October 19, 2007

ENDLESS LADDER GIVES EXERCISE TO CLIMBER (Jun, 1936)

Filed under: Origins — @ 7:46 am
Source: Popular Science ( More articles from this issue )
Issue: Jun, 1936
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ENDLESS LADDER GIVES EXERCISE TO CLIMBER
Climbing, pushing, pulling, lifting, and other forms of exercise are provided by a vertical treadmill designed by an Oregon inventor. Two endless chains, running over sprocket wheels, are joined by steps to form a rotary ladder. An adjustable brake regulates the needed motive force.

11 Comments »

  1. lol

    Comment by nil — October 19, 2007 @ 9:29 am

  2. Good idea, but looks like the ladder needs to be a little longer. Getting one’s hand caught in those uncovered sprockets might hurt.

    Comment by Myles Rempel — October 19, 2007 @ 9:36 am

  3. Cool. The LadderMaster, forerunner of the StairMaster.

    Comment by Rick Auricchio — October 19, 2007 @ 10:16 am

  4. Actually this would be a lot easier than climbing a ladder. The climber doesn’t have to lift his own weight to a higher level, just push the ladder to a lower level. And the brake being adjusted according to the climber’s weight means the ladder would have to rotate very easily. Otherwise he would find himself climbing over the top :-)

    Comment by Adrian — October 19, 2007 @ 10:56 am

  5. Treadmills are also too easy to use. You just have to push the belt backwards as you stay in one position, which is much easier than actually running normal.

    Comment by Eric S. — October 20, 2007 @ 6:14 pm

  6. He’s got some nice exercise shoes on too.

    Comment by Eric S. — October 20, 2007 @ 6:26 pm

  7. Newton’s third law of motion actually suggests that the energy needed to stay at the same height using this thing is somewhat similar to climbing a ladder at a steady rate. In the first case, energy goes into the “adjustable brake”, in the latter, in potential energy.

    Comment by Tib — September 6, 2009 @ 5:00 pm

  8. Yes, I agree with Tib. The energy needed to climb this ladder is exactly the same as that needed to climb a real ladder. They do make modern versions of this, but normally slanted 30-45 degrees. Looks like it uses a hydraulic pump with an adjustable flow valve to regulate the resistance.

    Comment by Lou — December 20, 2010 @ 9:50 am

  9. Dear Sir,
    we want to Buy the same in Banglore, India, pl guide

    Comment by Samit — March 20, 2011 @ 10:14 pm

  10. The modern version of this may be found here http://www.jacobsladderexercis.....tures.html

    Comment by John — March 23, 2011 @ 10:11 am

  11. a jacobs ladder is NOT the same thing.. this is vertical.. which is what i want, though just a little taller.. i hope some day somebody makes this again.

    Comment by kthought — December 13, 2011 @ 11:38 am

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