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Patent Obscura
1888 JB Root’s Passive Exercise Machine – A Workout Without the Work Poster
1888 JB Root’s Passive Exercise Machine – A Workout Without the Work Poster
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At the turn of the 20th century, fitness was evolving—not just as a pursuit of strength but as a science of efficiency. Enter JB Root’s Exercise Machine, a peculiar yet ingenious contraption designed to offer passive exercise—giving users the benefits of movement with minimal exertion.
Unlike traditional workout machines that demanded energy and effort, Root’s invention allowed a person to lie horizontally in a suspended position, arms and legs free, while gripping a set of levers. These levers, connected to a weighted flywheel, could be moved by the user or could move the user, generating continuous motion that exercised the muscles while requiring little "nervous strength"—an early attempt at mechanical, full-body resistance training.
Was this the dawn of effortless fitness or just another oddity lost to time? Either way, JB Root’s vision of low-effort exercise has been revived—now immortalized as a retro-futuristic fitness brand that never was… but could’ve been.
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper. Add a wonderful accent to your room and office with these posters that are sure to brighten any environment.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
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Unlike traditional workout machines that demanded energy and effort, Root’s invention allowed a person to lie horizontally in a suspended position, arms and legs free, while gripping a set of levers. These levers, connected to a weighted flywheel, could be moved by the user or could move the user, generating continuous motion that exercised the muscles while requiring little "nervous strength"—an early attempt at mechanical, full-body resistance training.
Was this the dawn of effortless fitness or just another oddity lost to time? Either way, JB Root’s vision of low-effort exercise has been revived—now immortalized as a retro-futuristic fitness brand that never was… but could’ve been.
Museum-quality posters made on thick matte paper. Add a wonderful accent to your room and office with these posters that are sure to brighten any environment.
• Paper thickness: 10.3 mil
• Paper weight: 189 g/m²
• Opacity: 94%
• ISO brightness: 104%
• Paper is sourced from Japan
This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions!
