Original Pilates Apparatus Collections

Collectively, Sean Gallagher and Elaine Ewing have the largest collection of original pilates apparatus and vintage pilates apparatus in the world. Combined, their collections span decades of Joseph Pilates’ work, inventions, designs, dimensions, and details. This rare and fascinating combination of collections is also the only set of apparatus that is openly available for students and teachers to visit by appointment and use for themselves.

From all areas of the earth, pilates enthusiasts have traveled to visit these collections in person. For the first time, we have created the experience of these special apparatus in a digital format so that those who cannot yet travel to visit the Pilates Source^®locations (The Pilates Museum™ and Rhinebeck Pilates™) in person can still learn more about Joe Pilates and his original pilates equipment.

Additionally, a few more pieces of original pilates equipment are owned by other teachers, which are also featured on this page.

All Photos in this collection are copyrighted and cannot be used without expressed written permission (except the photo from the article about Romana).

(Click each image to enlarge)

Over the past 5 years, we have methodically restored the original pilates equipment in Sean Gallagher’s collection, piece by piece. The following videos document the process, the results, and honor the many teachers who have joined us from far and wide in this labor of love to keep Joe Pilates’ archival equipment functional and accessible to all visitors:

Restoration of the Original Pilates Archival Clawfoot Reformer

Restoration of the Original Pilates Archival Reformer Box

Restoration of the Original Pilates Archival Wooden Cadillac

Restoration of the Original Pilates Archival Exercise Chair

Restoration of the Original Pilates Archival Electric Chair

Elaine Ewing’s Original Pilates Equipment Collection

The following items in Elaine’s collection (Cadillac, Wunda Chair, Baby Chair, Electric Chair, Push Up Devices, and Spine Corrector) have the following chain of ownership:

The Original Pilates Studio —> Wee Tai Hom —> Drago’s Gym —> True Pilates —-> Elaine Ewing

Additional pieces are specified below.

This equipment can be viewed in person, by appointment, at Rhinebeck Pilates™ in Rhinebeck, NY.

The Original Pilates Archival 2×4

The longer 2×4 shown here is original to the archival Pilates Electric Chair within my collection. One way we know this is due to the matching upholstery. The other 2×4 shown here is either an original or a vintage piece, I am not yet certain.
Images first shared on 11/26/23.

Elaine Ewing Original Pilates Archival 2x4 Electric Chair Equipment

Elaine Ewing Original Pilates Archival 2x4 Equipment

An Original 1960’s Cadillac

This Cadillac can be seen in photos taken inside Joseph Pilates studio in the 1960s. The Pilates SourceR estimates the date range that Joe switched from wooden equipment to metal to be somewhere between 1958-1961. Hopefully one day we will learn more about this pivotal moment in pilates history.
Image first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Baby Arm Chair

An Original Wunda Chair from Joe Pilates’ Original Studio.
Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Original Wunda Chair

An Original Wunda Chair from Joe Pilates’ Original Studio.
Images first shared on 2/14/23.

Original Ladder Barrel

An Original Ladder Barrel from Joe Pilates’ Original Studio.
Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Joe Pilates’ Original Push Up Devices

Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Original Push-Up Device © 2022 Elaine Ewing

An Original Electric Chair from Joe Pilates’ Original Studio

This is one of the oldest pieces in Elaine’s collection and one that has seen the most use, as can be seen in the close ups of the spring hooks at the back of the chair.

In the details, one can see remnants of silver paint, which Joe commonly used on his original wooden equipment. More of this can be seen in Sean Gallagher’s collection as well.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Spine Corrector from Joe Pilates’ Original Studio

This is also one of the older pieces in Elaine’s collection. The inside of the Spine Corrector resembles the way a beer barrel would be made, possibly influencing the story of how Joe Pilates created the barrel by cutting a beer barrel in half.
Through Pilates Source® research, we discovered a more likely way that Joe created the first barrels. To learn more, see Apparatus History.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Folding Mat with Joe Pilates’ Plaque

This original folding mat belonged to one of Joseph Pilates clients. It has an original plaque inside next to a neat pouch for the handles.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

Elaine Ewing’s Vintage Pilates Equipment Collection

Vintage Gratz Guillotine from Drago’s Gym

This special Guillotine is the 3rd oldest Guillotine known to exist today, originally from Drago’s Gym. A unique feature to this Guillotine is the rotating bar at the top. Guillotines today are made with a fixed bar.

Images first shared on 11/26/23.

Vintage Pilates Equipment- Guillotine from Dargo's Gym

2nd Oldest Gratz Guillotine Known to Exist Today

This vintage Guillotine first stood at The Pilates Studio at 2121 Broadway beginning in the mid-1990s. Today, it is inside the Pilates Museum/Studio along with the rest of Sean’s vintage Gratz collection. (More photos of this Guillotine to come)

Images first shared on 11/26/23.

Vintage Pilates Equipment- Second Oldest Gratz Guillotine

Vintage Large Barrel

This barrel was previously used at Drago’s Gym/True Pilates East, although I do not believe it is an original barrel based on the structure of the inside, which is a smooth wood and not made of slat’s like Joe’s original barrels were. I am currently unable to estimate the date of this barrel.

Images first shared on 11/26/23.

