Re: Bullworker / Tensolator

[Guest guest]

On August 17th I posted that I won what I believe to

be an original Tensolator. It has dark green cables

and dark green handles that only say " International

Patents " on both ends and, in small print, " Made in

Germany " near the steel bar.

The box it came in said Tensolator and it also came

with a Tensolator manual.

I have to other Tensolators, but the handles on these

say " Tensolator'Bullworker. "

Rich

--- Holyoake wrote:

> Does anyone have an original Tensolator model?

>

> I've just won what I believe to be an original

> Tensolator via ebay and

> it is absolutely mint (doesn't look used at all). It

> came in a plain

> brown box with early BW2 booklet (also mint).

> Not sure if it is an original so I thought I'd ask

> the Group in case

> anyone has one for a point of reference.

>

> I have a Bullworker 2 also and the 2 models appear

> very similar -

> the " Tensolator/Bullworker " (as it is marked on one

> of the handles) is

> slightly longer and has a musclemeter scale which

> counts up to 180 not

> 175 (as on the BW2).

> The handles on the " Tensolator " are a darker green

> too and the cables

> are sheathed in a darker covering than the BW2.

> The " Tensolator " also appears to have the handles

> secured by

> indentations to the tubing as opposed to the pop

> rivets in the BW2.

> Finally, the " Tensolator " is made in Germany not

> Great Britain as for

> BW2.

>

> I am curious as to whether I have picked up an

> absolute bargain or a

> very recent " copy " of the original - not sure if the

> Tensolator was

> ever copied or not. I am only slightly sceptical as

> I would have

> thought that if it were an original it would be

> marked as made

> in " West " Germany not " Germany " as the country was

> divided at the time

> of original manufacture.

>

> I have since found that the Tensolator came from a

> recent house

> clearance after the death of an elderly man and

> assume that it was an

> original that had only seen very slight use (if at

> all). If it is a

> copy it's a very good one!

>

> If anyone can advise me I would be very grateful -

> not sure if I'll use

> it yet though as I still use my X5 for daily

> workouts as the range of

> movement and number of exercises is much greater.

>

> Thanks in advance of any help.

>

>

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[Guest guest]

Yeah, I believe you are right Rich. I own two originals, as well as one with Tensolator- Bullworker on the handle. I believe this model was the transition between the Tensolator and BW2. I love the feel of the thicker cables on the Tensolator, and the quality of these early models was exceptional. I work in the Quality field, and really appreciate well made products.The very fact they are still around and operational is a testament to their craftsmenship. Brawn wrote: On

August 17th I posted that I won what I believe tobe an original Tensolator. It has dark green cablesand dark green handles that only say "InternationalPatents" on both ends and, in small print, "Made inGermany" near the steel bar.The box it came in said Tensolator and it also camewith a Tensolator manual.I have to other Tensolators, but the handles on thesesay "Tensolator'Bullworker."Rich--- Holyoake <kgholyoakeaol> wrote:> Does anyone have an original Tensolator model? > > I've just won what I believe to be an original> Tensolator via ebay and > it is absolutely mint (doesn't look used at all). It> came in a plain > brown box with early BW2 booklet (also mint).> Not sure if it is an original so I thought I'd ask> the Group in case > anyone has one for a point of

reference.> > I have a Bullworker 2 also and the 2 models appear> very similar - > the "Tensolator/Bullworker" (as it is marked on one> of the handles) is > slightly longer and has a musclemeter scale which> counts up to 180 not > 175 (as on the BW2).> The handles on the "Tensolator" are a darker green> too and the cables > are sheathed in a darker covering than the BW2.> The "Tensolator" also appears to have the handles> secured by > indentations to the tubing as opposed to the pop> rivets in the BW2.> Finally, the "Tensolator" is made in Germany not> Great Britain as for > BW2.> > I am curious as to whether I have picked up an> absolute bargain or a > very recent "copy" of the original - not sure if the> Tensolator was > ever copied or not. I am only slightly sceptical as> I would have >

