Monadnock Moment No. 075

Era 7: Emergence of Modern America - 1890 to 1930

The Apollo Exerciser

Most of us are aware of the importance of exercise to our health and happiness. Consequently, we would not be surprised to open our local business directory and find an advertisement for the Apollo home exercise machine.

The ad in question reads as follows: "The Apollo Exerciser is the best apparatus for home use. Recommended by leading physicians. For all persons of sedentary habits. A healthy body creates a healthy mind. Lawyers, clergymen, bookkeepers, students, bankers, teachers, clerks, and children may obtain the exercise they need with (this) apparatus."

We might indeed be surprised, however, to find that the business directory in question was dated 1893, more than 100 years ago. The 1893 advertisement in the Keene city directory showed a picture of a machine that looks much the same as today's wall mounted exercise machines.

The Apollo home exerciser was patented on March 7, 1893 by well known Keene businessman Harry T. Kingsbury. The Apollo factory was located at the corner of Davis and Ralston Streets in Keene. Within a few years Mr. Kingsbury was involved with another Keene business, the Kingsbury Toy Company. With his early interest in exercise and his invention of the Apollo Exerciser, Harry T. Kingsbury was a man ahead of his time.