274:– The "BUR-140" is arguably the best known BUR product. It replaced the BUR-130. Unlike previous BUR sets, the BUR-140 came with a 38-inch chrome-plated and knurled revolving barbell sleeve. This sleeve increased the grip diameter of the 5-foot (1.5 m) steel bar from 1" to 1-1/8". The set's dumbbells also included removable revolving sleeves. Finally, the BUR-140 came with BUR's own oversized inner collars; these collars were machined to allow the bar sleeve to rotate freely while simultaneously eliminating the gaps between sleeve and collars that were common at the time. According to BUR brochures, the new bar could support a maximum weight of 400-pounds. The BUR-140 sold for $ 16.80 in the early 1950s (about $ 140 in 2010 adjusted dollars) and was still being produced when the company closed in the 1960s.
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diameter and a removable 38" chrome plated sleeve that allowed for bar rotation during lifts. BUR oversized inner collars were included with the new bar. These collars were stamped "BUR BARBELL Co LYNDHURST NEW JERSEY". Finally, for a brief period during the 1950s, BUR also offered a 10-pound hollow bar with welded on end-caps.
379:
In the 1950s, the name "BUR" replaced "BUR-BEL" on all plates. "BUR" was usually stamped on the front of every plate intended for sale with BUR sets. Plates cast for other barbell companies did not have this marking. In addition, plates manufactured for ACE Barbell had the name "ACE" stamped where
62:
products that further narrowed over time until, by the early 1950s, it consisted of a single barbell/dumbbell set and the component parts. BUR Barbell produced plates for sale under its own name as well as for companies such as the
Jackson International Barbell Company (sold as the Jackson "Economy"
197:
With the exception of the "BUR Quick Change" set, standard plate sizing was the norm. BUR did not manufacture
Olympic bars or Olympic-sized plates. The original BUR-BEL plates had a center hole diameter of 1-1/4" and were designed to fit a 1-1/16" bar. Sometime in the 1950s, the bar diameter was
84:
David C. Hall taught both math and science in Palm Harbor, Florida, and was a high school principal for several years. It was during this time that he laid the groundwork for what was to eventually become the BUR Barbell
Company of Bradenton, Florida. BUR Barbell Company officially began operations
375:
From 1931 until the early 1950s, the "BUR-BEL" trade-name was stamped on BUR Barbell plates. In the early years, the name was stamped on all plates. By 1940, it was only found on certain "Deluxe" sets. Even without the name stamp, BUR-BEL era plates can be distinguished from other BUR plates by
350:
in
Lyndhurst. BUR plates were shorter and thicker than competitor's plates were. This gave BUR plates the advantage of being virtually "unbreakable". Unfortunately, the increased thickness also meant that fewer plates could fit on any given bar. BUR plates were offered only in American pounds;
394:
Another factor that distinguished BUR Barbell plates from those of other manufacturers was the use of a unique numbering system. From the late 1930s until the early 1960s, every BUR weight plate had a separate number - besides poundage - stamped into it. These numbers were meant to work with an
321:
During the 1930s and 1940s, the BUR Barbell
Company sold iron boots under the trade name "BUR Foot-Weight". Unlike traditional iron boots, the BUR Foot-Weight design called for weights to be attached to the bottom of the boot rather than to the sides. Iron boots were included with both the BUR
184:
In 1966, Dave Hall, died at the age of 58. At the time, there was some industry speculation that the BUR Barbell
Company would continue to operate under the management of other family members. However, there is no evidence that this ever came to pass. The BUR Lyndhurst facility was shuttered
362:
in 3 places. None had a separate revolving sleeve. There were no markings on the BUR bars or collars to distinguish these from the bars or collars of other manufacturers. Bar lengths ranged from 4’ to 6’. In the 1950s, with the introduction of the BUR-140, BUR began selling a bar with a 1"
292:
Throughout its history, BUR offered several different dumbbell variations. The earliest BUR dumbbell was a simple bar with four removable collars. Later versions included a welded on sleeve. The final BUR dumbbell design consisted of a standard 12-inch bar with a removable
193:
BUR Barbell produced a limited line of free-weight products. This approach kept manufacturing simple and efficient and allowed for the production of a quality product at a lower price than many competitors could achieve.
