Soloflex: World's First Infomercial

[chonjacki]

Not to.split hairs. But the first infomercial, I just discovered yesterday, was for the Vita Mix blender in 1949.

[MrStevilKneivel]

That infomercial got me to buy a Soloflex and I still have it and have used it since I got it new. I like it so much that I use it every day. I liked the original so much I went out and got a Rockit. I've had lower back problems for almost 5 years and when a used Rockit came to my attention, I scooped it up. I wish I would have had the Rockit 5 years ago!

Thanks Jerry and I wish you would have won the governorship. State banks are the way to go. I've been pushing for one in Ohio for years.

[jerrywsoloflex]

@MrStevilKneivel Thanks much for your note.  I'm still using mine too! My far-better half Marilyn claims I saved her life with the Rockit. She may be right, at 65 her vital signs continue to amaze her physician. I don't go to doctors, so far as I'm concerned the best physician you can run to is the one you can't find. Broken bones and gun-shot wounds excepted of course. We just had our best sales month in 3 years. Cool...

[MrStevilKneivel]

@jerrywsoloflex Funny you mention doctors. I too have not visited a doctor since getting my Soloflex other than physicals. My blood pressure is fantastic and my cholesterol count is great.

My doctor says it must be in the genes but my family has lots of high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. I attribute not having those problems to using the Soloflex which allows me to stay way more active.

Thanks Jerry for such great products as Soloflex and Rockit. My fountains of youth.

[okdk7]

HEY..was the kid in the ad Rick Moranis...?

[queenmcsleaze]

@okdk7 nah man how could it be?

[sz42781]

I thought jonnie got jacked up by lifting lunch tables?Put him in a body bag

[sz42781]

Buler!

[paulie227]

I've always wanted a soloflex....they used to cost around $500.  Didn't know they were still being made.

[DocUnsane]

lol,

[ilovegoodsax]

I was a 28 y/o single mom when I ordered the Soloflex back in Mar. '89. It cost $1050 w/ the butterfly & leg extension attachments. I couldn't afford it but considered it an investment; made monthly pymts. Used it for about 6 months w/ fantastic results. Of course, life got in the way & it collected dust w/ non-use. However, I STILL have the machine! It's in my garage covered in dust & cobwebs but it's like new. Will start using it again. I knew there was a reason why I kept the unit.

[TheTerryE]

It's amazing to think that that stunnigly beautiful model Scott Madsen ended up in prison for embezzlement!

[nostromo38]

By the way...I thought prostitution was the world's oldest profession. Oh, wait...televangelists...same thing.

[nostromo38]

I was 13 when this ad came out. So, now I'm a gay 42 year old male who works out every single day instead of forming meaningful relationships. Gee....wonder why that is?

[TheTerryE]

@nostromo38 Yah, blame your narcisissm and lack of depth on a machine. Look inside, man.

[nostromo38]

@TheTerryE Thank you, Mr. The TerryE. That was helpful. I will look inside. Starting....now.

[genivf2]

is it me or that kid looks like bill gates?

[OriginalRooster]

I bought this machine back in 1988. I still have all the original paperwork that came with it , including the postcard that says the unit is shipped and I'll receive it in about 2 weeks. I still remember the tractor trailer coming to my house with my new "toy". I purchased the machine, leg extension attachment and the butterfly attachment, all for $1,050. I still have the machine and use it, though I need to get new weightstraps because after 23 years they are badly drying out and cracking.

[jerrywsoloflex]

@OriginalRooster Douse them with ArmorAll. It really protects rubber. 

[OriginalRooster]

@jerrywsoloflex Thanks for the tip, I'll try it.

[StrengthTV]

@jerrywsoloflex Hummm... Actually armorall shines but is deadly to rubber... it dries rubber out badly. And once a piece of rubber like this has lost it's elasticity you can't bring it back. Especially a functional one like this.

[JustSiouxMe]

at the video info, since when was preaching the oldest profession?

