Arthur Jones (inventor)
Encyclopedia
Arthur Allen Joneshttp://www.cyberpump.com/arthureulogy.html was the founder of Nautilus, Inc.
and MedX, Inc.
and the inventor of the Nautilus exercise machine
s, including the Nautilus pullover, which was first sold in 1970. He was born in Arkansas
, and grew up in Seminole
, Oklahoma.
school of training, which involved hours in the gym using free weights, to High Intensity Training
. This involves short, single sets with maximum intensity, which, according to theory, triggers maximal muscular growth. Famous individuals who trained under the rules of Jones include Casey Viator
(who participated in the Colorado Experiment
), Eddie Robinson
(who participated in and trained under Jones's nautilus leverage line which is now Hammer Strength; Robinson dislikes the method), Mike Mentzer
, Sergio Oliva
and Dorian Yates
.
His publications include the Nautilus Bulletins, which aim to dispel contemporary myths of exercise and training.
The 1977 film Pumping Iron
is cited as generating a fitness revolution of sorts that resulted in gyms full of Nautilus equipment and other similar strength-training exercise machines.
Currently, Nautilus, Inc. markets the Bowflex, Stairmaster
and Nautilus product lines. These new product lines are not affiliated with Jones. The Bowflex "power rod" bending technology is in part based it due to use of variable resistance.
The Nautilus machines and the company he formed to sell them made him a multimillionaire and landed him on the Forbes list of the 400 richest people
. At one point, financial analysts estimated that Nautilus was grossing $300 million annually. He sold Nautilus Inc. in 1986 for $23 million. He also sold MedX in 1996 and then retired.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082902246_pf.html
On August 28, 2007, Jones died from natural causes at his home in Ocala
, Florida
, at age 80. He is survived by two daughters and by two sons, Gary and William Edgar Jones. Gary Jones created Hammer Strength strength training machines.http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/1997/07/21/smallb1.html
Jones traveled and 'adventured' widely, occasionally with friend and fellow adventurer Roy Pinney
, setting up camp for two years or so at a time in different places such as Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe
) and Mexico City
. His early motto was "bigger alligators, faster airplanes, and younger women." Jones's Lake Helen, Florida Nautilus building was the home of One-Eyed Jack, a 14 feet (4.3 m)-long gator that Jones was trying to grow to world record size. He was also an aficionado of poisonous spiders and reptiles, a large collection of which was also housed in the Nautilus building.
Jones was also the creator of the "Jumbolair" estate, originally created as a haven of 350 acres (1.4 km²) for orphaned African elephants and other wildlife.
Jones was an accomplished pilot with a flying record of over 44,000 hours, which was especially useful for the import-export businesses that he was developing.
Jones also founded MedX Corporation, in which he invested millions to develop medical-based exercise and testing equipment.
Nautilus, Inc.
Nautilus, Inc. , located in Vancouver, Washington, United States, is the marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health and fitness products sold under such names as Bowflex, Nautilus, PEARL iZUMi, Schwinn Fitness, StairMaster, Trimline and Universal.Nautilus and its corporate...
and MedX, Inc.
MedX Corporation
MedX Corporation is a privately owned company based in Ocala, Florida. MedX is the manufacture of spinal rehabilitation equipment and premium exercise equipment. MedX equipment was invented by the late Arthur Jones, who was also the inventor of Nautilus exercise equipment. MedX Equipment includes...
and the inventor of the Nautilus exercise machine
Exercise machine
An exercise machine is any machine used for physical exercise. These range from simple spring-like devices to computerized electromechanical rides to recirculating-stream swimming pools...
s, including the Nautilus pullover, which was first sold in 1970. He was born in Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, and grew up in Seminole
Seminole
The Seminole are a Native American people originally of Florida, who now reside primarily in that state and Oklahoma. The Seminole nation emerged in a process of ethnogenesis out of groups of Native Americans, most significantly Creeks from what is now Georgia and Alabama, who settled in Florida in...
, Oklahoma.
Accomplishments
Jones' ideas helped move the public's notion of bodybuilding and strength-training exercise away from the Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
school of training, which involved hours in the gym using free weights, to High Intensity Training
High intensity training
High Intensity Training is a form of strength training popularized in the 1970s by Arthur Jones, the founder of Nautilus. The training focuses on performing quality weightlifting repetitions to the point of momentary muscular failure...
. This involves short, single sets with maximum intensity, which, according to theory, triggers maximal muscular growth. Famous individuals who trained under the rules of Jones include Casey Viator
Casey Viator
Casey Viator was the youngest ever AAU Mr. America - gaining the title at the age of 19 in 1971....
(who participated in the Colorado Experiment
Colorado Experiment
The Colorado Experiment was a bodybuilding experiment run by Arthur Jones using Nautilus equipment at the Colorado State University in May 1973....
