![Atop Empire State- in construction; Chrysler Bldg & [Daily] News in middle foreground. (1931)](http://www.retronaut.co/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Atop-Empire-State-in-construction-Chrysler-Bldg-Daily-News-in-middle-foreground.-1931--199x123.jpg "Balancing on the Empire State, 1920s")
Vintage Exercise Machines
If you like this, check out:
Colour hi-res photographs of London, 1949
Ghosts of Amsterdam
Children, 1905
Christian Dior Soviet fashion shoot, 1950s
The Paris flat that time forgot
The “Cinemagician”, 1902
Patents for famous toys, 1904-1993
Colour photographs of San Francisco's Earthquake and Fire, 1906
'If London Were Like New York', 1902
Lesbian Pulp Fiction, 1935-1958
Steamship Routes of the World c.1900 and 1914
Brigitte Bardot at Cannes, 1953
Evolution of Lucasfilm Christmas Cards, 1977-2010
Colour photographs of fashion, 1940s, by John Rawlings
Skateboarders, California, 1970s
Inside the New York subway, 1905
Postcards of the year 2000 c.1900
Frank Sinatra by Phil Stern
'Jump', 1959, by Philippe Halsman
Maude, the Motor Mule, c.1915
Princeton and Yale American Football Game, 1903
I wish I had some clue about what these are supposed to actually do for you! One looks like a foot massager. Maybe some are for ab strength?
I love how everyone used to work out in their Sunday best!
Clearly the forerunner to modern day pilates.
But then there’s that gal in the petticoat with the strap that’s slipped down a bit, and it looks like she might be riding on a saddle of some sort. I do believe she’s taking care of some woman’s “hygiene” issue.
This machines were made by Gustav Zander.
I have more interesting pics in my blog here:
http://rehabilitacionymedicinafisica.blogspot.com/2009/06/historia-y-futuro-de-la-rehabilitacion.html
Look also for Oplonomicon. This is a 5 hundred years old orthosis in a steam punk look.
The ‘gal in the petticoat’ is riding sidesaddle on a sort of artificial horse. It is suspended on stiff springs and the idea is to bob up and down on it to simulate real horse riding. They are still sold in a fancier electrical version and although I have ridden horses neither real or artificial I imagine it’s pretty good exercise. Come to think of it it’s probably the only one there that would do any real good.
I can’t think why she’s in her underwear; could it be a be a ‘cheesecake’ pic?
they were “the latest” back then.
the third picture is hillarious. wonder what he’s working on
A belated birthday present. Thanks.
Can anyone suggest an exercise equipment provider that sells items such as treadmills, elliptical etc that have either a retro look or an interesting designer look yet still function well. I am also interested in the same answer relative to more basis equipment …..free weights, benches, etc…..
Some of these look more like torture devices.