CIRCA 1930S, BY AHRENS

Details

A BRASS-MOUNTED OAK 'TEST YOUR STRENGTH' PUNCH BAG MACHINE
CIRCA 1930S, BY AHRENS
In an oak case with overhead gallery with suspended leather punch bag, on a metal foot marked Shefras, London
78 ¾ in. (200 cm.) high; 30 ¼ in. (70 in. ) wide

Special notice

This lot will be removed to an off-site warehouse at the close of business on the day of sale - 2 weeks free storage

Lot Essay

Coin-operated strength testers first appeared with Robert William Page's patent of 1885. By measuring a force applied to a spring or counter-weight, they were in principle similar to weighing scales, although not required to be as accurate. They came in many shapes and sizes, and were very popular in the hard living, working class culture of the industrial age. An alternative to arm wrestling, they could be used to settle wagers or impress the opposite sex with demonstrations of physical prowess.

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