The invention of the Iron Boot, also known as Iron Shoes, and Leg Bells, because they are Dumbells for the legs, has been credited by some writers to Sigmund Klein; Bob Hoffman's York Barbell Company claimed they first introduced them. Neither is correct, but both played their part.
On June 15th, 1951, Strongman, Sigmund Klein wrote a letter to Earle E. Liederman, c/o Muscle Power Magazine,dr in which he describes how he thought he had invented the Iron Boot, only to discover it had been done before.
'I recall in Cleveland how I made my first 'Iron Boots' for thigh curls. This was in 1919. In those days, as you well know, almost all the vaudeville houses had hand- balancers and 'Strong-Men' on their bills.
I usually went to see the vaudeville shows, and the Hippodrome Theatre had Samsted and Marion (Sam Olmstead) this particular week.
One of the stunts that Olmstead did was to place his feet in a contraption and then lie on his abdomen His partner would then step on the soles of his feet by slipping her feet in straps that would hold her feet from slipping. This double foot support looked like two pairs of beach sandals attached soles to soles, and braced by a steel bar. After his partner was secure Olmstead would slowly “curl” her up, then lower her again.
Of course this fired my imagination. I noticed the fine bicep of the thigh development Olmstead had, and wanted the same.
After the performance I went home and tried to make an apparatus that would give me the same effect.
Being only seventeen years of age, and still having my old roller skates, the idea occurred to me that I would make a similar apparatus out out of my skates.
I removed the leather straps from the skates, secured them on a board a bit wider and longer than my foot. Then I attached an iron bar on the board that would receive the plates from my plate barbell, and lo and behold I had a 'Iron Boot'.
I used this for several years and brought it along with me when I came to New York.
Later on I met Joe Lambert, the old time weight-lifter who was also a good mechanic. I showed Joe my apparatus, and he suggested I have him make me a better one which he certainly did make. He made me a thigh curl apparatus that could be used in a similar fashion to the one that Olmstead had, but with a bar on the board that would receive plates on either end so that plates of varying poundages could be slipped on.
A few years later the late Adolph Rhein visited me in the gym, and he noticed that particular apparatus and told me that he would make me a very fine thigh curl that could be used for two feet at one time or individually.
This he did and I still have these iron boots ...the same ones for 25 years.
So I thought I invented the iron boot. Some years later, I obtained many German weight-lifting magazines published in the late 1890s. In all the issues various bodybuilding articles appeared. In one of the issues I saw “THE IRON BOOT”. So I guess after all I did not invent this fine apparatus.
Leiderman replied ' You deeply interested me with your recollections of old-time enthusiasm and how you discovered the iron boots for yourself, thinking you had an invention. So often we find that ideas which we feel are original and which no one has ever thought of before, only to learn after a while that they have already been in operation'.
In 1936 Bob Hoffman's York Barbell Company brought out their Iron Boots; which they claimed they were the first to do. Were they aware of Sigmund Klein's efforts, or Iron Boots on sale in Germany in the 1890s, or was it to Hoffman an original idea?, we shall probably never know.
Within a few years, many manufacturers of barbells were bringing out their own version; Weider brought theirs out in 1940; in the UK, George Grose, makers of Spur Barbells brought theirs out about the same time. This company brought out several versions, they changed the name from Iron Boot to Legbells (dumbells for the legs); they also had Challenge Legbells, which I presume were heavier.. Iron Boots vary in their weight, usually around 5 pound, but some weigh 4lbs and others 6lbs. George Grose brought out Petite Legbells for women, weighing 2lbs, and remedial legbells, made for hospitals, and made of a light allow, weighing just 1lb each.
Chas T. Trevor, a British writer and seller of books on Physical Culture, brought out his own version, 'Trevor Legbells' in the early 1940s. In the 1950s, the Reg Park Company in Leeds brought out their own. In 1965 Body Sculpture came about and brought out their version. They also published 'Man's World' Magazine.
I have an unbranded pair suitable for a large foot, which weigh 8lbs each. They could be early Body Sculpture, but look earlier than 1960s. I have another pair which is for a smaller foot, and marked Body Sculpture and these weigh 4 and a half pounds.
Another member of the Grose family, James Grose brought out their version, under the name 'Jagrose'; they weigh an incredible 10 and half pounds each boot.
The Iron Boot seems to have been phased along with some other body building equipment in the 1970s, when Multi Gyms and Leg Pressing machines became popular.
The Iron Boot is great for developing the bicep of the thigh, and other leg muscles, but is also used for abdominal exercises, the added weight will strengthen the abdominal muscles more than using legs alone.
Below; Bob Hoffman .
Below, an unbranded pair weighing 8 pounds each.
Below: Iron Boots made by Jackson.
Below: A pair of boots made by Paramount of Los Angeles.
Comments