Barbellfilms Gives Vintage Musclemen

Okay, what is it about vintage pics of dudes? Be they muscled and shirtless or in a suit and tie or military uniform, there's something about the distance of decades that turns them all into smoking studs! My editor pointed me towards the Instagram page Barbellfilms, and now, too much time and a bottle of lotion later, yer boy Hank here is convinced that I just can't get enough! Some of their pics only go back to the 80s, a decade I was wide awake through and aware of, so while I say "only go back to the 80s," I forget that "the 80s" was 40+ years ago!  Anyway, some go back to the turn of the last century. So let's check out some of the studs they have for your viewing pleasure! They have pics of the ladies, too, but we'll concentrate on the dudes.

Pics link to their IG post.

This guy woulda been my gym coach and, well...hello, Daddy! Here, this gentleman is working out on a Nautilus machine, which became popular starting in the late 70s. They became ubiquitous workouts, sometimes with whole gyms - er, uh, sorry - fitness centers devoted to just these machines as you isolate muscle groups. I see a muscle group on him I wouldn't mind getting in isolation with!

Meet George Hackenschmidt (1877-1968), pictured here when he was around 20 years old. This powerhouse of pumping plentitude would go on to become one of the great wrestlers of his time. His match against American Frank Gotch drew around 30,000 spectators and was publicized worldwide. This is Frank N. Furter's wet dream!

Here we have an unknown strongman posing for pics in front of a crowd around 1895. Here's what I love about this. It's not just those rippling hard muscles that make him so desirable, though he could use some more time spent on his legs! No, it's also his ruddy handsome face. He's gruff, thick-jawed, deep, brooding eyes, and great hair. He looks menacing, like he'd break you in two, and you come back for round two!

This is weightlifter Erich Herzog, c. 1908. You know that well-coiffed dandy you see flouncing down the street laughing gayly with the boys? Don't presume he's a nancy-boy, as he may, given a proper insult, remove his shirt and show you what for! "How dare you, sir?!" "Oh, I dare, Sir!"

Oh, hello! This beefy, pretty-boy is French Weightlifter Roger François, 1927. who would compete, sometimes successfully, in the Summer Olympic Games from 1924 to 1932 in the Snatch, the Clean, and the Jerk. Looking at that hefty package, ya wanna guess in which event he took gold?

Boxer Ossie Stewart, photographed in Australia in 1939, was a powerhouse in and out of the ring. When he wasn't knocking some guy's block off, he enjoyed playing the piano. Popular in Australia and the surrounding area, he was known for his string of knock-outs. A knock-out, he certainly was!

And finally, we have a rare treat, a physique pic with chest hair! This is Latvian weightlifter and wrestler Karlis Mikuls (1885-1911), photographed in 1906. Check out those powerful arms and chest, and then feast on his cherubic baby face. He's so adorable! While he competed in matches and posed, he worked as a decorator. Huh. Ya don't say? Sadly, despite his obvious strength of body, he would die at a tragically early age of 26, of typhus.

That's all for now, but don't worry. I'll bring you more Barbellfilms in the future!

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