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Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt! *PIC*

Posted By: Frank Ranelli (cpe-204-210-233-76.columbus.res.rr.com)
Date: Monday, May 12, 2008, @ 11:37 p.m.

In Response To: Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt! (Jim O'Brien)

I talked to Karin Klein and she confirmed that, in fact, the denim bench shirt I have is one of her creations. I also found out that the unique chest plate under-ply – the green canvas-like material cross-stitched into the shirt – is actually not canvas, but a special material Karin obtained through an unusual contact back in the late 1990’s. Even further, she only produced 10 shirts like this, using this material, and the one that I use, which Vince Soto gave to me, was the first one made!

According to Karen, the material is a hybrid made of a special polyester/denim weave with a silk backing, which explains the enormous explosion off the bottom I get out the shirt. Thereby giving the shirt a great deal of rebound energy juxtaposed with its strength and resistance to tears. If you look closely at the picture, you can see the green side, which is the hybrid poly-denim, and the orange fringe sticking out of the bottom, which is the silk.

Karen was given only one ream of this material and made only those ten shirts out of it. Many others have asked her for a shirt made out of it, but the manufacturer who made it sold the patent and it has been discontinued. In a way, it was a precursor to Kevlar, but with more recoil abilities to it.

She was very intrigued with how I came into possession of the shirt, how Vince had passed away, and to her knowledge, this was the last one in existence.

So, it appears I have a very special bench press shirt! In addition, it explains a lot about why the shirt has the distinctive material characteristics that make it so durable and effective.

Louie Simmons was also given one of these shirts in 2000 and it is what he used, according to Karin, to bench over 600 in, after laboring for years in the 500’s. His shirt is no longer in use and she has since made him a newer shirt.

Therefore, the mystery and history of my rather enigmatic bench shirt has been solved.

Thanks again! And yes, I will take a drive over to see her about fixing this one.

Messages In This Thread

• Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt! *PIC*
  Frank Ranelli (cpe-204-210-233-76.columbus.res.rr.com) -- Sunday, May 11, 2008, @ 4:12 p.m.
  • Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt!
    Jim O'Brien (ppp-69-214-57-5.dsl.dytnoh.ameritech.net) -- Sunday, May 11, 2008, @ 7:22 p.m.
    • Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt! *PIC*
      Frank Ranelli (cpe-204-210-233-76.columbus.res.rr.com) -- Sunday, May 11, 2008, @ 9:02 p.m.
      • Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt!
        Jim O'Brien (ppp-69-214-57-5.dsl.dytnoh.ameritech.net) -- Monday, May 12, 2008, @ 2:55 p.m.
        • Re: Need Help Identifying Bench Shirt! *PIC*
          Frank Ranelli (cpe-204-210-233-76.columbus.res.rr.com) -- Monday, May 12, 2008, @ 11:37 p.m.