
These old magazine ads were sent to me about four years ago by one of this blog’s most active visitors, Mark Winchester.
I don’t see a date on them but there are a couple of clues.
– The ad copy refers it astronauts so I’m guessing it’s in the era of the Mercury program which ran from 1959 to 1963.
– The mailing address for the company in New York does not have a ZIP code. That system started in 1963. While individuals might not have adopted ZIP codes immediately, it’s likely a mail order company would have.
So I’d say 1960-62 would be an educated guess.
That’s nearly 60 years ago. And the ad copy references research done in Germany in the 1920’s which is knocking on 100 years ago.
And no doubt, some Neanderthal 50,000 years ago tried for years to roll an inconvenient boulder away from his cave without budging it an inch while getting progressively stronger every year. But that’s just a wild guess on my part. He might not have been Neanderthal. Hehe.
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Re: Isometrics/Static strength training – I’ve gained far more muscular size and strength from training statically than I ever have using isotonic methods. Isotonic is another word for conventional raising & lowering repititions. The phenomenal growth I’ve experienced in my traps, lats, pecs, & delts have been from simply holding the bar while deadlifting Not from bench pressing or rowing. In fact I suspect I’ve gotten significant growth from just using my Ivanko Super Gripper which involuntarily causes a hard simultaneous pectoral, lat and even deltoid contraction.
In my opinion SCT or isometrics are by far THE most effective method of training. Check out the upper bodies of some male gymnasts. Their development is usuallly very impressive yet they seldomly if ever lift weights. Their hypertrophy is caused soley by isometric contractions which essentially is SCT. Although its not scientifically measured which w/out such is shooting in the dark w/ your eyes closed expecting to hit something.
Hey Anonymous/Mark – great find on those early static strength advertisements…I always get a kick out that stuff. Very similar to my 1970-80s fascination with the campy kung fu and karate ads that use to run in comic books. The old Universal Bodybuilding company in addition to their 12 lesson bodybuilding course, also sold a 4-5 part/books on self defense which was sort of a tour through Asia! And the masked kung fu killers and Count Dante…man I loved that stuff as a skinny high school kid. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
On the more serious side, I’m curious how you’re using your Ivanko Super Gripper as I use mine regularly as well (lost my original CoC grippers Trainer=>#4 and am too cheap to replace them since I have the Ivanko). My general approach is to do 10 sets of 2-5 full reps (metal clicks on each rep) and then wait 5 days to repeat. I’ll adjust the springs for heavier once I get 50 reps with both hands for now, but I’m thinking that will change in a workout or two as my left has never been as strong (10 yrs ago closed the CoC #2.5 once with the right and the #2 with the left once). FWIW, I’m using the 9/4 setting on the Ivanko and hitting 38 reps with the left and 48-50 with the right. All that said, I’m really interested in how you use them. Any info would be greatly appreciated!
Jim
I love the reference to the intense, simultaneous, multiple muscle group contraction as a result of grip muscles contraction. The is a potentially powerful unit made of many members working together.