Tony Massimo

I don't know much about the interesting implement Tony Massimo (a.k.a. Clevio Massimo) is lifting here, but it is obviously a very heavy weight. I scanned this picture from Earle Liederman's 1925 classic "Secrets of Strength." Tony performed strongman feats as well as hand balancing. He had an artistic side, playing the violin from an early age.

The Luxembourg Hercules

This is John Grunn Marx bending a houseshoe. He was known for being able to bend and break horseshoes barehanded within 1 minute. Marx performed strength shows in which became famous for his harness lifts. In 1905 he lifted 2000 kilos (4410 pounds) in this style. It has also been said that Marx could bend coins with his fingers, a feat that some modern strongmen consider impossible, but more likely with older coins.

To find out more about Marx, also known as the Luxembourg Hercules, see my article Challenging the Immortals. If you want to try and duplicate Marx's harness lift, you can buy a harness at Atomic Athletic.

Edward Aston

Perhaps the most efficient master of the bent press, Edward Aston bent pressed 300.5 pounds in the bent press at at mere 170 pounds bodyweight. The weight was shouldered completely with one hand.

In respect to the bent press as a grip exercise, note that Aston's forearm appears to be the same size as his biceps. Surely an optical illusion, but impressive nevertheless. I believe that a heavy bent press works the forearm and grip because of the torquing motion of the barbell, inevitable even with the hand in the center of the barbell.

Edward Aston also used these mighty forearms to while lifting 496 pounds on a 2.25 inch bar with an overhand grip.