York Barbell Club - Part II

[AttyGuy]

Atty, are these "modern" era plates? This was the 1966 AAU seniors.

Yes, I refer to them as the "modern era", for lack of a better term. They followed the deep dish era plates. It's funny to see this, as I had already decided to dive into 1966 and will do so next week.

[61PWCC]

Remember, Powerlifting became an officially organized AAU sport in 1964. Big Deadlifts, specifically THIS man's were responsible for YORK changing over to the thin modern plate style. It wasn't uncommon to see Miller pulling in a meet with extra plates TIED ONTO THE BAR!!



Hoffman hated Powerlifting BUT, he loved the $$$ he could make off it!!

[AttyGuy]

Yes, hence my focus on Muscular Development. BoHo didn't like bodybuilding either, but he liked making money and didn't want to let Weedy and his brother get all that cash. MD, as you know, covered bodybuilding, powerlifting, and armwrestling. BTW, unlike Weider, Hoffman didn't black out brand names on plates, nor did he reverse images to obscure the names.

[61PWCC]

Yes, hence my focus on Muscular Development. BoHo didn't like bodybuilding either, but he liked making money and didn't want to let Weedy and his brother get all that cash. MD, as you know, covered bodybuilding, powerlifting, and armwrestling. BTW, unlike Weider, Hoffman didn't black out brand names on plates, nor did he reverse images to obscure the names.

YES, it is comical how fanatical Weedy was about blocking out 'YORK' on all the plates! I consider it quite a find to see a picture that 'slipped through' with the YORK unblemished. He and Benny must be rolling over in their graves!

[61PWCC]

Atty, are these "modern" era plates? This was the 1966 AAU seniors.

REALLY nice find Dexter!!

[dexter000]

REALLY nice find Dexter!!

Maybe the '66 event at York was the debut for the new plates?

[AttyGuy]

Maybe the '66 event at York was the debut for the new plates?

It's a reasonable assumption, and likely correct. I believe we see that with the first York bumpers, the 25Kg/55Lb ones.

[61PWCC]

Possibly the earliest non black YORK 45s l've seen. This is a small cover photo of Tommy Kono @ a meet. Since this is from the January 54' Muscle Power, the meet was no earlier than the previous fall, possibly a state meet.

[61PWCC]

If you pause the video @1:18, two things are quite striking to me, how angular the "O" in YORK is and the "g" in Kg is an odd shape.

[AttyGuy]

Manfred Reiger jerks.

[chadsalt]

Pulled a good looking 405 this morning.

[61PWCC]

Pulled a good looking 405 this morning.

That's a nice set up....

[ffrink]

Pulled a good looking 405 this morning.

Nice work. And that IS a nice and Clean setup!!!

[chadsalt]

That's a nice set up....

Nice work. And that IS a nice and Clean setup!!!

Thanks gentlemen.

[61PWCC]

Manfred Reiger jerks.

Nice solid catch position and those plates rock!!

[AttyGuy]

There is some interesting stuff in this ad from Muscular Development. The basic concepts of the York bar didn't change much until the 1980s. Chrome vanadium, "pressed-in bronze bearings," split sleeves. Describing the plates as of the "stress relieved" design is humorous, given how DD would often crack at the hubs. The options for a set (400, 310 lbs), (with or without collars), collars (5-lb., no 2.5 Kg collars yet), or plates (35 cents a pound), are very clear and easy to read. York is referred to as "Muscletown." Finally, note the California address. Weedy had probably already established a beach head in Cali by then.

[AttyGuy]

I've gone over a number of York price lists from the 1960's to the 1990's, and I believe that York didn't list the 12-lb "Solid Dumbbell" (roundhead) until the early 1980's. This issue of MD mentions them, and a May 15, 1984 York price list does as well. Previously, roundheads would be listed 1-10 lbs and then 15 to 100 lbs, in 5-lb increments.

[matrix563]

shipwheels for $10. what a time to be alive lol

[AttyGuy]

What's interesting here are the "new" 15-kg bumpers, along with the "Solid Rubber Discs," also known as "crumb bumpers."

[AttyGuy]

shipwheels for $10. what a time to be alive lol

You could take a road trip to York, head up to the gym, and be among giants.

[61PWCC]

There is some interesting stuff in this ad from Muscular Development. The basic concepts of the York bar didn't change much until the 1980s. Chrome vanadium, "pressed-in bronze bearings," split sleeves. Describing the plates as of the "stress relieved" design is humorous, given how DD would often crack at the hubs. The options for a set (400, 310 lbs), (with or without collars), collars (5-lb., no 2.5 Kg collars yet), or plates (35 cents a pound), are very clear and easy to read. York is referred to as "Muscletown." Finally, note the California address. Weedy had probably already established a beach head in Cali by then.

Well someone's been burning the midnight oil!! Lots of good stuff here Atty!!

I don't believe Weedy had an Olympic set at this time. The 2nd attempt at offering an Olympic set was in 54' which was only advertised TWICE. I think it may have been until the mid 1970s before he tried again.

Again, some solid info here, thanks!!

[AttyGuy]

I wasn't referring to Weedy's Olympic set, what I meant was I think Weider was operating out of a California location at that time, in addition to his New Jersey operation at 801 Palisade Avenue, Union City. I believe Dave Draper has talked about working for Weider in NJ and then coming out to CA.

[61PWCC]

I wasn't referring to Weedy's Olympic set, what I meant was I think Weider was operating out of a California location at that time, in addition to his New Jersey operation at 801 Palisade Avenue, Union City. I believe Dave Draper has talked about working for Weider in NJ and then coming out to CA.

Yeah, I knew what you were saying. I was just clarifying that Weedy wasn't producing Olympic sets at that time. I believe Walter Marcyan was wheeling & dealing for Weedy in Cali back in the late 1940s.

Useless Trivia: when Weedy DID offer his first Olympic set in 1947, the main base of operations was in NJ but, the plates I got came from the CA branch.

[matrix563]

You could take a road trip to York, head up to the gym, and be among giants.

ive already went. took a billion pics that are still on imgur. since york no longer makes anything made in the usa (sure maybe some small thing, but no weights or bars) its not like the museum is adding new exhibits. maybe a few small items but it hasnt been long enough to be worth it to go back).

ps i have shipwheels already and they were even cheaper than $10. they were free. and i dont mean after flip they were just FREE 😂.

my okie orange clamp collars were also free 🤣

[AttyGuy]

ive already went. took a billion pics that are still on imgur. since york no longer makes anything made in the usa (sure maybe some small thing, but no weights or bars) its not like the museum is adding new exhibits. maybe a few small items but it hasnt been long enough to be worth it to go back).

ps i have shipwheels already and they were even cheaper than $10. they were free. and i dont mean after flip they were just FREE 😂.

my okie orange clamp collars were also free 🤣

I mean, imagine going there in the 1960s and meeting all the lifters of the time, not to mention BoHo himself.

[matrix563]

I mean, imagine going there in the 1960s and meeting all the lifters of the time, not to mention BoHo himself.

oh that would definitely be cool, but you didnt mention id need a delorean!

[61PWCC]

I mean, imagine going there in the 1960s and meeting all the lifters of the time, not to mention BoHo himself.

I'd love to go there during the mid to late 1930s: Boho, Grimek, Stanko, Abele, Terpak.
Seeing Olympic Team memeber John Terry Deadlift 600lb @ 132lb bwt in 39'.

[AttyGuy]

From 1971:




From 1975:

[matrix563]

was roundhead ever an official name for the dumbbells?


asking for a friend

[AttyGuy]