218:- The "BUR Quick Change" was a barbell with slotted ends. Quick Change weights were U-shaped and slotted - not round - and had hooks attached to them. These hooks allowed for the quick and easy loading and unloading of
146:
From 1946 until 1966, the Bur
Barbell Company occupied a 3-acre property on Orient Way in Lyndhurst, New Jersey. The headquarters and production facility were built from the ground up and included a foundry,
260:– Sometime in the early-1950s, the "BUR-130" became the only barbell set offered. It set consisted of a 4-1/2’ knurled pipe bar, dumbbells with fixed collars, and 110 pounds of weight plates.
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between 1966 and 1967. The 3-acre property went unoccupied for several years until, in the 1970s, it was sold to a non-manufacturing concern. At that time, the barbell factory was torn down.
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Kettlebell handles were offered with the BUR 185 pound set. Eventually, they were discontinued. Later BUR advertising branded kettlebell handles as "gadgets" with "practically no value".
159:. This layout allowed for a great degree of control over the manufacturing and distribution process and for reaping the cost savings that could be achieved through vertical integration.
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was the primary source material for the BUR foundry. Eyewitnesses report that, at any given time, there were large piles of scrap metal on the property easily visible from the street.
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The
President and founder of the BUR Barbell Company was David "Dave" Collins Hall. His wife, Kathryn Hall, was Corporate Secretary and Office Manager of the Lyndhurst facility.
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All other publications from the BUR Barbell
Company came in the form of advertisements, articles in magazines produced by others, and letters to prospective customers.
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exercise record keeping system designed by Dave Hall. Even some of the plates that BUR manufactured for other barbell companies had these numbers stamped into them.
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307:
This product, introduced in the mid-1950s, was an exercise stand that could be used as a Squat Rack, Prone Bench, Abdominal Board, Leg Raise, Dip
Station, etc.
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literature – BUR often stressed the advantages of purchasing one of its "feature" barbell sets, the company also sold customized sets upon customer request.
383:
In the early 1960s, the name "BUR" was removed from the plate design. The new plates included only the poundage. This allowed for greater manufacturing
358:
From the early 1930s until the early 1950s, BUR sold a standard 1-1/16" bar. Collars were attached separately. Most, if not all, of these bars were
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and – reportedly – in other southern states as well. Barbell production appears to have stopped during the war but was restarted shortly thereafter.
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to take advantage of the rapid economic and population growth in the region. At one time, BUR Barbell was the second largest producer of
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and helped keep costs (and prices) down. The name "BUR" continued to be stamped on the barbell collars until all production ended.
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the name "BUR" would normally be; these plates were identical in all other respects. BUR Barbell collars were also stamped "BUR".
246:– This "Deluxe" set was sold during the 1930s and 1940s under the BUR-BEL brand and included 155 pounds of plates, a standard bar,
547:"Barbell Game Loses One of Its Finest Men in Death of Dave Hall", Dan Lurie, Muscle Training Magazine, November 1966. Page 31.
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124:
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222:. The BUR Quick Change was patented in 1930 and first offered for sale in 1938 for $ 60 ($ 930 in 2010 dollars).
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for shipment throughout the United States. Sometime during this period, additional foundries were established in
506:
Starting around 1941, with time off for the War, and resuming in early 1946, Bur Barbell began advertising in
488:
From August 1939, until January 1940, the BUR Barbell Company published, "The Barbell." This was a four-page
772:"A Briefly Annotated Bibliography of English Language Serial Publications in the Field of Physical Culture",
48:
240:– A standard set offered during the 1950s and 1960s and advertised as the "finest ever manufactured".
776:, Joe Roark, and Terry Todd, Iron Game History, March 1991, Volumes 4&5-single issue. Page 31.
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40:
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started in 1931. From the beginning, all BUR branded products were produced in the company's own
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Quick Change Set and the BUR 185 Pound Set. The sale of iron boots was eventually discontinued.
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In the 1950s, the demand for BUR barbell sets sometimes outstripped the supply. During the
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For three years, during the Second World War, Mr. Hall served as an officer on the staff of
35:
manufacturer that was in operation from 1928 until 1966. The company traces its origins to
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After the war ended, a decision was made to move the BUR Barbell Company headquarters from
794:
The first Popular Science ad appeared in June 1941 and the last appeared in February 1964.
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496:(who was listed as "Head Physical Trainer for the BUR Barbell Company" at the time).
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212:– These were offered in both "Standard" (unmarked) and "Deluxe" (BUR-BEL) versions.
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219:
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44:
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162:
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differences in design and a larger center hole diameter (1-1/4" vs. 1-1/16").
