Stanley Edward (Spike) Howards
This is a terrific 1st generation 7 x 9 wire photo of Strongman Stanley Edward (Spike) Howards. It has the Wide World stamp on the back. It also has the original tag sheet still attached with the following caption:
QUITE CHESTY- At 65, Stanley Edward (Spike) Howards of Philadelphia has a 14 inch chest expansion. One of this professional strong man's favorite tricks (that’s “feats” to the strongman) , which he'll do for any visitor, is to wrap a powerful steel chain around his deflated chest--then inhale, as pictured, and snap it. Spike's called the world champion blood donor. He has given 957 transfusions at the last count. He hopes to reach 1,000. He's never been ill--never had so much as a cold. 6-18-1942
Slim the Hammer Man, Tom the “Irish Anvil” Kelly and Master Scroller Erik Vining are also masters of this oldetime feat.