Get your official jump rope right here!
When I was young, my wise old grandmother had season tickets to the Women’s Club in Kingsville, Texas. They brought various music and arts events to our small farming and ranching community. I got to see Emanuel Ax, Itzhak Perlman, Yo-Yo Ma, Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, and many more.
Some of the artists I don’t remember because they weren’t in classical music — I played the piano and violin at the time. One of the acts that I thought was the most unique was a jump-roping group from, I believe, the U.S.S.R. They had long jump ropes, short ones, double ones. They jumped singly, in pairs, in trios, while giving piggy back rides…. everything you could imagine, and then some.
I took up jump roping as a hobby, eventually becoming quite good. When I got to college and joined Alpha Phi Omega National Service Fraternity, I chaired a Jump-Rope-A-Thon for Muscular Dystrophy. I would have won but I was ineligible since I was the Event Chair.
This past weekend when I went to the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, I found some jump ropes:
These are not just any jump ropes. These are
Now pay attention here.
First, I want you to see how these jump ropes are made. Following are two videos, but don’t watch them if you get motion sickness or get dizzy.
The first video matches the top jump rope, and the second video matches the bottom jump rope.
Go back and watch them again, except this time pick one spool and watch it move around. Kind of fun.
Now….
Second, I can’t jump rope anymore because my knees are too old.
Sooooooooooooooooooooo……………..
If you or someone you know would like a jump rope, not just any jump rope but an official jump rope from the Antique Gas & Steam Engine Museum, just pay shipping and handling of $99.95…………..
Kidding……
All you have to do is write a 100-word essay on why you, your loved one, or your friend should have one of these jump ropes. Post it on your blog and then come back to my post here and leave a link to your blog post.
There will be two winners. Make me laugh, make me cry, make me wish I were young again, jump roping the day away………………..
Zoey the Cool Cat will be the judge, and the judge’s decision is final. (Typical cat……. Oops. Sorry, your honor.)
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Posted on June 27, 2012, in Halls of History, History, Manmade, My wise old grandmother, Photos and tagged antique gas and steam engine museum, jump ropes. Bookmark the permalink. 23 Comments.
That was too cool..!( though one gets dizzy following one spool LOls)
i never knew how they were made..
I know the feeling about too olde knees LOls..
Great post Russel Thanks for sharing!
Take Care…
)0(
maryrose
I had the one in the second photo when I was a kid. But haven’t been able to jump since I was about 5-6 years old. Mom always told me I was born 100 years old, and I think my body must have heard her because once you stop jumping it’s hard to start again. It’s great exercise… more kids should take it up. Can’t post it on my blog, because my blog’s a dedicated blog…but I have sent out a Twitter… Thanks for the memory.
I think I’ve had both types of jump ropes at one time or another. Not sure I could do them anymore either, but it was great reading about them and how they were made.
As always educational and fun!
“.”
Those spool of thread look like they are dancing ’round an ’round la la la. Lol. Fun post to read.
Wow, I loved your post, for one, that I have jumped rope all my young years and never knew how they were made. second, the way you wrote the piece, it brings back so many memories, even though I would not like to consider myself too old ( a woman, after all) but I already miss what I had a few years ago and I belong more in Your young years then i do here, in mine. Thank you for sharing.
Regards,
BC
http://reeflections.wordpress.com/
You really are quite a unique individual!
My friends use words other than “unique.” — lol
I love jumping rope, but I haven’t done so in quite awhile, so probably wouldn’t last long. I remember in college in a fitness class, a pre-test was to jump rope until you couldn’t jump anymore (and count your reps). I’ll never forget the feeling when my jump muscles gave out and I literally could not get off the ground…those who are young enough still to jump, give it a try. Feels very silly and strange. We were all giggling as we tried to fight our earthbound condition and jump even the tiniest bit…impossible…still makes me laugh.
Thanks SO much for camping out at my blog today, Russel! It was nice to see you.
I was mezmerized. Had to watch both of them three or four times. Forgot to count because I got dizzy and fell off my bar stool. Great post. Hope to write the 100 words and win a rope.
As I promised; here is my entry: WALDO’S BRILLIANT ENTRY TO THE CONTEST
HEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A link doesn’t come out as a link in a comment. What the heck????
http://whoopiebrain.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/i-want-one/
OH! Now it is going to do it?
WALDO’S BRILLIANT ENTRY TO THE CONTEST
Guess not a converted one anyway. Sorry about messing up your message board.
Watching both videos at once was even more fun than watching them separately! Thank you for that. Feel just a bit queasy now though!
Ooooh, I had not thought of that. I’m going to go do it now before I eat breakfast! lol
After might be safer!
HAHAHA I love your blogs lol! That is really amazing though I love watching those “How it’s made” shows lol! My husband and I just love seeing how they make everything and it’s really cool
Zoey would be a great judge too 
I would trust ZCC’s judgement in a heart beat!
Now you’re giving ZCC a big head, something that she doesn’t need!………lol
Russel, I received the jump-rope yesterday. It arrived in great shape due to the care you took in packaging it. I have displayed it in my area.Of course my two sons wanted to know what it was all about.
They threatened (or promised; depending on one’s viewpoint) not to visit me any more.
The guards at the institution are all beside themselves because my son’s visits gave them a break away from me. The rope remains in the celephane packaging but the nurses keep it in a special place so I won’t hurt myself (or others).
Thank you for the prize.
Oh yes, I have no idea how to copy a video but I copied the URL so I could show it to my fellow wards. You should see how they run around screaming after watching it for a few minutes.
Wicked and Wild Waldo.
You’re too funny……………..and wicked!………….lol
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