Rediscover Pullover Machines
A closer look at an exercise machine that launched a revolution
By Strength Sensei CP
The Nautilus pullover machine was the flagship machine of Arthur Jones, containing features that separated Nautilus from its competitors.
As background, pullovers work the pectoralis major and pectoralis minor, which are involved in many shoulder movements. The exercise also strengthens the serratus anterior, muscles that are attached to the ribs. From an athletic perspective, the serratus pulls the shoulder blades forward, such as when a boxer throws a punch, and creates upward rotation of the scapula, such as when pressing a barbell overhead. The “six pack” rectus abdominis muscle is also activated during pullovers.
Jones believed the limiting factor in training the latissimus muscles was the strength of the biceps. Said Jones in his 1972 book Nautilus Bulletin #2, the biceps “fail long before the much larger latissimus muscles have been worked hard enough to induce much in the way of growth stimulation.” His solution was to bypass the arms and provide “direct muscle stimulation” to the lats.
With Jones’ pullover machine, the user would place their elbows on pads and push down, rather than pulling with the arms. This design also eliminated the use of the grip, which can be a limiting factor in chin-ups. Yes, Jones’ pullover machine contained a crossbar the user would grasp as they performed the exercise, but it was merely for optimal hand placement. And besides bypassing the biceps and grip, Jones’ pullover machine enabled the user to train the lats throughout a full range of motion (up to 220 degrees!).
Of course, no mention of Nautilus would be complete without mentioning the Nautilus cam. With his early pullover machines, Jones attempted to match the strength curve of the lats by using chains. As the chains lifted off the floor, the resistance increased. Chains provided accommodating resistance, but Jones wasn’t satisfied.
Jones didn’t like the feel of chains and switched to using shell-shaped cams that altered the resistance as they rotated. These shell-shape cams inspired the name of Jones’ company, Nautilus Sports Medical Industries. (However, giving credit where it’s due, Max Herz of Vienna received an October 15, 1901, patent for a cam used to alter the resistance during an exercise.)
Although there are many types of pullovers that can be performed that will overload all points of an athlete’s strength curve, the Nautilus pullover machine was a creative invention that provided a unique way to perform the exercise and secured Arthur Jones place as an Iron Game legend. (SS)