), Eddie Robinson
Eddie Robinson (bodybuilder)
Eddie Robinson is a former professional bodybuilder.-Biography:In my life I have been blessed as an athlete and father of two precious children, Cara 16 & Seth 8....
(who participated in and trained under Jones's nautilus leverage line which is now Hammer Strength; Robinson dislikes the method), Mike Mentzer
Mike Mentzer
Mike Mentzer was an American IFBB professional bodybuilder, businessman, and author.-Bodybuilding career:...
, Sergio Oliva
Sergio Oliva
Sergio Oliva is a bodybuilder known as "The Myth". This sobriquet was given to him by bodybuilder/writer Rick Wayne. Wayne had begun calling Oliva "The Myth" ""....
and Dorian Yates
Dorian Yates
Dorian Andrew Mientjez Yates , is an English professional bodybuilder, winning the Mr. Olympia title six consecutive times beginning in 1992. He is fourth on the list of most Olympias won, and out of the seven in which he competed, he won six and placed second in his debut...
.
His publications include the Nautilus Bulletins, which aim to dispel contemporary myths of exercise and training.
The 1977 film Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron
Pumping Iron is a 1977 docudrama about the world of bodybuilding, focusing on the 1975 IFBB Mr. Universe and Mr. Olympia competitions and the 100 days leading up to them. The film was inspired by a book of the same name, written by Charles Gaines and George Butler...
is cited as generating a fitness revolution of sorts that resulted in gyms full of Nautilus equipment and other similar strength-training exercise machines.
Currently, Nautilus, Inc. markets the Bowflex, Stairmaster
Stairmaster
StairMaster is the name of a line of exercise machines, which includes stepping machines and revolving stairs.StairMaster was founded by Lanny Potts and Jim Walker and introduced by Tri-Tech, Inc. of Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1983 at the National Sporting Goods Association trade show...
and Nautilus product lines. These new product lines are not affiliated with Jones. The Bowflex "power rod" bending technology is in part based it due to use of variable resistance.
The Nautilus machines and the company he formed to sell them made him a multimillionaire and landed him on the Forbes list of the 400 richest people
Forbes 400
The Forbes 400 or 400 Richest Americans is a list published by Forbes Magazine magazine of the wealthiest 400 Americans, ranked by net worth. The list is published annually in September, and 2010 marks the 29th issue. The 400 was started by Malcom Forbes in 1982 and treats those in the list like...
. At one point, financial analysts estimated that Nautilus was grossing $300 million annually. He sold Nautilus Inc. in 1986 for $23 million. He also sold MedX in 1996 and then retired.http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/29/AR2007082902246_pf.html
On August 28, 2007, Jones died from natural causes at his home in Ocala
Ocala, Florida
Ocala is a city in Marion County, Florida. As of 2007, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau was 53,491. It is the county seat of Marion County, and the principal city of the Ocala, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated 2007 population of 324,857.-History:Ocala...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, at age 80. He is survived by two daughters and by two sons, Gary and William Edgar Jones. Gary Jones created Hammer Strength strength training machines.http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/1997/07/21/smallb1.html
Other interests
Jones often prided himself on being a generalist, something which he describes as a move away from the stubbornness and short-sightedness of 'specialists'. He attributed this in part to his upbringing in a family of physicians, as he found their attitudes toward medicine revolved around what they were taught and nothing else.Jones traveled and 'adventured' widely, occasionally with friend and fellow adventurer Roy Pinney
Roy Pinney
Roy Schiffer Pinney was the oldest surviving of the 500 war correspondents to cover the D-Day invasion of Normandy before his death in 2010. He lived in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, the city of his birth....
, setting up camp for two years or so at a time in different places such as Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
(now Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
) and Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. His early motto was "bigger alligators, faster airplanes, and younger women." Jones's Lake Helen, Florida Nautilus building was the home of One-Eyed Jack, a 14 feet (4.3 m)-long gator that Jones was trying to grow to world record size. He was also an aficionado of poisonous spiders and reptiles, a large collection of which was also housed in the Nautilus building.
Jones was also the creator of the "Jumbolair" estate, originally created as a haven of 350 acres (1.4 km²) for orphaned African elephants and other wildlife.
Jones was an accomplished pilot with a flying record of over 44,000 hours, which was especially useful for the import-export businesses that he was developing.
Jones also founded MedX Corporation, in which he invested millions to develop medical-based exercise and testing equipment.
External links
- New York Times Obituary
- Arthur Jones' written works free online
- Arthur Jones online museum (subscription required)
- Link to pdf on "long overdue academic recognition" of Jones' contribution to the field of exercise physiology
- Jumbolair website
- MedX Corporation website
- Nautilus, Inc. website
- Link to partial bio of Nautilus, as written by Arthurs' son W E Jones
- Nautilus Bulletin Number 1
- Nautilus Bulletin Number 2