For decades recognized as one of the most powerful bodybuilders of all time MARVIN EDER a star of the 1950's and pre steroid era, used poundages in basic exercises and trained with an intensity that few even of today's over supplemented or drug assisted bodybuilders, complete with well padded lifting suits can approach, let alone excel. Examples will follow, but consider for now the power of being able to side press single-handed more than your own bodyweight (220lbs at 200lbs b/w) or complete 8 wide grip chins with an extra 200lbs attached ….a real 'lat' stretcher.

Although I was well accustomed to seeing and reading of the ‘Biceps from the Bronx' Marvin Eder in my early training days, it was to be 45 years or later before I actually met him in person in London, at an earlier OHF awards, yet he still radiated keenness and sustained a high interest in bodybuilding and lifting although he was unhappy with the abuse and misuse of steroids. 'Marvin always trained 'naturally' and of course it is a lot tougher than using chemical aids to energize and assist rapid recovery. Natural recuperation takes longer, when your own individual body physiology is ready, but it also builds life long vitality, rather than short term stimulation. Delighted to meet him after such a long time of admiring him from afar, the very first question I asked Marvin, aware of his awesome prowess and power, was "Where the hell did you get your energy from?", and he replied casually, "Just natural I guess. I was full of energy, often trained several times daily' (note we do not recommend other bodybuilders, especially newcomers, attempt to follow his example, Eder was unique).

Although being pictured in many muscle journals of his era, Marvin Eder featured most often and prominently in Joe Weider's 'YOUR PHYSIQUE' and 'MUSCLE POWER' magazines of the late 1940's and early 50's displaying phenomenal power, being one of the first to bench press close to 500lbs at under 200lbs bodyweight. A terrifically strong Olympic presser, i.e. the two hands MILITARY press, his supposedly 'professional' status denied him the opportunity to compete in the USA OLYMPIC team or the AAU Mr. America, both being the losers, as Eder would undoubtedly have won many other top titles in bodybuilding and the Olympic games for America if given the chance.

Earle Liederman, famed 'Muscle By Mail' merchant and author of note said of Marvin on seeing him for first time: 'Under the lights, I particularly observed Marvin's arms which performed a most unusual biceps contraction. His biceps would become fully flexed and remain in that state for a moment, and then with a faint forearm movement, the same biceps took on another contraction so that the belly of the muscle seemed to roll, or creep, towards his deltoid. He did this with either arm. This cannot be fully explained, nor appreciated with words, and must be seen for better wonderment. Anyway you can imagine seeing an 18-inch arm, such as he owns, become bent and then firmly flexed so that the huge baseball size biceps knots up into exceptional height. Right there you become satisfied and your hands applaud, yet right before your eyes, and when you feel that no greater contraction could be made with such a biceps, this same biceps begins to move, starting from the highest point, which apparently separates itself from the mass, to creep inwardly toward the shoulder, thereby causing the biceps to become even larger, though not any higher.”

All quarrels result in victims and unfortunately this era being the period of the so called Hoffman/Weider 'Muscle Wars'. Marvin Eder became a casualty and lost out on any possibility of becoming a member of the AAU. Hoffman who had declared war on Joe Weider, feeling commercially threatened by Joe's better understanding of the way bodybuilding was heading, blocked out every move of Marvin's to become reinstated after losing out his AAU membership. Charles Smith is quoted as saying in 'THE IRON MASTER' Dec.1993: "in my opinion, Eder was given a dirty deal by the AAU who at the time was controlled by Hoffman. What Hoffman said went. It was nothing more than dirty politics. What Marvin was guilty of was being tied in with Weider That's all. " Joe Weider, published a letter from Eder in his magazines, dated Nov. 12 1953, with the brief note: "Dear Mr. Weider. This is to state that you have never at anytime acted inimical to my interests. Any actions which may have tended to professionalize me have been my own' Signed, Marvin Eder.

Elsewhere in a 'Questions and Answer' column in Muscle Power I June 53 a question was asked "Is Marvin Eder a Weider Pupil?" and the answer was 'technically' no, although he endorses our methods. Thus the squabble went on. Disappointed but never the less undeterred Marvin thinking positively, went it alone continued using/mixing Olympic lifting with more general bodybuilding routines, training most week days, but resting week ends. All the time training heavy. His genetically enhanced recuperation abilities were exceptional, allowing him to work out longer and tougher than most, building an almost unbelievable power pound for pound making him surely one of the strongest men ever to have lifted and trained with weights. With a physique able to grace any competitive bodybuilding show.

