IronGuy
Total Posts: 380
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03-15-10 09:25 PM - Post#611926
Sometimes it pays to browse around Craigslist - I just sealed a deal for a cool piece of vintage lifting gear:
Original Leg Blaster
It's listed at $20, but it was a mistake - I had to pay $40. 
This is the original design that Frank Zane purchased the rights to and still sells to this day. This one is priced right - $600 cheaper than Zane's.
I couldn't find much info on Moore's version - only a few ads in old IronMan issues.
Going to pick it up this week - full report to follow.
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Ironeagle
Total Posts: 4498
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Sweet!! Don't let Dave Hartnett or Wicked find out! LOL!
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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TOO LATE!!!
What a find!
I'm seriously in envy...and very glad for you.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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dhartnet
Total Posts: 1339
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03-16-10 06:33 AM - Post#611968
OMG!
That is sweet! $40.00 too? Thats almost free :>)
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Boomer718
Total Posts: 2853
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Congrats on your CL find; I'm jealous too.
Keep Pumping
R.I.P. Jesse Marunde
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cajinjohn
Total Posts: 12495
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Here's a seldom seen shot of the device in use.
Moore's Squat Bar was an ingenious design but inconvenient to use. It was often sold with a rather large and cumbersome "platform" upon which you would set the device to load it. This platform or cage could also be bolted to the floor, allowing you to use the uprights to assist your balance...or to use a handy strap with a bar attachment. The whole package was rather cumbersome and expensive (though not as expensive as Frank's re-design.) Moore wasn't really an effective marketer of the idea. To Frank's credit, the platform is better designed so as to not require anchoring to the floor and the loading process is simplified...though a little bit "tricky."
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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Here's some more pics and the patent information for the device. The photo of Frank's redesign shows the simpler self standing platform and the modifications to the bar. Still a bit tricky to load and the amount of weight that you can load is limited. Fortunately, it doesn't require a lot of weight.
http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/4986536/descri ption.html
The patent information is for Frank's redesign. Apparently, there were sufficient changes to allow Frank to be listed as "inventor." No disrespect intended...but I disagree.
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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jej
Total Posts: 4679
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03-16-10 11:46 AM - Post#612019
Cool stuff
Someone should tell Mr. Moore to push through his heels.
jej
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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That's Harry Johnson (1959 AAU Mr. America) demonstrating the device. See the other photos to see him squatting flat footed.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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jej
Total Posts: 4679
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03-16-10 12:07 PM - Post#612023
I see that.
Curious:
Does the device allow enough forward lean to let you squat heels down, no hand support? The photos of Frank and Harry Johnson leaning back while holding on show them with perfectly upright backs.
Looks like if you leaned forward, the device would swing toward the knees.
Maybe the balance of it does not require a forward lean?
This is just curiosity. I have never seen on in the flesh, let alone used one.
jej
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IronGuy
Total Posts: 380
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Who knows how effective it will be, but for $40, it's worth a shot.
Without a hook/stand system like Frank's version, you'd have to find some tall uprights to hold it up while you loaded it. I work out alone, so I'll have to come up with a safe way to load it and then step into it.
Ideas?
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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03-16-10 02:54 PM - Post#612067
Do you have the ability to anchor things to the wall? Make two rather large triangles out of 2x4s and lag screw them into wall studs. The arms should be of sufficient length to allow you to "step in between" easily, and the top arm of each triangle should be space to support the frame of the device along its front to back length...dig? This way, the arms/weight pins of the device are free for loading, yet with the frame supported along its entire length, it will be stable enough to load...carefully. You'll still have to pay attention to loading and maintaining balance...or use some type of hold down clip to prevent the device from tipping until you're ready to shoulder it.
It's a lot more simple than it sounds.
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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jej
Total Posts: 4679
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03-16-10 04:58 PM - Post#612103
Do you have a rack that lets you set up a bar high - like head high?
Maybe you could make some hangers akin to dumbbell Powerhooks. I guess the PDA version of DB hangers would make a better model. One for each end of the device, used up against the inside collar.
Either way, you would use the hangers to hang on the bar so the harness would be just below shoulder height, so you would step into it, stand up, and work.
jej
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IronGuy
Total Posts: 380
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I brought the Leg Blaster home a few days ago.
It's from the era right after Zane bought the rights - the literature suggests a purchase date of 1983 and it's named the Moore/Zane Leg Blaster. The paperwork has a stamp on the front from Joe Moore's World Gym in South Carolina. It's in near perfect shape and works very well.
Since it's the version with a flat steel bottom, I just had to find a way to rest it on my power rack so I could load it.
The solution was fairly simple - the Blaster's width is nearly identical to the my rack. I just took some 1/2 pipe, threaded in through the holes, and put a pipe nipple/90 degree elbow on each side. Now, it sits at the right height and is easy to step into.
It turns out that the lady selling the Blaster had an entire basement full of equipment - most of it homemade by her late husband.
I also bought a standing calf raise yolk made of 2" pipe and welded solid - it even came with the pads. It has two flanges, each with 1" holes that I can thread a 1" pipe through - I just put the pipe through the yolk and set it on my rack. It goes well with my Ironmind loading pin and makes a fantastic calf work station that I can put away when finished.
Not bad for $10, eh?
She also has a old school Gironda-style angled dip station that I can get for $20. I just need a place to put it since I'd have to anchor it to a wall.
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Wicked Willie
Total Posts: 16864
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03-25-10 01:00 PM - Post#613877
Enjoy...you lucky so and so. (Grin)
Wicked
"I'm in good shape for the shape I'm in."
"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life:
no man comes to the Father, but by me." John 14:6 |
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IronGuy
Total Posts: 380
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03-25-10 01:06 PM - Post#613880
Thanks, WW.
My barn gym is now complete. I hope to load some pics in the next few days.
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