John Grimek on the cover of Muscletown USA
by John D. Fair
Son, in order to know where you're goin' you got to know where you been."
That's what a very wise man once told me. Of course, he was talking about something
else altogether but the sentiment rings true for just about everything.
If you're into strength training, one of the topics that you should know about is the history of the
York Barbell Company.
You see, from the 1930's to the 1980's, the capital of weightlifting in America was Muscletown USA: York,
Pennsylvania, the home of the York Barbell Company.
It was here that Bob Hoffman, the founder of York Barbell, propagated an ideology of success for
Americans seeking physical improvement and taught several generations the value of getting stronger.
Often called the
"Father of World Weightlifting," Hoffman was a pioneer in marketing barbells and health foods.
He popularized weight training and
inaugurated a golden age of American weightlifting. He elevated weightlifting from being
just a circus performance to being a standard part of every young American's
workout routine.
Muscletown USA - part biography, part business history, and part sports history -
chronicles how Bob Hoffman made York, Pennsylvania the Mecca of Strength culture for millions of followers worldwide.
His story should be read by anyone who has ever touched a barbell.
A Fascinating Look Behind the Scenes of the York Barbell Company
John D. Fair's Muscletown USA covers the entire history of Bob Hoffman
and the entire York Barbell experience.
You'll learn of Bob Hoffman's humble beginnings in a small twon in Georgia, his
upbringing, how he first became interested in physical training and how he made it through the
"Great War."
You'll find out what first brought Bob Hoffman to York, Pennsylvania and how the York Oil Burner
Athletic Club first came to be... the founding of Strength and Health magazine... the original
"York Gang"... John Grimek... the York Picnics... the "Golden Age" of weightlifting... the Broad
Street Gym... Hoffman's Hi-Proteen... Paul Anderson... Isometrics... and a whole lot more!
The York Barbell Company was more than just a business selling strength training equipment -
it was a fitness phenomena that inspired and mentored millions of people around the world in
their quest for strength. This book will help you learn all about it.
Another Special Offer For You: A Piece of History
Muscletown USA is a 420 page soft-cover book, with over 80 illustrations
from across the history of York Barbell Company, from its beginnings in the 1920's
and all the way to the present decade.
Photos include Paul Anderson, John Grimek, Terry Todd, Bill Starr, John Terpak, Stan Stanczyk,
and many more weightlifting legends. As you can see, this
classic book will stand well on its own as a vital piece of your training library but we would like
to include something else for you:
As another special bonus, we will include the January, 1946 issue of Strength and Health magazine (featuring
Bob Hoffman on the cover) with each order of Muscletown USA.
We came across several copies of this classic issue and thought it would make a great companion
to the book. The Hoffman cover S & H mags are in very good condition and will be shipped in a
collectors plastic magazine bag with a backer board to maintain its condition.
Note: Please keep in mind that we have a limited supply of these magazines
and will include them until there are no more copies left.
Don't miss this unique opportunity to learn about the beginnings of the strength
business in America and to own a piece of history for yourself!
John Grimek on the cover of Muscletown USA
