https://patents.justia.com/inventor/douglas-dale-mcmurray
They brought on business partners Dale McMurray and Larry Westfall and in 1976 and the first Total Gym homegrown TV commercial hit the market.
The machine engages all muscle groups, allowing over 200 functional exercises on calibrated levels of incline resistance—full range of motion; heavy progressive resistive and light resistive exercises; upper and lower body stretching and strengthening exercises and comprehensive aerobics. The Total Gym was designed to be easy to use and facilitate the five key components of exercise: cardiovascular endurance (aerobics), muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility and body composition. The machines typically take up much less space than a complete set of weights and machines.
the partners began soliciting specialty dealers, forging relationships with 200 stores that exclusively sold fitness equipment. In 1981 alone, the three partners attended 210 conventions across the U.S. They recruited and trained more than 350 people and dispatched them to conduct in-store demonstrations on the Total Gym. Through this channel and by attending trade shows, Total Gym sold 36,000 machines in 1984.
The year 1987 brought a strategic shift in Total Gym’s target market when the company discovered that a significant number of sales were to physical therapists who knew the benefits of functional exercise. The company was renamed Engineering Fitness International Corporation (efi Sports Medicine). After years of touting the benefits of functional exercise, the medical community finally caught on.
When they founded Total Gym in 1974, Larry was searching for a purpose. He soon realized that he had to bring the Lord into his life. A strong believer, he wanted not only to help himself, but to serve others. Larry says his role is usually behind the scenes, while Tom is the face people know.
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