Upper Body Work with a Towel

It's hard to believe that a cigarette company would have exercise related items, but it's true.  As early as 1875, promotional, and collectible cards were included in cigarette packaging.  These cards often were images of actresses, sport teams and celebrities, and other curiosities (as considered at the time), such as Native American Chieftains.  Most cards belonged to a series of 25 to 50 cards, but there were the occasional sets of 100.  But some cards included instructions on exercise.

Below is a set of cards from the W.D. & H.O Wills tobacco company out of Britain.  It appears that these cards were printed sometime in the late 1800's to the early 1900's.  It's an interesting set of exercises using nothing more than a towel.  It looks like it could be some pretty decent shoulder work when there is nothing else at hand.

Ex 1

(1.) Stand in position illustrated, with towel held tightly stretched on level with the shoulders. (2.) Raise arms as high as possible above head. (3.) Return to position 1, and then lower arms as illustrated, resuming position 1, from which whole exercise should be repeated 8 to 10 times.

Ex 2 

(1.) Stand in position illustrated, with towel held stretched between hands. (2.) Extend arms as high as possible above the head. (3.) Bend elbows so that towel is now stretched behind the neck. (4.) Lower hands, sliding towel through them, until arms are fully extended behind legs, when it may be stretched tightly again. (5.) Return in order to positions 3, 2, and 1 from which whole exercise should be repeated 8 to 10 times.

Ex 3 

 (1.) Stand in position illustrated, with towel stretched tightly across chest, and on level with the shoulders. (2.) Then extend arms fully above head with towel still taut. (3.) Bending forward, with towel still tightly stretched, bring it over the head and hold it horizontally, just above ground. Both arms and legs should be kept perfectly straight. (4.) Return to position 2, and then to position 1, from which the whole exercise should be repeated 8 to 10 times.

Ex 4 

(1.) Stand in position illustrated. (2.) Then raise arms above head, and lower again, so that stretched towel is again level with the shoulders, but BEHIND the head. (3.) Straighten right arm, at the same time lowering right hand so that towel (still taut) now slopes to the right. (4.) Return to Position 2, and repeat with left arm. (5.) Return again to position 2, and then to position 1, from which whole exercise should be repeated 8 to 10 times.

Ex 5 

(1.) Stand in position illustrated, with towel tightly stretched and held across chest. (2.) Extend arms as far as possible, keeping towel taut. (3.) Return to position 1, from which the whole exercise should be repeated 8 to 10 times.