Why Do Weight Plates Look the Way They Do?

Introduction

In episode #3 of Home Gym History, @VintageWeightsPGH explains why weight plates look the way they do, how bumper plates came about, and more.

This episode can be found on Garage Gym Radio, Spotify, Apple, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Episode Outline

(0:39) Why a 2-Inch Diameter? Allowing the barbell to revolve is the most crucial reason a 2-inch barbell was created.

(3:38) Deep Dish Plates: The reason these plates were created is not the primary reason people purchase them today.

(6:51) Size: The specific height of 45 lb plates was created in order to avoid people crushing their skulls on the platform. It is now the accepted norm for starting positions of many lifts.

(9:48) Bumper Plates: These were created as the next evolution in making it easier to drop.

(15:19) Deep Dish Today vs. Vintage: Deep dish plates have made a recent resurgence in the market today. They are likely more expensive than most vintage weights you’ll find on the used marketplace.

(17:58) The First Bumper Plates vs. Nowadays: The first bumper plates simply included a rubber disk around a metal plate.

Sources

Heffernan, Conor. “A Brief History of the Barbell.” Physical Culture Study, Physical Culture Study, 28 February 2017, https://physicalculturestudy.com/2017/02/28/history-of-the-barbell/

Heffernan, Conor. “The History of the Olympic Barbell.” Physical Culture Study, Physical Culture Study, 12 February 2018, https://physicalculturestudy.com/2018/02/12/the-history-of-the-olympic-barbell/

Newton, Harvey. “The Story Behind Bumper Plates.” SportsEd TV, SportsEd TV, 15 April 2021, https://sportsedtv.com/blog/the-story-behind-bumper-plates#:~:text=Today’s%20plate%2Dloaded%20barbells%20first,the%20competitive%20scene%20in%201928.

Teufel, Hugo, et al. “York Plate List.” Vintage York Barbell Owners Group, Facebook, July 2021, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1638679859706092/

“An Engineer-Coach Cracks the Code.” Ironmag Labs, Ironmag Labs, 7 June 2022, https://www.ironmaglabs.com/forums/threads/deadlift-form-the-dirty-secret-no-one-tells-you.22113/#post-69007