Mechanical wondercycle exercisulator of 1931

Further proof that physical fitness has gotten less and less fun over the ages: this Popular Science article from August, 1931:

One of the newest of exercising devices is a mechanism that somewhat resembles a hobbyhorse without rockers. Seated in its saddle and operating this odd contrivance, the user can exercise and develop all the principle muscles of his body. A pair of pedals work a crankshaft device which imparts an up and down motion to the saddle similar to that experienced in riding a horse at a trot. Assuming different positions on the machine while working it develops legs, back, stomach, or neck muscles. The machine is designed for the use of invalids as well as for those who wish to reduce with the aid of scientific exercise.

Link

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It does look fun, but it was probably nicknamed “the chiropractor’s goldmine.”
magic whiskey

INVALIDS? Um, okay….
Takuan

reminiscent of that patent shower bath in The Road to Wellville.
klaradox

@ #20,21
but both of you “get worked up”, and are “set off” by commenters expressing their thoughts? :)
I thought you had to comment on the post, and not on the comments…but maybe people just choose their victims. Some of us victims that can’t fight/talk back, some victims who can …
the lurch

Exercise gadgetry always out-sells (and out-profits!) simple exercise. Witness this current $14,000 device. Look familar?

http://www.fastexercise.com/

If link is bad, google “ROM exercise machine”
Dustin Driver

The ROM machine people buy a lot of ad space in Discover magazine. So somebody has to be buying the thing. Also, note its steampunkiness.
Takuan

you beat me to it. I had noticed the similarity as a matter of fact. $14,000 for someone so busy and so rich that the “4 minutes a day” makes it seem worthwhile. Sad.
Antinous

but both of you get worked up

I’m not worked up. The post is 77 years old. I was expressing complete mildness of opinion.

I thought you had to comment on the post, and not on the comments

To the contrary, this is a discussion. You can say whatever you want as long as it’s not obviously offensive, extremely whiny, tediously repetitive or spam.
clothingoptional

Hey! That’s my office chair! Pedal, code monkey!
Modano

Steps to prepare for exercise:
1) Roll up your long sleeves.
2) Tuck your tie into your shirt.
All set!
slywy

http://www.fastexercise.com/

Maybe they could dig up $14,000 for Web site design!
trueblue2

@20: We must have read 16 differently. I read it as, “Is ‘invalid’ still an acceptable term in the US? It is in my country and I wish it wasn’t.” Maybe Klaradox was trying to make a point about being offended by seeing the word in this post, but I thought it was more of a tangent discussion of modern usage of the word (maybe you can clear that up Klara). I overall agree with your point – the wording in historical documents should not be altered to fit our modern/PC sensibilities – but IMO directing your comment at 16 was a little hasty.

@22: It is pretty standard in blogs in general for people to respond to each other’s comments, especially if people disagree with you.
franko

whenever you post these wacky machines from bygone eras, i always wonder why i never see things like this in antique stores and thrift stores. where did they all go? they must have made enough to sell, so they must exist SOMEwhere….
djam

it looks like the machine would put more strain on your neck than you can exercise your body. Maybe that elastic attachment should be around the man’s shoulders rather than over the head.
spazzm

So the word “invalid” is no longer valid? The mind boggles.

I call to mind Asimov’s defence of the word “niggardly”. Look it up.
cstatman

add a ball gag, and it looks like an odd pleasuring device. (not my cup of tea) but thought I would point that out
Takuan

I note his hands are not visible
Kevin

Hmmm, a crankshaft…which imparts an up and down motion to the saddle. I think the seat was optional on this model.
neilbe

Isn’t that the design for the new seats on crossrail?
Takuan

new TSA anti-terrorism measures will require all passengers to…
klaradox

@#2 invalids..I think they were supposed to write disabled, but I have never been to the USA and I don’t know exactly what’s politically correct nowadays. Howewer, where I live (Serbia, Europe) the term is still ‘invalids’. Which I find really offensive, but we have many other political questions to settle, so no time for a language-reform.
Antinous

Witness this current $14,000 device.

Just add reindeer, a dwarf and some Turkish delight.
Takuan

no evil Queen?
Antinous

My favorite quote from Prince Caspian:

Who ever heard of a witch that really died? You can always get them back.
ZekeSulastin

@2, 16: I love how we’re apparently not allowed to post a quote from an old document – in this case 1931 – unless we ensure that any obsolete terms that might be offensive nowadays are properly changed.

If you’re so sensitive merely seeing a word sets you off regardless of the context, maybe you should just restrict your viewing to properly-filtered modern writing.
Ryan Waddell

Man, that’s one thing my gym lacks – neck workout machines!
Antinous

Etymologically, invalid (noun) means ‘not strong’. I’m having a hard time getting worked up about that being offensive in this context, since it’s a machine to build strength.