron
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50 Exercises for Health & Strength
Very early 'Health & Strength' Magazine publication circa 1908
Contributed by Gil Waldron |
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Milo Body Building & Muscle Developing Exercises
written by Alan Calvert in 1911 and distributed with Milo Barbells
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
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Spalding's Muscle Building
by Luther Gulick, M.D.
(1865 - 1918)
Leading light in the foundation of the YMCA and pioneer in development of Basketball
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Bobby Pandour
Always in the shadow of Sandow, Pandour had a remarkable
physique.
He toured American Vaudeville from 1907 to 1915 and
then retired.
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Martin 'Farmer' Burns
Burns wrote one of the most famous and sought after courses on
Wrestling & Physical Culture in 1912
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
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Prof. Attila's
Five Pound
Dumb-Bell Exercises
Published in 1913
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Manual of Physical Training - United States Army - 1914
The War Dept.'s official training book covering a comprehensive
range of exercises
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Wills's Cigarette Cards
Physical Culture
UK 1914
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Earle E. Liederman
Liederman had a highly successful course during the 20s and claimed
several famous pupils.
In later years he became editor of Muscle Power Magazine
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George Hackenschmidt
(The Russian Lion)
Illustrated biography by David Gentle
&
The Way to Live
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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Muscle Flexing
by Antone Matysek
This American course is vintage 1921.
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Zishe 'Siegmund' Breitbart
Died in 1925 as a result of an accident.
Had a very successful Mail Order Body-building course that continued
after his death.
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Otto Arco
For a long time a favourite poser, muscle controller
and hand-balancer.
From 1925 a series of articles from 'Body Molding'
magazine including a 4 part series on Muscle Control written in conjunction
with Alan Calvert.
Contributed by
Gay W. Ng.
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The Mighty Young Apollon
(J.C. Tolson)
Famed Yorkshire Strongman & Course Writer who
started his career in 1925
Main Contributions by Warren Pember
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Barbell
Exercises
by Chit Tun
(1926)
Burmese by birth but living in Calcutta, Chit Tun was
a noted Indian Muscle Controller around the turn of the last century.
Contributed by
Vinaya Kumar |
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W.A. Pullum
Legendary record breaker, trainer, writer and owner
of the world-famous Camberwell Club.
This section contains articles by and about him plus
two rare books written by him.
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Rudolph Valentino tells 'How You Can Keep Fit'
A Macfadden publication from 1923
Contributed by
Jim Lovelace
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Alexander Zass - The Amazing Samson
Legendary and innovative Polish born strongman who lived in the UK
from 1924.
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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Muscle Building
& Physical Culture
by George F. Jowett
American 1927 - using Isometrics and Weights.
and the 'Molding' series
from 1932.
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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Siegmund Klein
Re-opened Prof. Louis Atilla's Gym in New York in 1927 and ran a successful Bodybuilding course for many years.
A much photographed and greatly admired strongman
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The Standwell Course
British 1928 version.
Contributed by Harry Rothman
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The Stebbing 4-in-1 Super Course
London 1929.
Contributed by Gil Waldron
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Edward Aston
Noted British Champion Weightlifter and one-time holder of 'Britain's Strongest Man' award.
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The Danks System of Physical Culture
Expander based - this course ran for many years, possibly from the 1900s.
Contributed by
Ron Tyrrell
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Muscle Control & Barbell Exercise
by Ghosh & Sen Gupta
A rare, well illustrated book published in Calcutta in 1930.
Contributed by
Vinaya Kumar
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Strongfortism
from the
Lionel Strongfort Institute of America
'The World's Foremost Physical Culture & Health Correspondence School'
1931.
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
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George Walsh
Modestly described as 'The World's Greatest Bodybuilder'
Articles & Adverts by Walsh plus
'Body Bulk'
his 1930s Postal Course.
Contributed by
Pete Luckin |
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Don Athaldo
Australia's leading Strongman of the 20s and on. His bodybuilding method 'Athalding' is detailed in this 1930's
80 page brochure.
Also now included are lessons 1,2 & 3 of the Athalding Course
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson,
John Digby &
Noel Flanigan
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Bob Hoffman
In 1935 Bob Hoffman purchased the Milo Barbell Company. This then became the York Barbell Company - The rest is history.
Contributions by Gil Waldron, Gordon Anderson & Others |
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Tony Sansone
Progressive Home Physical Training Course
from the mid 30s.
Contributed by Gordon Anderson
Plus a comprehensive Photo-Gallery
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Prof. K.V. Iyer
A collection of books by the most important name in Indian Bodybuilding in the 1930s.
