Comparing legends past and present

[Guest Euclid]

I'm sure many of you disagree, but I think it's irrelavent to compare grip legends past and present, at least in certain aspects of grip training.  Much of It's past is steeped in myth and lore, so it would be maybe impossible to even verify 100% some of the feats.  My first case is the Inch.  Roark has written considerably on the subject, but we have no eye witnesses alive to verify any of the claims nor film.  The fact that there even exists a 150# counterpart to the Inch raises many doubts in my eyes.  Next, how about the Jowett anvil.  Now I know that it is humanly impossible to clean that anvil by it's horn, nevertheless, we have a sequence shot of him cleaning the anvil, and holding it at shoulder position.  Should we deny any feat this man ever claimed based on this?  Goerners 700#+ one handed deadlift.  Was the barbell set calibrated?  How do we know it weighed EXACTLY what was claimed?  Steel bending.  How can we compare two men from different era's unless the steel was cut from the same stock?  My point is, unless you can somehow magically bring back some legends from the past, it is meaningless to try to accurately compare strength of two men.  Oh, and pre-1950, there was no use of ergogenic aids.

[Roark]

Euclid,

Inch had four dumbells ranging from 75 lbs to

172 lbs. The burden of proof is upon the affirmative;

he affirmed he lifted the 172. History lacks other

affirmation which stands under scrutiny.

Regarding Jowett. Check the Iron History Gallery for

a photo of what has become known as the 'Jowett

anvil'. Now check the photos of Jowett lifting the other anvil.

Not the same anvil BY A MILE. Size, design, weight all

obviously different. The one in the gallery is much

larger, and there are no photos of him lifting it (168

lbs).

Such cases as these show why we must compare as

much as possible. Proof is there is one looks carefully

and intently enough. Even the lack of proof, speaks.

I am continuing to look into the Goerner matter. In the

early 1930s there was mention of Goerner's deadlift

prowess but not the high numbers later attributed to

him. So when did his very high claims first see print?

I don't know.

But again, unless we, currently, document the claims

of lifters, then there will be no reason for those who

follow us in this interest to compare their status with

ours. Within reason, we cannot supply too many details at

least in regard to record lifts or even record attempts.

Some details are as superfluous as are some allowances, to

wit, was the bench shirt blue or green? In my view, if a bench

shirt is used, the color of the judges' lights should be red.