It wasn't practical to order a leg press from a magazine. Health Shoes/Iron Boots, were sold before the leg press was invented, and even into the modern era.

In the 1940's and 1950's Gay advertisements were prominent in the back of bodybuilding magazines. Some were subtle and others were not so subtle.

The exercise called "the Bench Press" has a fairly short history. Its' rise coincided with the popularity of bodybuilding. Rickety scary equipment and no spotters marked its' early days

Weider and Hoffman sold more than bodybuilding supplements. They even offered cures for cigarette smoking, Did they work? Of course not! But they are funny to read about.

Bob Hoffman married protein powder and bodybuilding together. The result was some strange concoctions, and a lot of profit. Black walnut flavored protein powder, Yummy!

Crazy spring loaded contraptions were promoted Weider's and Hoffman's magazines. They were cheaper to sell than weights. They ranged from useful to downright wacky.

If you didn't have any equipment, you could always just pick up a person and use them.  The babe's really thought it was cool too.