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During its 38 years of operation, BUR Barbell offered the following products:
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products at its Bradenton facility. These products could be purchased via
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763:"The Barbell", A publication of the BUR Barbell Company, Dave Hall, 1939.
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in 1928. The first three years of operation were spent in planning and
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706:"The BUR 140-Pound Barbell-Dumbbell Set" Advertisement from mid-1950s
597:"The BUR 140 - A Better Way to Keep Fit" Brochure from the mid-1950s.
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736:"BUR'S SENSATIONAL NEW EXERCISE STAND" Brochure from the mid-1950s.
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There is no record of advertisements from July 1941 to April 1946.
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standard plates), the Dan Lurie Barbell Company, and Ace Barbell.
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reduced to 1" and the plates were drilled with a 1-1/16" hole.
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the metric system was never used for any BUR branded product.
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could be seen onsite placing orders for future delivery.
466:
The BUR numbering system was discontinued in the 1960s.
567:"Florida - Mary W Hall Obit April 1930 and 1930 census"
697:"BUR Barbells Builds Bodies Best" 1950s Advertisement
571:
The St. Petersburg Evening Independent April 8, 1930
715:
The Popular Science Monthly, Volume 184, 1964, p.52
346:BUR sold standard weight plates via mail-order and
645:
643:
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210:85, 105, 175, 185, 275, and 285 Pound BUR-BEL Sets
745:Various BUR brochures from 1953 to the mid-1960s.
518:magazine. This practice continued until 1964.
250:handles with collars, and – unlike later sets –
228:– A standard/deluxe set offered via mail-order.
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811:Companies based in Bergen County, New Jersey
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23:BUR Barbell Factory in Lyndhurst, New Jersey
621:BUR Barbell Price List Number 5, June 1948.
100:From 1931 until 1941, BUR produced various
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649:"From a 1938 BUR Barbell Company Catalog.
234:– A standard set offered via mail-order.
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58:BUR manufactured a limited selection of
658:Popular Mechanics, September 1948, p.52
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31:was a privately held American physical
16:American fitness equipment manufacturer
754:From a 1960s era BUR Barbell brochure.
685:From a 1938 BUR Barbell Advertisement.
470:Corporate publications and advertising
826:Defunct companies based in New Jersey
609:Personal anecdote conveyed to author.
7:
727:From a mid-1950s BUR Barbell Mailer.
492:written and edited by Dave Hall and
676:Popular Science, January 1964, p.30
667:Popular Science, October 1956, p.50
583:Popular Science, October 1949, p.34
556:Popular Mechanics, June 1941, p.33A
14:
300:sleeve and two standard collars.
632:"'Exercising device US1779594A'"
142:Factory in Lyndhurst, New Jersey
412:1-1/4 lbs. (BUR-BEL only)
47:, operations were relocated to
304:Multifunctional Exercise Stand
1:
460:50 lbs. (BUR-BEL only)
267:Mid-1950s "BUR-140" Brochure
172:, long lines of prospective
123:. He was decorated in the
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821:Weight training equipment
391:The BUR Numbering System
254:handles and iron boots.
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338:
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329:BUR 2.5lb Weight Plate
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55:in the United States.
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816:Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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337:BUR No.1 Weight Plate
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49:Lyndhurst, New Jersey
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484:"The Barbell" - 1940
216:BUR Quick Change Set
125:Philippine Campaign
41:Birmingham, Alabama
29:BUR Barbell Company
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311:Kettlebell Handles
281:Although – in its
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37:Bradenton, Florida
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634:. Google Patents.
515:Popular Mechanics
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33:fitness equipment
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45:Second World War
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367:Product notes
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343:Weight Plates
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295:chrome-plated
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244:185 Pound Set
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238:110 Pound Set
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232:100 Pound Set
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220:weight plates
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91:manufacturing
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43:. After the
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428:5 lbs.
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503:Advertising
401:Plate Stamp
283:advertising
278:Custom Sets
163:Scrap metal
102:free weight
89:. Product
80:Early years
805:Categories
522:References
494:Mark Berry
490:newsletter
318:Iron Boots
252:kettlebell
136:New Jersey
106:mail order
67:Management
289:Dumbbells
174:customers
95:foundries
774:Jan Todd
248:dumbbell
53:barbells
404:Weight
360:knurled
298:flanged
272:BUR-140
258:BUR-130
149:machine
132:Florida
119:in the
110:Alabama
75:History
39:, and
457:No.6
449:No.5
441:No.4
433:No.3
425:No.2
417:No.1
409:No.0
27:The
180:End
134:to
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