Rare & Vintage Weight Plate Tour

Rare & Vintage Weight Plate Tour at Massenomics Gym

If you’re into vintage weight plates, rare barbells, and the history of strength training, then you’ll love what we’ve built at Massenomics Gym. Over the past year, we’ve assembled one of the most unique collections of rare weight plates you’ll find anywhere: a full vintage plate wall showcasing decades of iron history.

From York Deep Dish 45s to the almost mythical Erie Jackson plates, this collection celebrates the roots of strength training and the golden era of lifting.

Why Collect Vintage Weight Plates?

For most lifters, a plate is just a plate. But for collectors, certain designs carry history, nostalgia, and rarity that make them priceless.

Vintage weight plates connect us back to Muscle Beach, Gold’s Gym, old-school bodybuilding, and the lifters who came before us. Owning them isn’t just about training—it’s about preserving lifting history.

At Massenomics, our rare weight plate wall brings that story to life.

Featured Vintage Weight Plates in the Collection

Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights on our vintage plate wall:

• Strength Co. Plates – Made in the USA, modern classics that could be tomorrow’s “vintage” plates.

• Rogue Arnold Plate – A future collectible featuring Arnold himself—an icon of strength training.

• York Milled Plates – Timeless and affordable, these are staples in many gyms, with unique milling marks that make each one special.

• Universal & American Barbell Plates – Affordable entry points into collecting, with historic ties to mid-century lifting.

• Schisler Eagle 45s – Featuring the iconic eagle design, these are highly sought-after and came in different colorways.

• Ivanko Chrome Plates – Known as one of the most iconic powerlifting plates ever produced, with bold lettering and shiny chrome finishes.

• BFCO & Marcy Plates – Straight out of the Muscle Beach and Gold’s Gym era—rare and highly collectible.

• Atlas Plates (Canada) – Scarce Canadian-made plates that fetch top dollar among collectors.

• York Deep Dish 45s – The gold standard of vintage weight plate collections. No serious collection is complete without them.

• Paramount Barbell 45s – Extremely rare, with original paint and unmatched history.

• Erie Jackson 45s – Among the rarest weight plates in the world. Produced in Erie, PA, these were hand-signed and only available through special connections.

How We Built the Vintage Plate Wall

The wall itself is as custom as the plates:

• Constructed with Bells of Steel uprights and Rogue feet.

• Reinforced and bolted directly into the floor (thanks to Larry Legend).

• Outfitted with a mix of custom pins—including 3D-printed ones from community members.

• Finished with LED backlighting for that signature “Massenomics look.”

Every piece of the wall has a story—whether it’s who we bought it from, who helped mount it, or who inspired the hunt.

The Hunt for Rare Weight Plates

Collecting rare barbell plates isn’t cheap or easy. Prices can range from $200 a pair for more common finds to $1,000+ for ultra-rare plates. But the real barrier isn’t money—it’s access. Many of the rarest plates are only available through relationships in the vintage weightlifting community.

For us, the journey has been as rewarding as the collection itself. Each plate represents a story, a connection, and a piece of lifting history that we get to share with the community.

Why It Matters

So why collect old plates when new ones work just as well? Because the history of strength training deserves to be preserved. These plates were once loaded on the bars of legends—bodybuilders, powerlifters, and strongmen who shaped the sport.

At Massenomics Gym, the vintage plate wall is more than just a display. It’s a tribute to the culture of lifting and the iron that built it.

Visit Massenomics Gym

If you’re ever in Aberdeen, South Dakota, swing by Massenomics Gym and see the vintage plate wall in person. It looks even better up close (and yes, the lights make it pop).

👉 Watch the full video here: Rare & Vintage Weight Plate Tour – Massenomics Gym

Support Massenomics

The best way to keep projects like this alive is to support the Massenomics community:

• Become a Supporting Member – Join the crew and help us keep the lights on.

• Get Certified – Put your gym on the official Massenomics map with our Certified Gym program.

• Check out our Massenomics Store for apparel, gear, and more.

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re a seasoned collector, a casual lifter, or just someone fascinated by rare vintage weight plates, we hope our wall inspires you. Collecting iron might not make sense financially, but it sure makes sense to us.

What’s your favorite vintage plate? Drop it in the comments—we’d love to hear from other collectors and lifters.