[jerrywsoloflex]

Yes, the first infomercial to sell a real product. Program length commercials were not allowed on the airways until deregulation with the Cable TV Act of 1984. The only 30 minute sales presentations permitted before then were TV preachers selling tickets to heaven.

[ILoveMySon4EVER1]

IS THIS REALLY THE FIRST INFOMERICAL IN THE WORLD??

[BJ1047]

I bought something like this at Sears, a knock off...CTS (or some name like that). Decent, but I was too tall for it. Now, it's really heavy and i'd like to move it out of the house. Oh, well.

[RafaKBLudo]

Now THAT'S a VERY good, very well-meaning and seamingly very sincere (and therefore, much, MUCH more persuasive) Informercial. *So* the opposite of 99.9% of infomercials out there, that are obviously completely insincere.

...and the speaker has a powerful voice.

Definitely something to learn a lot from, such as Sincerity and *true* belief in the goodness of the product can lead your sales up the sky.

[criceto]

sadly it never reach my country

[flossjw1]

instead of burning gas & going to the "snap fitness" 24/7 gym, i'm seriously thinking 'bout picking one of these up.i remember in my teens those soloflex commercials & actually forgot all about the product.I think i'll go to their website & do some research.

[jerrywsoloflex]

@flossjw1 Our retro Soloflex is selling good, has the square frame (40 pounds lighter) and original aircraft shock rings for resistance. Free weight adaptable, of course. You'll like it.

[primenemisis]

cool to see some of gus van sants early work

[jerrywsoloflex]

@primenemisis  Gus is a friend but this was done with the help of Weiden + Kennedy. It would have turned out much differently had Gus helped...ha

[WhiteNightRiots]

Did everybody do push ups like that in 1977?

[LuigiMario112]

+1 If you think the kid in the beginning looked like Christopher Mintz-Plasse

[KyleMac92109]

I've owned 3 of them at various times, and sold them if I needed to relocate....Very good machine. Smart idea, and and excellent execution. This machine and a set of dumbells can go a long way...Now a days you can add a P90X too....I'm 6'3" 250lbs you are not going to "break" one these machines. Get the free weight attachment bars too. Their customer service was very good too. In addition to this; soloflex is an excellent America success story. I'll buy another one.

[chivasx90]

hit em with that flex hit em with that flex

[lilyred27]

I can watch that guy work out all day

[nelson1074]

Wow what a classic. I was just a boy when this came out(35 now). By the way the boy at the beginning looks like Bill Gates. :-)

[mushfarm]

holy christ look at his glasses

[rg0057]

@mushfarm , the thing about it is that big lenses actually do permit you to see better. I can't stand the thin things they foist on us today, where you have to look through a tiny strip and the rest of the world is a blur. Glasses are prescribed for vision correction, not to look cool. This is on my mind as I'm getting new glasses soon, and I dread it.

[ualthxdia]

@cutandpaste1 Once you get in position for the leg press it is pretty comfortable. Leg press and calf raises are both feel very good. The bar floats a bit, but I find that it make me concentrate that much more. Plus it is supposed to float, makes the weaker side work harder to equalize muscle growth.

[MrpotatoChips]

wow. this infomercial is actually better than the stuff we have today. also, it's nice to see these vintage things. thumbs up from me.

[Clwsfan864]

the body builder guy had a nice butt

[BCBU2410124]

his form is terrible

[magik4hp]

OMG! He looks like an older version of Kurt from Glee!

[sr60627]

I remember this video.

[jerrywsoloflex]

I never found it difficult to get into position for a leg press but see how some might. Once you're in, it's very stable. For donkey presses just move the balls of your feet to the barbell arm.

We still have the shock rings. They're great!

[spartacus5518]

I noticed on the Soloflex site that the shock rings are not listed, what happened?

