Dan Lurie started making and selling weights in parents basement in the early 40’s. These cast iron shoe weights or boots would allow you to run barbells through the holes and predates the leg press. This was crucial to creating the home workout. He wasn’t the first athlete to make these type of weights, their inception goes back to the turn of the century. He was quite the entrepreneur though, Most Muscular Man in America- 4 times, TV personality, Gym Owner, Weights maker, Competitor, Performer, Publisher. They are chunky, heavy and fabulously red.