RESISTING PULLING POWER WITH THE GRIP
An Excerpt from Feats of Strength, How To Perform Them (Circa 1930's)
By Sid Harmer
THE feat of resisting the pulling power of four or six men with the grip of one hand only, is a feat that "grips " the imagination and enthusiasm of any audience. I think that very shortly after the publication of this book it will be extremely popular, as it is a stunt with very little risk, but at the same time looks exceedingly spectacular.
Only once during the thousands of times that I have performed this feat, have I had an accident and that was more the fault of one of the "pullers." It was at a very well-known music-hall that I was doing this "stunt" and six men from the audience were invited to pull on, and attempt to break, the grip of my right hand. After pulling for about twenty seconds, one side being stronger than the other, the whole issue was pulled to one side of the stage. One man at the end, to ensure the keeping of the position, coiled the end of the rope round his left arm, and held on to the stage door frame with his right arm. Not noticing this, and wishing to bring them back to the centre of the stage, I gave a tug, with the result that the gentleman who had shown such bad taste by endeavouring to take advantage, had both his shoulders put out of position.
On many occasions I have met representatives of some of the finest tug-o'-war teams in the country, and never once have they succeeded in breaking my grip in the stipulated time. The stipulated time for these events was ten seconds, and I can assure my reader that at times when I have seen six big, burly tug-o'-war athletes walking towards me with that expression of profound confidence, I have wished that the time could be reduced to five seconds. But when they have applied their eighty or ninety stone, their expression has changed to one of blank amazement.
The materials required to get the best out of this feat, are two stirrup-shaped pieces of steel, made of 3/8” inch round bright steel. The joins, of course, should be welded. Two pieces of rope, three-quarters of an inch thick and about twelve feet long are spliced on. The grips should be covered lightly with leather or rubber. Care should be taken that the grips are large enough to lay over, and not on, the knuckles of the wrist, otherwise it will turn out to be a feat of endurance as well as strength!
Grip the handles as in illustration (above) with the hand held level with the line of resistance. Hold the body loosely, and grip hard.
NOTE.—It will help the performer if the hand is held close to the body.
-Grip Men and Women-
This is an excellent feat to exhibit your powerful grip!