Alan Calvert

Alan Calvert (1875 – June 24, 1944) was an American businessman, magazine publisher, and author. He was an advocate of weightlifting as an exercise regimen and a competitive sport. He was a pioneer in the development of adjustable weightlifting equipment. He received a patent for the Milo Adjustable Barbell and founded the Milo Barbell Company in 1902 to produce commercially available barbells. He sold the company in 1920 and it was renamed York Barbell. He published Strength magazine, one of the first strength training magazines in the United States, and several books on weight training.

Biography Calvert was born in 1875. He became interested in weightlifting after reading A Natural Methodist of Physical Training by Edwin Checkley and How to Get Strong and How to Stay So by William Blaikie. He initially implemented a low-weight, high-repetition regimen but was disappointed in the results. After meeting with Eugen Sandow in Chicago, he became an advocate for the addition of heavy weights into his exercise regimen. However, he soon realized there were no barbells available commercially in the United States.

His father owned a tin-plating business and Alan was familiar with metal working which helped him in the design and manufacture of barbells. The production of readily-available, standardized barbells advanced the popularity of weight training in the United States. The magazine showcased bodybuilding events and highlighted Calvert's barbell products. He debunked many of the tricks of performing strongmen such as chain and coin breaking. His efforts resulted in the acceptance of weightlifting as a respectable sport and weight training as an accepted exercise regimen to improve health and appearance. and was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania.

Selected works