Contributed by
Vinaya Kumar
Plus a Gallery of Photographs
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Correct Posture
by Capt. Godfrey Rodrigues
'Discoverer & Originator of Scientific Bodybuilding'.
Oh, Really?
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H. Broom
Extremely successful
UK Course seller in the mid 1930's
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Strong Arms for
Men, Women & Children
by Prof. Anthony Barker
1938
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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The Good Brothers
(Harry, Walter & Bill)
Contributed by
Gil Waldron
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Noe's Graduated Xercisors
Roy H. Noe of Memphis, Tennessee sold these rubber exercisers and instructions by mail in the 30s and 40s. |
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Joe Bonomo
including
Building Body Power
(Muscle Tension System) - 1940,
The Power-Plus Cable Course - 1954
and much more
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson &
Dan Weston
plus extracts from his autobiography 'The Strongman' including the 'Golden Dozen' Body Conditioners
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Robert Kiphuth was Director of the Gymnasium and Asst. Professor of Physical Education at Yale University.
This book was written in 1942
Contributed by
Carl De Lorenzo
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Ten Minutes a Day
A Keep Fit Manual
by James Evans
James Evans was British - and an early Maxalding pupil. This booklet was published in Canada in 1944.
Contributed by Gordon Anderson |
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Scientific Bodyculture
A course from the mid 40s by Ian MacQueen. M.D., F.A.C.S., F.R.C.S.
Ian MacQueen is President of the Oscar Heidenstam Foundation
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Body Building
by John Barrs
Published in 1948
John Barrs was PT adviser to B.A.W.L.A.
Contributed by
Ron Tyrrell
save as
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The Woodward School of Physical Culture, Blackpool UK.
The Auto-Resista Course
Contributed by
Gay W. Ng
Also 'The Skill of Muscle Control' by Tom Woodward which includes poses by Tony Holland
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Olympic Weight-Lifting & Body-Building for All
by Jim Halliday
Published in 1950
Contributed by
Gil Waldron
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The Body Sculpture Club
Started in Surbiton, Surrey in the 1930s
3 Courses issued in the 1950s
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Don Dorans
Highly respected
British Champion
& Trainer
Contributed by
David Gentle
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Chas. T Trevor was a UK publisher of many PC books in the 50s both instructional and biographical (he wrote the first main biography on Sandow) and also ran a postal course
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Hermann Goerner
(1861 - 1965)
Biography
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
plus magazine articles
contributed by
The American Powerlift Evolution Website
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written by
Ottley Coulter - Noted Bodybuilding Historian
This booklet was published in 1952.
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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Harry B. Paschall
Author of many fine books and articles on bodybuilding
in the 50's and the creator of the cartoon character 'Bosco' |
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The International Federation of Physical Culture
London based around the 1950s and on. Headed by
George Walsh.
They ran both apparatus and non-apparatus courses
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That's Muscle Control
by Ed Jubinville.
Contributed by Ron Tyrrell
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The Bullworker
Introduced in 1963 and much maligned ever since.
It is now in its renaissance period as it becomes more and more recognised
as a valuable aid to physical development.
Contributed by
Pete Luckin
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The Reg Park System of Cable Training
Date unknown but presumed to be late 60s
Contributed by
Pete Luckin
also
Reg Park - Britain's Greatest
1952 mini biography
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Bruce Tegner
Martial Arts Expert
and author of several
excellent books
including
Isometric Power
Exercises
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The Hercules II Course
(Apollo-Power-One)
from some time in the
late 60s/early 70s
Contributed by
Pete Luckin
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Isometrics
by Henry Wittenburg
1964 publication by an
Olympic Gold Medal Champion
Exercises for both Men & Women
Contributed by Jonathan Selby
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Frederick
Tilney
The guru behind Atlas, Macfadden, Hoffman
and many others.
Contributed by
Gordon Anderson
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The Super Routine
Date unknown but presumed to be
mid to late 70s
Contributed by
Pete Luckin
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Tensile Contraction
Master Build
Author Unknown
Published in Canada
1972
Contributed by Sax Hallam
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Maxalding
This vintage British course ran from 1909 until the late 70s.Using
resistance isometrics it specialised in Muscle Control methods.
Click on the image to take you to the Maxalding Website.
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And
Finally - Still Going Strong into the 21st Century
Charles Atlas & Dynamic Tension
Possibly the most famous and certainly the most well
loved and longest lasting course which started in 1922 and is still
on sale today via the internet. |