[bgibb101]

I purchased a used Soloflex complete with butterfly attachment and thigh extension for $250.00. It's the best investment I ever made. I work out four days a week, and at 52, even my teenage sons are telling me that I look a lot more buff! Take my advice guys - get a Soloflex. Its a good safe way to build, strengthen and scult every muscle in your body SAFELY - without risking injury with loose iron plates.

[jerrywsoloflex]

No more homoerotic than the Statue of David. It's just fine art to be interpreted by the mind of the viewer.

[zetally]

@jerrywsoloflex you know i never got what homoerotic is. to me it seems that ppl that say that say that is homoerotic because it turns gat ppl on. but just because they get turned on by it it doesnt mean it was meant for them.

[EmperorofCartoons]

@jerrywsoloflex Exactly. You can enjoy the fine tuned human form, male or female, in a completely nonsexual way, as art. 

[ChristFavorsME]

Could this be any more homoerotic?

[CaneFu]

This really was a great commercial.

[h5u7p5gt]

Boflex is better

[somps33]

Around '90, me and an Army buddy workout partner wanted one of these really bad, never did get one. The on base gyms were always packed. Right now I'm looking to get the Bayou Total Trainer DLX, why? Because it's 400$ new, shipping included. However, I still remained intrigued with this damn Soloflex machine.

[spartacus5518]

@somps33 Hey brother, look in Craigslist for a used Soloflex, you can find one pretty cheap

[Soloflexforever]

Try it, learn to use it, and you will love it. Built way better than anything else on the market. Super tough, compact, and versatile.

That Total Trainer is a completely different animal.

[OtorresFitness]

Dude, you can get one very cheap on Craigslist.

[smittykins]

My late husband had one(got it before we were married). In almost eight years, I never saw him use it. It became a coat hanger and cat furniture.

[ILikeEggsWithBacon]

looks great

[redolance]

I am reading some of your comments and thinking, were these written in the 80's. =)

[OtorresFitness]

I know, so that is why I purchase my straps through ebay, and combine strapps with freeweights as well. Check out my videos in my account page, and you will see how I combine both and get a great workout by doing so.

[SamuelEdi80]

The boy is BULL XD XD

[jerrywsoloflex]

First time I've ever heard that. I've been using one for 34 years, been hearing and experiencing just the opposite all that time. Everyone who lifts free weights gets bouts of tendonitis, it comes with the territory.

[sweetfights]

I have worked with Free Weights, Smith Machine, Bowflex, Soloflex and high end commercial equipment. Lack of proper technique/periodization are to blame for most tendonitis conditions. SoloFlex is smooth. I experienced tendonitis (shoulders) when I exclusively used free weights. The Bowflex is very good and built well .

But...... The SoloFlex is built old school and will last a lifetime- The finest piece of home gym equipment I have ever owned; and mine was purchased third hand!!!

[dtsman1138]

I agree!!!

I have owned and used a Soloflex since 1991 and I have no problems whatsoever.

However, when it comes to proper technique, I have noticed several Soloflex users using the machine in the wrong way. They put the lever arm too high or too low or I have seen people try the bench press with the leg extension attached.

[dtsman1138]

I would suggest devoting time get a feel for the machine. Go through all the excercises and evaluate the feel and range of motion and proper lever arm placment. Keep a log with all the excercises and the number of the lever arm position. This will ensure your workouts will be much smoother and safer and more effective.

[ACEBAKER911]

The Main problem is your tendons and Joints take a BEATING on this machine because obviously the movement is Un Natural because the Straps do not act in the same way as Free Weights.

Joint soreness and stiffness in the wrists and elbows is very common when using the Soloflex.

i had this experience as did many of my friends who also owned one. None of us had this negative experience when using Free Weights.

The rubber straps do NOT provide a Natural Resistance

[jerrywsoloflex]

@ACEBAKER911 We have never heard this criticism before from any of our one million + owners. In fact we have never had a single complaint about tendonitis, the bane of iron-pumpers. The rubber dampens the shock to tendons, analogous to shocks and rubber tires dampening vibrational stress on a car. This was one of the reasons Arnold Schwartznegger endorsed our machine, this and the fact that it did the exercises correctly in form and balance, just like freeweight barbell exercises.

