THE STORY OF MAXALDING
For many years Maxalding advertised their Body Building and Muscle Control system in Bodybuilding magazines and also on the backs of British Magazines such as Tit-Bits.
Health & Strength - December 1971
Advertisement from Tit-Bits 1959
The Maxalding system, like the 'Dynamic Tension' system of Charles Atlas and those of others, did not use weights. Where the other systems concentrated on Muscle Development Maxalding went one stage further and taught muscle control. Their methods of centralisation and central isolation of the abdomen and other exercises must have seemed revolutionary then and as they do not seem to be generally advocated elsewhere, even today, can possibly be considered the same in the 21st Century.
The methods taught had been around since the early 1900s and indeed many of the photos used in the instruction leaflets, even those sold in the 60s and 70s, date from that period.
Maxalding ceased to trade in the late 1970s.
Maxalding (originally called Maxaldo) was a name created from the founders, Maxick and Saldo and first came into being in 1909
Maxick was a German Strong Man, just over 5' tall, real name Max Sick. He was born in Wurtemburg on June 28th 1892. He came to this country in 1909 where he met Monte Saldo. He died in South America on 10th May 1961 whilst exploring the Amazon and Matto Grasso rivers. The Maxalding principles are based mainly on exercises and techniques which later appeared in his book 'Muscle Control', written in 1911.
Biographical details and articles by and about Maxick can be found in the main section of the site
For a few more details and another photo of him visit this site: http://www.geocities.com/HotSprings/Villa/4527/maxick.html
Monte Saldo was the professional name of Alfred Montague Woollaston who was apprenticed to the great Eugen Sandow in 1897. He took on this name at the turn of the 20th century whilst touring Europe demonstrating strength and gymnastics. He was also an artist's model and in 1914 he published a book called 'How to Pose'. He provided the financial means of promoting Maxick's methods and starting the Maxalding postal course.
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In this advertisement in 1936 Monte claimed to be the person who actually wrote 'Muscle Control' from the verbal explanations of Maxick, who at that time knew no English. Click on the image for full-size view. |
Monte's wife was killed in an air-raid in 1942 and he himself was severely injured. His oldest son, Charles, was killed during the invasion of Europe. His daughter Theresa was badly injured in an air-raid. He died in 1949. Monte's details can be found here.
His son, F.H.C. Woollaston, the youngest of the children, took over, using the professional name of Courtlandt Saldo. He carried on the business until sometime in the late 70s. Court Saldo died in 1983 at the age of 72.
Some of this biographical detail above has been kindly provided by Gil Waldron.
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