Rowing Machine

Object/Artifact

-

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Rowing Machine

Entry/Object ID

2012.8

Description

Chromed metal rowing machine consisting of a leather seat on a long metal pole and a bicycle wheel with plastic sheets to create air resistance. The machine rests on the ground in two places: at the end of the horizontal pole, and at the joint between the horizontal and diagonal poles. The base at the far end has holes for bolting the machine down, while the base at the join has rubber caps. There are two wooden footrests attached at a forty-five degree angle at the join. The butterfly-shaped seat is oriented toward the wheel and moves relatively freely along the base pole. At the midpoint of the diagonal pole is a wooden stand with turned handle, a maker's label, and a speed gauge. At the end of the pole is a bicycle wheel with black plastic rectangles attached within the spokes.

Context

Developed and manufactured by Concept2 in Morrisville, Vermont.

Acquisition

Accession

2012.8

Source or Donor

Concept2, Inc.

Acquisition Method

Gift

Made/Created

Manufacturer

Concept2, Inc.

Date made

1980 - 1985

Place

Village

Morrisville

Town

Morristown

County

Lamoille County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Tertiary Object Term

Machine, Rowing

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Machine, Exercise

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Device, Fitness

Nomenclature Class

Recreational Devices

Nomenclature Category

Category 09: Recreational Objects

Material

Metal, Wood, Plastic

Interpretative Labels

Label

Rowing Machine, 1980-1985 Concept2 Morrisville, Vermont Metal, wood, plastic Gift of Concept2, 2012 Many of Vermont's inventions and innovations have come about during the cold and dark of winter. When the Dreissigacker brothers, Dick and Pete, found themselves without access to their beloved sport of rowing while ponds were frozen over, they put their creativity to developing a new and improved indoor rowing machine. In 1981, they began manufacturing and selling their first model, called the Concept2 Model A. Over the next few years, they leveraged their connections to the rowing community as well as their keen interest in iterating and improving to take the exercise market by storm. Though the idea of an indoor rowing machine was over a century old by that point, the Concept2 "ergometer" rowing machine quickly became the industry standard. Today, Concept2 is a multi-national, multi-million dollar company that is still based out of Vermont.