Max Sick and Unknown Models Photographed by P. W. Luton

Likely soon after the turn of the twentieth century, P. W. Luton took this photograph of strongman Max Sick aka Maxick posing with two equally massive, unknown performers.

Max Sick Photographed by P. W. Luton

P. W. Luton makes his premiere on this blog with this photograph taken circa 1910 of Max Sick, who was born on June 28, 1882 in Bregenz, Austria. A sickly child, he found ways to strengthen his body and, in his early twenties, became a legendary strongman using the stage name, Maxick.

He was less than five-and-a-half feet tall and weighed no more than one-hundred-fifty pounds. He gained fame for using one hand to lift into the air sixteen times a man heavier than himself - at the same time he held in his other hand a mug of beer that he never spilled.

He invented a popular isometric exercise routine known as maxalding. Like Eugen Sandow, he enthralled his fans by twitching his muscles. Maxick set his performance to music.

He left Germany during both world wars, refusing to fight for the Germans. He retired in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he ran a gymnasium until his death on May 10, 1961.

Near his body was found a handwritten note: "My heart is beating rather slow, I feel extremely cold, I think it will be over soon. Remember the infinite is our freedom manifested through our consciousness."