Post by AttyGuy on Mar 20, 2014 17:48:59 GMT -5
I periodically repost and make revisions to this list, as I feel like it or new information warrants. I anticipate expanding the list to go back before the 60's very soon.
Introduction
York produced Olympic plates and bars in Pennsylvania from the early 1930's until the mid- to late-1990's. Throughout this time, plates were made Imperial/English weights (e.g., 45-lb, etc.). It is believed that by the 1940's or 1950's, York may have also begun producing plates in metric weights (e.g., 20-kg). Certainly, from the 1960's to the 1990's York made a number of Olympic plates, both in pounds and kilos. Prior to the late 60's, plates might be lathed. By 1967-68, York stopped producing deep dish plates, switching over to the design familiar with most lifters. York also began milling plates, from 45 to 2.5 pounds, with the majority of milled plates being 25, 35, or 45 pounds.
Late 50's to the late 60's - Black iron York plates in pounds
45 Lb., Deep Dish (some are lathed)
35 Lb. (numeral head should be facing hub/counter-clockwise; some are lathed)
25 Lb. (some are lathed)
10 Lb.
5 Lb.
2 1/2 Lb.
Late 60's to the 90's - Black iron York plates in pounds
100-Lb. 4-spoke (milled, believed to be 90’s era, but not "USA" marked)
45 Lb., 4-spoke
35 Lb. (Numeral head facing hub/counter-clockwise)
35 Lb. (Numeral head facing rim/clockwise - believed to be older)
25 Lb.
10 Lb.
5 Lb.
2-1/2 Lb.
By the 90's, York began moving plate production off-shore. The better quality Oly plates were made in the US, with "USA" markings on the hubs. The smaller plates had "YORK" above the hubs and the 35 Lb plates were smaller 4-spoke versions of the 45s. The York Hercules Olympic line was York's economy line. The first run of these unmilled cast plates were produced in the US before moving off-shore.
York also painted their plates a metallic blue for sale in big box sporting goods stores, made plates for the NFL, and had a custom Line for college football teams. These plates might be 3-spoke.
Black iron York plates in kilograms
45 Kg 4-spoke (milled, similar in appearance to the milled 100-lb plates; believed to be 90's era, but not "USA" marked)
25 Kg 4-spoke (similar in appearance to the 45 Kg plate)
20 Kg 4-spoke (similar in appearance to black iron 45-lb plate)
15 Kg (similar in appearance to 35-lb plate)
10 Kg (similar in appearance to 25-lb plate; numeral At 12 O'clock position)
10 Kg (similar in appearance to 25-lb plate;numeral At 6 O'clock position)
5 Kg (similar in appearance to 10-lb plate)
2-1/2 Kg (similar in appearance to 5-lb plate)
1-1/4 Kg (similar in appearance to 2 1/2-lb plate)
York Kg plates made in the 70's and 80's had kilograms indicated by "KG". Earlier versions (1950's?) exist with "Kg" markings instead of "KG". There are also unmarked kilogram plates in existence, some of which are lathed, suggesting that York was making Kg plates in the 1940's or 50's.
York bumper plates in kilograms
45 Kg, Green
25 Kg, Red
20 Kg, Blue
15 Kg, Yellow
The rubber ring can be black (70's) or the same color as the paint on the iron cores (80's). The backs of the bumper plates typically were milled.
Black iron York standard plates bored out at the factory
100 Lb.
75 Lb.
These plates are non-milled. Initially a special order item, bored out to 2" at York, these plates were later marketed and sold as Oly plates, and can be found with or without the "USA" markings on them.
Introduction
York produced Olympic plates and bars in Pennsylvania from the early 1930's until the mid- to late-1990's. Throughout this time, plates were made Imperial/English weights (e.g., 45-lb, etc.). It is believed that by the 1940's or 1950's, York may have also begun producing plates in metric weights (e.g., 20-kg). Certainly, from the 1960's to the 1990's York made a number of Olympic plates, both in pounds and kilos. Prior to the late 60's, plates might be lathed. By 1967-68, York stopped producing deep dish plates, switching over to the design familiar with most lifters. York also began milling plates, from 45 to 2.5 pounds, with the majority of milled plates being 25, 35, or 45 pounds.
Late 50's to the late 60's - Black iron York plates in pounds
45 Lb., Deep Dish (some are lathed)
35 Lb. (numeral head should be facing hub/counter-clockwise; some are lathed)
25 Lb. (some are lathed)
10 Lb.
5 Lb.
2 1/2 Lb.
Late 60's to the 90's - Black iron York plates in pounds
100-Lb. 4-spoke (milled, believed to be 90’s era, but not "USA" marked)
45 Lb., 4-spoke
35 Lb. (Numeral head facing hub/counter-clockwise)
35 Lb. (Numeral head facing rim/clockwise - believed to be older)
25 Lb.
10 Lb.
5 Lb.
2-1/2 Lb.
By the 90's, York began moving plate production off-shore. The better quality Oly plates were made in the US, with "USA" markings on the hubs. The smaller plates had "YORK" above the hubs and the 35 Lb plates were smaller 4-spoke versions of the 45s. The York Hercules Olympic line was York's economy line. The first run of these unmilled cast plates were produced in the US before moving off-shore.
York also painted their plates a metallic blue for sale in big box sporting goods stores, made plates for the NFL, and had a custom Line for college football teams. These plates might be 3-spoke.
Black iron York plates in kilograms
45 Kg 4-spoke (milled, similar in appearance to the milled 100-lb plates; believed to be 90's era, but not "USA" marked)
25 Kg 4-spoke (similar in appearance to the 45 Kg plate)
20 Kg 4-spoke (similar in appearance to black iron 45-lb plate)
15 Kg (similar in appearance to 35-lb plate)
10 Kg (similar in appearance to 25-lb plate; numeral At 12 O'clock position)
10 Kg (similar in appearance to 25-lb plate;numeral At 6 O'clock position)
5 Kg (similar in appearance to 10-lb plate)
2-1/2 Kg (similar in appearance to 5-lb plate)
1-1/4 Kg (similar in appearance to 2 1/2-lb plate)
York Kg plates made in the 70's and 80's had kilograms indicated by "KG". Earlier versions (1950's?) exist with "Kg" markings instead of "KG". There are also unmarked kilogram plates in existence, some of which are lathed, suggesting that York was making Kg plates in the 1940's or 50's.
York bumper plates in kilograms
45 Kg, Green
25 Kg, Red
20 Kg, Blue
15 Kg, Yellow
The rubber ring can be black (70's) or the same color as the paint on the iron cores (80's). The backs of the bumper plates typically were milled.
Black iron York standard plates bored out at the factory
100 Lb.
75 Lb.
These plates are non-milled. Initially a special order item, bored out to 2" at York, these plates were later marketed and sold as Oly plates, and can be found with or without the "USA" markings on them.