thought that if it were an original it would be> marked as made > in "West" Germany not "Germany" as the country was> divided at the time > of original manufacture.> > I have since found that the Tensolator came from a> recent house > clearance after the death of an elderly man and> assume that it was an > original that had only seen very slight use (if at> all). If it is a > copy it's a very good one!> > If anyone can advise me I would be very grateful -> not sure if I'll use > it yet though as I still use my X5 for daily> workouts as the range of > movement and number of exercises is much greater.> > Thanks in advance of any help.> > __________________________________________________________Be a better pen pal. Text or chat with friends inside Yahoo! Mail. See how. http://overview.mail.yahoo.com/

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[Guest guest]

I forgot to mention that the one I have that just says

International Patents on the handles does not have a

gauge. There is no hole in the handle where one would

be attached. My Tensolator/Bullworkers do have a

gauge, as do my Bullworker 2 models. Another reason to

believe that the International Patents one is the

original.

--- wrote:

> On August 17th I posted that I won what I believe to

> be an original Tensolator. It has dark green cables

> and dark green handles that only say " International

> Patents " on both ends and, in small print, " Made in

> Germany " near the steel bar.

>

> The box it came in said Tensolator and it also came

> with a Tensolator manual.

>

> I have to other Tensolators, but the handles on

> these

> say " Tensolator'Bullworker. "

>

> Rich

> --- Holyoake wrote:

>

> > Does anyone have an original Tensolator model?

> >

> > I've just won what I believe to be an original

> > Tensolator via ebay and

> > it is absolutely mint (doesn't look used at all).

> It

> > came in a plain

> > brown box with early BW2 booklet (also mint).

> > Not sure if it is an original so I thought I'd ask

> > the Group in case

> > anyone has one for a point of reference.

> >

> > I have a Bullworker 2 also and the 2 models appear

> > very similar -

> > the " Tensolator/Bullworker " (as it is marked on

> one

> > of the handles) is

> > slightly longer and has a musclemeter scale which

> > counts up to 180 not

> > 175 (as on the BW2).

> > The handles on the " Tensolator " are a darker green

> > too and the cables

> > are sheathed in a darker covering than the BW2.

> > The " Tensolator " also appears to have the handles

> > secured by

> > indentations to the tubing as opposed to the pop

> > rivets in the BW2.

> > Finally, the " Tensolator " is made in Germany not

> > Great Britain as for

> > BW2.

> >

> > I am curious as to whether I have picked up an

> > absolute bargain or a

> > very recent " copy " of the original - not sure if

> the

> > Tensolator was

> > ever copied or not. I am only slightly sceptical

> as

> > I would have

> > thought that if it were an original it would be

> > marked as made

> > in " West " Germany not " Germany " as the country was

> > divided at the time

> > of original manufacture.

> >

> > I have since found that the Tensolator came from a

> > recent house

> > clearance after the death of an elderly man and

> > assume that it was an

> > original that had only seen very slight use (if at

> > all). If it is a

> > copy it's a very good one!

> >

> > If anyone can advise me I would be very grateful -

> > not sure if I'll use

> > it yet though as I still use my X5 for daily

> > workouts as the range of

> > movement and number of exercises is much greater.

> >

> > Thanks in advance of any help.

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>

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____

> Be a better pen pal.

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[Guest guest]

With all this talk about the Bullworker 2 and Tensolator, I'm

now wondering, what do I have?

My dad bought a Bullworker 2 for me and my brother in 1974

here in the Philippines. It has the green handles and the

manual and wall poster that came with it called it the

Bullworker 2 (I no longer have the wall poster).

The manual has a picture in page 3 of a unit with the " New

built-in power meter " but my unit did not have this. On the

same page as the picture, the unit is described as 34 1/2 "

long and weighs only 3 1/2 pounds. However, the unit used by

the models in the rest of the manual did not have any power

meters.