On September 6th, 1953 at a Strength and Health Picnic in YORK PA. Eder benched 480lbs in strict style, no arching or bouncing and just failed with 500lbs. (His best bench was to be 530lbs later). Two years later in an article in the April issue of Strength and Health (Hoffman’s mag) Marvin is featured in a report as working out in YORK Barbell Club with Dave Sheppard and a comment, "Only ineligibility for AAU membership prevents Eder from setting an official world record for the press, when he worked up to 325lbs at under 200lbs b/w in the mid heavies class". He was then parallel squatting with 50OLbs. The late Art Zeller, with whom Marvin trained said, 'I remember seeing Marvin doing parallel dips with a guy who must have weighed close to 40OLbs wrapped around him. He was only 18 or 19 years old when doing these phenomenal weights" '(Source Art Zeller in Muscular Development July 1988). In fact his single parallel bar dip with 434lbs at 198lbs b/w. has never been approached.

Eder also made a straight-arm pullover with 210 lbs at 197lbs b/w. David Willoughby author of reference book Super Athletes and numerous training and serious in depth articles. the famous authority, rated this as best lift on record. (Your author D.G. made 120lbs at 140lbs b/w good enough to win a medal, and tough enough to really appreciate Eder's lift). Mighty Pat Casey the legendary power lifter later in 1985 rated Eder as "Pound for pound the strongest man who ever walked the face of the earth". Most other strength historians and armchair experts agree. Marvin's own choice was John Davis.

Eder used many routines over the years. Enjoyed Olympic lifting best perhaps, the standing press now an exercise or lift rarely practiced, yet his favorite exercise. For bodybuilding he mainly trained on the split routine system of 2 days with 3rd day resting. Usually using 5 sets of 10 reps, always very heavy poundages e.g.

Day 1 - five sets of 10 reps dumbbell laterals using 120lb dumbbells (unlocked elbows), 5 x 10 seated dumbbell curls same 120lb dumbbells. Ditto bench presses and triceps curls (5 x 10 120lb dumbbells) followed by lat machine pulldowns 5 x 10 x 350 lbs.

Day 2 - exercises for abdominals, sit ups plus added resistance i.e. 5 x 15 plus 50 lbs. He once completed 1 00 reps sit-ups with lbs. added. High repetitions on calf machine 5 x 50 reps and parallel squats 5 x I 0 x 475lbs. " He could squat 10 x 8 x 475lbs. and make 3 reps with 520lbs or 50 repetitions with 300lbs on parallel squats!

His best measurements were probably height 5ft 8ins. Weight 203lbs, neck 19ins, chest 49ins, waist 34ins, forearm 15ins, biceps 19 plus, thighs 26 and calves 17ins. David Willoughby lists Marvin’s lifts in his fine to me Super Athletes. As does Osmo Kiiha in a superb coverage interview of Eder in Iron Master Dec 1993 issue and for whom we acknowledge help in preparing this article. (Regrettably Iron Master has now ended on issue 29). These include his parallel bar dip using extra 434lbs, this plus his own weight of 198lbs making a total of 632lbs and 7 reps with 400lbs. 100 wide arm chins without weights, Single chin with added 250lbs, strict barbell curl 210 lbs, cheat curls with 255lbs, clean and press two dumbbell at same time using 120 lb dumbbells for 10 reps. He could press behind neck 305lbs and side press with his left hand 220]lbs. Plus a lot more. Herb Glossbrenner, statistician, weight training historian said, "Marvin Eder was for real. It is indeed a shame that we will never know just what he could have done had he been given a fair shake".

For long recognized the world over for his super strength and record, at their 7th Annual reunion, the Association Of Oldetime Barbell and Strongmen conferred their highest honour to Marvin Eder on 8th October 1989.with the tribute saying, "His feats of incredible muscular power and magnificent physique will remain legendary in the records of the Iron Game History"

Regularly attending similar Iron Game events, he also come over to the Oscar Heidenstam Awards in London to the delight of his fans. His feelings then were that, "Bodybuilding has degenerated because of steroids and drug abuse and that Olympic lifting is on the slide". Currently still mighty active, he trains without weights, but instead uses the exercises he loves, i.e. high reps wide arm chins 2 sets 30 to 60 reps., 2 x 40 to 70 dips, (parallel bar dips, not push ups), 4 x 200 squat jumps and 2 x 15 leg raises hanging from chin bar. He also swims a lot and keeps active bodily and in mind, a true example of a real champion

Sources, acknowledgments and many thanks to Joe Weider's MUSCLE POWER and YOUR PHYSIQUE magazines 1940's

Sources, acknowledgements and many thanks to Joe Weider’s Muscle Power and Your Physique magazine 1950’s and 50’s. Bob Hoffman's STRENGTH AND HEALTH magazines. Osrno Kiiha's IRON MASTER December 1993. Private conversations with the late Charles Smith former Weider editor and correspondence with same. Personal conversations with Marvin Eder in London at the O.H Foundation Awards and personal correspondence, Ian Duckett of Natural Press magazine and finally data from David Willoughby's SUPER ATHLETES.

On behalf of RobertUniverse.com, we wish to extend acknowledgements and special thanks to David Gentle and "NO BULL" magazine, UK .

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