Weightlifting / Bodybuilding / Gymnastics - Lot 127

Weightlifting / Bodybuilding / Gymnastics Eugen SANDOW "Sandow's Spring Grip Dumb-Bells", circa 1900-1910 Red lithographed tin box illustrated with a muscular arm, marked Sandow's Spring Grip Dumb-Bell - Supplier to King Edward VII - Registered Letter's Patent, containing a pair of internally sprung dumbbells. Attached: pair of "Sandow's Patent 2 LB" dumbbells with wooden handles and metal ends, circa 1910-1920 (Wood attacked, old woodborers) Wear and oxidation from use, but beautiful historic set. Invented by the famous athlete Eugen Sandow, these spring-loaded dumbbells were among the very first domestic training devices to be patented and widely distributed. The English box - adorned with the royal coat of arms and the slogan "Supplier to King Edward VII" - illustrates Sandow's prestige.