[Soloflexforever]

@ACEBAKER911

I liked my Soloflex equipment enough to build a website and forum dedicated to all the ins and outs of the equipment. Soloflex up to now does NOT pay me to endorse the product. I have very customized and modified equipment. I also have bought and sold lots of them to and from many different people.

Until now I have never heard of the Soloflex muscle machine being hard on the joints of myself or anyone else.

[Soloflexforever]

@ACEBAKER911

Continued... Ran out of room!

Frank Zane preferred to use the Soloflex on seated shoulder presses over any other machine at his disposal. I believe that he also used it to be able to train competitively in bodybuilding after injuring himself with freeweights. He could not train with freeweights. The arcing motion of the barbell arm for many exercises is far more natural than a Smith Machine and many of the other body wrecking machines gyms carry.

[StrengthTV]

@Soloflexforever machines don't wreck bodies, people do. Unskilled, uninformed people.

I've known Frank for 30 years, done a lot of work with him and never, ever heard him refer to using a Solo for anything. Nor have I ever heard him mention injuring himself with free weights.

That's be like Tiger Woods injuring himself with a golf club... sure, Tiger and all athletes get injured and then heal... it's not the weights or the machines. It's the body and life.

[Soloflexforever]

@StrengthTV You don't really know him then do you? Frank has his pictures with his endorsement all over Soloflex literature from back then. He had a customized Soloflex in his home gym with stretched steel springs and a vertical back support that he used for seated shoulder presses. No way you could have known him for that long and not known this.

[imsljr420]

i had a soloflex, but i lost 1 part so i got rid of it...but it does work.

[Tycho86]

I worked out on my step-dad's Soloflex in high school and put on a few pounds of muscle; although, I was never as buff as the model in the workout poster that came with it. :)

[jacobzook]

THANK YOU!!!!! I've been looking for this video for a LONG time and now I found it! The machine works better when you don't hang clothes on it. The machine works better when you use it. This is a sculpting machine, not a steroid looking, freak wanna-be, iron clad musclehead machine. No way baby, use it to lose it and use you brains for gains. Everyone should go spend the $100 on Ebay or Craigslist and invest in some good old American STEEL! Once you get one you can NEVER live without it!

[TheArchAngel90650]

You body will develop to toning type routines or big muscle type of routines no matter if you are working out at the gym or Soloflex. Your muscle cells dont have any idea what you are lifting or where you are lifting. Because of steroids is popular at the gym; you are lead to believe that gym equipment makes you bigger.

[pray4chicken]

i just got one used and i love it ...only thing is its hard to get under the bar for the bench press haha , well mostly because i'm a big guy so yeah , love the machine.

[jerrywsoloflex]

Sit sideways at the end of the bench then lie back and swivel around so your neck is under the barbell then scoot back to get into position. Exit the reverse way. A little practice and it's easy.

[TheArchAngel90650]

That is hardly a valid complaint since you get a spotter for your bench press. I think most people dont know how to get into the bench press position. Squat in front of bench facing away from machine. Rest your upper back on edge of the bench and begin to lean your head back while pushing with your legs. Your hands at the same time should be grabing the lever bar and pulling yourself under the bench. This movement should be completed in one second. Make sure lever arm is not too low.

[jpagan17]

I own a Soloflex and I use it three to four times a week. It's a Great machine. I believe Frank Zane endorsed it and you can see it in the Sly Stallone movie "Over the Top".

[richard7638]

eat your words your the one that owned one. maybe you should of tried it first before "buying" it. only person that lost is you because you spent money on it. look at your name "zero" ur nothing.

[richard7638]

yes sir i do. it works just fine for me. maybe you weren't using it properly.

[weathered79]

are these things worth it i;m not into machines but i like the simplicity of this

[richard7638]

yes they are i just got one on craigslist for 125 dollars with all the attachments. it works great.