My unit has brownish cables, but the manual shows units that

have greenish cables. Both ends of the handles have the

inscription, " Patented in Great Britain Sweden France Germany

Spain Other Patents Pending " (in all-caps and no punctuation).

Oh, and I only noticed this now! In one of the handles near

the tube, there's an inscription " Made in England. "

I've been looking at data of Bullworkers and Tensolators

being sold in Ebay, and I saw one which showed a Tensolator

manual that looked exactly like the Bullworker 2 manual

(at least, the cover) except that its title was " Tensolator. "

Some Tensolators have power meters, others don't. In contrast,

all Bullworker 2s being sold now have power meters.

So I'm wondering, what do I have? Well, it was a Bullworker 2

when we got it, but all of the BW 2s I see being sold have

power meters.

I'm thinking: Is it possible that the Bullworker 2 and the

Tensolator are one and the same? just different names in

different places? I seem to remember reading somewhere in

those times that Tensolator was just another name of the

BW 2 in certain countries. And to me, a Tensolator with a

power meter would be a later model than my meterless BW2.

Well, there could be differences between the two, but could

they only be differences due to quality control? I bought two

X5 Golds some two years apart, and the second had a stronger

spring. So it might be that any differences between the

Tensolator and the Bullworker 2 were just manufacturing

differences as well?

Just musing.

Gerry

[Guest guest]

Thanks for your posts guys.

I think my Tensolator must be a later version as it comes with a

cursor etc just like my BW2 although it is longer and stillbears the

name Tensolator Bullworker on the handles.

Guess it was produced just before a proper BW2.

The only slightly unusual feature is that instead of a rivet to

secure the handles the tubes look like they've been " point " pressed

by a machine on either side to grip the handles instead - they don't

move at all and are quite solid. It must have been something they

tried before going back to rivetting the units for the later BW2 and

BW3.

>

> With all this talk about the Bullworker 2 and Tensolator, I'm

> now wondering, what do I have?

>

> My dad bought a Bullworker 2 for me and my brother in 1974

> here in the Philippines. It has the green handles and the

> manual and wall poster that came with it called it the

> Bullworker 2 (I no longer have the wall poster).

>

> The manual has a picture in page 3 of a unit with the " New

> built-in power meter " but my unit did not have this. On the

> same page as the picture, the unit is described as 34 1/2 "

> long and weighs only 3 1/2 pounds. However, the unit used by

> the models in the rest of the manual did not have any power

> meters.

>

> My unit has brownish cables, but the manual shows units that

> have greenish cables. Both ends of the handles have the

> inscription, " Patented in Great Britain Sweden France Germany

> Spain Other Patents Pending " (in all-caps and no punctuation).

>

> Oh, and I only noticed this now! In one of the handles near

> the tube, there's an inscription " Made in England. "

>

> I've been looking at data of Bullworkers and Tensolators

> being sold in Ebay, and I saw one which showed a Tensolator

> manual that looked exactly like the Bullworker 2 manual

> (at least, the cover) except that its title was " Tensolator. "

> Some Tensolators have power meters, others don't. In contrast,

> all Bullworker 2s being sold now have power meters.

>

> So I'm wondering, what do I have? Well, it was a Bullworker 2

> when we got it, but all of the BW 2s I see being sold have

> power meters.

>

> I'm thinking: Is it possible that the Bullworker 2 and the

> Tensolator are one and the same? just different names in

> different places? I seem to remember reading somewhere in

> those times that Tensolator was just another name of the

> BW 2 in certain countries. And to me, a Tensolator with a

> power meter would be a later model than my meterless BW2.

>

> Well, there could be differences between the two, but could

> they only be differences due to quality control? I bought two

> X5 Golds some two years apart, and the second had a stronger

> spring. So it might be that any differences between the

> Tensolator and the Bullworker 2 were just manufacturing

> differences as well?

>

> Just musing.

>

> Gerry

>