Antique Globe Barbell

[Roark]

A friend has acquired an antique globe barbell

for me. I will see it tomorrow. It appears that

the globes are 'nutted' on each side, so that

they may be removeable from the 6' bar. If so

I am thinking about having an Inch handle

made with threads so I can have a loadable

Inch replica (the globes are shot-filled).

Apparently there is no name brand on the

barbell, but it is identified by raised numbers

as '150' lbs., so I am wondering if perhaps

it was part of a series of filled barbells in a

commercial gym at one point, with the other

barbells filled in 5 or 10 lb increments. Has

anyone on the board seen an old globe bell with

raised lettering? A friend who knows more about

such matters, having researched the history of

MILO bells, says that it may be circa 1932.

Anyway, just wanted to share my excitement

about the possibility of having an Inch training

bell that I can add ounces at a time to. When I

return from my trip I'll have more clues, hopefully,

regarding the bell's history.

[Tom Black]

 Joe,

    There are at least 2 collectors of globe barbells who have shown their collections in Milo.  I'll find them and e-mail their names to you.  I know one lives close to me and I have looked up his phone number on line.  Now all you need leopard skin and some roman sandals and you will be ready to do some authentic lifting!

[Roark]

Just back from Wisconsin, with my new 'old' antique

globe barbell. Better than ice cream!

Though it is marked 150 lbs, it actually weighs

nearer to 115 lbs, so I suspect the shot fill that it

used to contain has been drained. It is nutted on

each side of each globe, so I was hoping to remove

the nuts, then remove the globes, fill so the total

would be as marked 150 lbs, clean and then paint it.

So far. using two pipe wrenches and a sledge hammer

I have not moved the nuts. Rather than damage

something (namely me), I'll check with a machinist

friend who may have some helpful ideas.

It does not appear that the nuts are welded onto the bar,

but they may as well be.

Anyway, if the six foot bar weighs 20 to 25 lbs, then

that means each globe weighs approx 45 lbs, so my

idea of converting it into an Inch replica training bell

may work!

[John Szimanski]

Boy, do you make out!

Discreet heat, firm holding, and no hammers should disassemble your new toy.

Tom Lincir has quite a collection, including some with end nuts. He may be able to shed some light on the origin. I'm sure you checked with the Todd's already.

Enjoy!

John

[Roark]

For now, the globes are freshly painted black, the handle

painted white. I'll decide later whether to convert it to

a dumbell. As when I show my Inch replica to people,

I plan to ask, 'Isn't it beautiful?' and will no doubt be

met with a squinted eye and a glance to see if I'm

kidding. I'm not.

It's good for wrist curls because since it does not revolve,

when wrist curls are done slowly, there is a different feel

than when using a revolving barbell, especially during

the initial half of the movement.

[Guest kINGPIN]

Are old dumbells/barbells easy to come accross?  If so what sort of prices are we talking about for various weights?

[Roark]

Not easy, but those who live in the Northeast part

of the USA have, it seems, a better chance at hap-

pening upon rich treasures of old weights.

A friend tells me that an old kettlebell sold about a

month ago on ebay for over $400, and that he himself

acquired two Milo kettlebells more recently for under

$200 total.

At a local antique store I saw a pair of one pound

dumbells marked at $50. When I asked why, I was told

they were over a hundred years old. Yeah, maybe 90

years fron now that would be accurate. My point is

that the buyer knows what he wants but sometimes

the seller doesn't know what he is offering for sale-

I know one dealer that told his clerk to make up details

because the customer doesn't know the difference!

My globe bell was a gift from a friend in Wisconsin, and

I thought it crass to ask how much he paid for it,

though, naturally, I would like to know what the dealer

was asking. This same friend got me an 80 year old

Strongfort dumbell. (lest you think ill of me, I gave

him some rare books, including one with Joe Hise's

autograph circa 1925 when he was going by his middle

name, and signed it Curtis Hise, and a set of Liederman

post cards, and some other things).

Tom Lincir of Ivanko Barbell showed some of his old

weights on his catalog- he would have a better idea

of going rates (not sure if he is on the board).

I know someone who paid about $300 for an old

concrete composition barbell- these were made during

WW II when iron was in short supply. John Grimek told

me that he used to test their composition strength by

hurling them from a second story window in York, PA.

Unless they landed on a tilt, they did not usually break.

The one thing that seems to be true about old weights

is that there is a market for them, so buy what you can

even if all you intend to do is sell them. At least this

way the objects will not perish.

What would we pay for Inch's 75 hollow replica, or his

140 or 153 ?

[Roark]

The bell looks very  similar to the one Edward Aston is lifting

on page 44 of Webster's book THE IRON GAME, but, and

(keep your thoughts clean) the nuts on mine are smaller.

[Guest kINGPIN]

That would be really good to get hold of some of them.  As you said, they would also make a really good investment and I could get some good use out of them in the meantime.  

It seems like there is nothing good in England worth buying. ???  ???