[thecrowrains]

March 13, 2009

Too bad Soloflex is no longer manufacturing their classic, clean home gym. They emailed me a few days ago to answer my question about cancellation of the production. Their business goal is that there are thousands of their solid-steel gyms floating around in craigslist and Ebay, so much so that they only sell "Refurbished" home gyms from their company. Fortunately Weight Straps are sill sold new from them. Great gym!

[ualthxdia]

They are getting ready to start up manufacturing the Soloflex once again. They also have a new product called the Soloflex Lift, a nice clean looking squat type rack.

[jt27x3]

Man. With the first paycheck I got after college, I bought my Soloflex! That was twenty years ago this week, and it was the best money I have ever spent. The infomercials--dare I call them that--were so beautiful, so graceful, so well written. Great. Thanks for sharing.

[streeteffective]

I think that these commercials had a great "feel" to them. They had a certain "classic feel" about them? The marketers did a great job selling the "romance" of weight training and strength building. Perfect choice in music, narrator, and theme. It doesn't hurt that the product was actually very good also!

[DJDaveRave]

Great commercial, great product. I got mine in 1988 for my high school graduation, and I'm still using it with most of the original weight straps. I recorded one of these infomercials on my VCR to guide me through the workouts. Still have that video too!

[smithshaven]

Jerry.....Wow! What a great thing to find such an effort by the man who started it all. My life-long relationship with my Soloflex Muscle Machine. I've used one since I was 15 years old (1980). Still using it. Still love it. Thank you.

[jerrywsoloflex]

You're most welcome. No idea how many fingers, toes, muscle tics and lives that thing has saved in the last 30 years but it's gotta be a lot. Esquire Magazine did an article 15 years ago citing emergency room visits from weightlifting accidents, 90,000 a year! I'm still using mine too. Thanks for your nice comments. Jerry

[TheArchAngel90650]

Jerry Wilson/ceo of Soloflex wrote in another text message/video that two main reasons he had to shut down the manufacturing of the Soloflex machine.

1. Soloflex machines are built to last a life time. Therefore, he was competing agains himself. All the used machines being sold at a fraction of cost of a new one.

2. Buying time for infomerial became too expensive.

[Valerifon1]

I'm 53, and just bought my first Soloflex. I can't believe what great condition its in and I got the butterfly and leg attachments with it for $275 complete. I'm thrilled to have this and am now going to buy a new set of weight straps and a manual... I was pleasantly surprised to find these videos posted - thanks for that - these are great! best regards, Luther

[RoberTastic]

Ohhh boy!! I remember seeing this and wanting a soloflex when i was about 12 yrs old. I bought one a few years back for 200$ used I think. I'll have to clear off the bench and use it again because i need to lose 20 lbs ;)

[stevo642007]

my soloflex is 20 years old, and still going strong, there were built to last forever.

[jkygogo]

If you have time, could you please post the entire informercial? Thanks.

[jkygogo]

Y did they stop building these???? Thanks

[Whammer79]

2 reasons they stopped building them. The cost of steel made them expensive to make and they are made so well they last too long! You can buy a used one for a fraction of the price of a new one. The used ones are still just as good.

[jkygogo]

Yes, thanks, thanks This is the version I have.

[jkygogo]

Hi, I meant I have this infomercial I taped I think around 1986. Thanks for showing it.

[Whammer79]

Great stuff!!!

[cityterraceboy]

Please keep the old videos comming,It make me motivated ,I love the Soloflex

thanks,

dave

[grosmond1]

That was the infomercial that made me buy one. It was different than other ADS and so carefully thought out. The young boy, the whole psychology behind that and the young man's body type was just perfect. No muscle bound type just a beautifully sculpted body. Not to mention a piece of equipment that would last a lifetime and so painstakingly thought out and looked like a superb piece of sculpture. To this day all the other copy cats look like CONTRAPTIONS in comparison. Paul M NYC, NY