Elaine Ewing Pilates Vintage Equipment Collection- Large Barrel

A Vintage Wunda Chair (possibly from the 1970’s)

This vintage Wunda Chair was originally used in a NYC studio called Body Art. As the story goes, Wee Tai Hom (who at the time was the current owner of the original Pilates Studio), was forced to close the studio and scatter apparatus to various other locations in NYC, one of them being a gym called Body Art. There, Romana Kryzanowska and other teachers taught pilates for a few years. Elaine purchased this chair from one of those teachers.

Originally, this chair had 2 sets of springs on each side and multiple options for spring settings, as can be seen in the detailed photos. The previous owner had Basil refurbish the chair so that it had one spring on each side. It was also originally painted royal blue. The new colors were selected by the previous owner.

It is still unknown as to who made this chair originally (Joe? Gratz? Someone else?) and who designed it to have 2 sets of springs and why. Hopefully some day we will learn more.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

A Vintage Gratz Folding Reformer

This rare folding reformer was made by Gratz during a brief period of time during the early 2000’s, we believe.
Images first shared on 2/14/23.

Vintage Magic Circle from the 1970s

I’m so excited to present the latest piece in my growing collection of vintage pilates apparatus- a Magic Circle from the early 1970s, which is the oldest Magic Circle I know of that exists today.

This Magic Circle came my way through Susan Bender, a student of Romana Kryzanowska when she taught at West 56th street, and continued to train with her when she moved to Drago’s Gym later at 57th Street. Susan bought this circle in the early 70s at the 56th Street studio.

According to receipts from the pilates studio business that are in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives®, The Pilates Studio sold Magic Circles that were made by Gratz throughout the 1970s.

In 1982, The Pilates Studio Corp (which consisted of John Steel, Romana Kryzanowska, and other investors) filed the trademark for “Magic Circle.” The trademark number was 385918. Swipe to see the trademark listing.

After this, Gratz continued to make Magic Circles and began stamping them with the trademark number. Swipe to see one of these stamped 1980s Magic Circles that belongs to Sean Gallagher.

Images first shared on 11/7/23.

Vintage Pilates Equipment "Magic Circle" from the 1970s.

Sean Gallagher and Elaine Ewing’s Wunda Chair Collective

Together, Sean and Elaine’s Wunda Chairs span 70 years of apparatus history. In decade order:

1950’s (Sean Gallagher): this original Wunda Chair came with an original plaque from Joe Pilates and has a number of signature elements from Joe’s designs, including door hinges on the pedal and oversized hooks for the springs.

1960’s (Elaine Ewing): this original Wunda Chair is familiar to many from its time at Wee Tai Hom’s studio and at Drago’s Gym/True Pilates.

1970’s (Elaine Ewing): this chair is from BodyArt in NYC and it is currently unknown if it was from Joe Pilates or someone who made it later.

1980’s: we currently do not have a Wunda Chair from the 1980’s. If anyone knows of one, please let us know!

1990’s (Sean Gallagher): Sean made this chair according to Joe’s blueprints for the Wunda Chair, which are part of Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives®.

2000’s (Elaine Ewing): this chair was purchased from Gratz Pilates in 2003 and is used at Rhinebeck Pilates.

2020’s (Elaine Ewing): this chair was purchased from Pilates Designs and is known as their “Archival Wunda Chair.”

Original and Vintage Pilates Wunda Chair Collection throughout the Decades

Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives® Original Pilates Equipment Collection

Sean Gallagher’s collections originally came with his purchase of the original Pilates studio business and then was vastly supplemented by the purchase of Joe and Clara Pilates’ Berkshire property, which he is the current owner of. When he first purchased the property, the buildings and apparatus inside them were in disrepair and damaged due to water damage and decades of neglect by previous owners. Today, the studio has been restored and the apparatus has been carefully restored or is in the process of restoration. Images first shared on 2/14/23.

The chain of ownership of this equipment is as follows: Joseph Pilates —> Sean Gallagher. This equipment is believed to date back to the 1940s approximately.

This equipment is kept in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Museum in Becket, MA. To view this equipment in person, please contact Sean Gallagher or join us at Pilates at The Pillow®.

Please note, this is a selection of some of Sean’s collection. Stay tuned as we continue to add more to this digital archive. Thank you, Sean, for your generosity in providing the community with digital access to your apparatus collection. Images first shared on 2/14/23.

Related Topics: Sean Gallagher.

Original Bench Mat from Atlas Athletic

This is the only known example of an original Bench Mat from the 1940’s sold through Atlas Athletic for Joseph Pilates.

Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Related Topics: Atlas Athletic

An Original Wooden Cadillac, Claw Foot Reformer, Airplane Board, and Push Through Bar Pillow

This original wooden Cadillac is the only known remaining Cadillac from Joseph Pilates that is made of wood and painted silver. Through the work of Sean Gallagher and volunteers, this piece has been carefully restored.

The wooden claw foot reformer shown in the photos is next on the restoration list and a very rare item to see in person today. It comes complete with shark fin shoulder blocks, silver painted trim, and original plaques, yes there is more than one!

The Airplane Board shown is the only original Airplane Board known to exist today and is painted in Joe Pilates’ signature silver color.

The Push Through Bar Pillow is an extremely rare piece that is also the only original one known to exist today.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Small Barrel

This original small barrel was the one replicated by Sean Gallagher and Stamina in the 1990’s. For more about the history of the Small Barrel, see Apparatus History.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original High Chair

This is the only chair of this style known to exist today. During the restoration, the word “JOE” was discovered on the back written in pencil. This incredible find was preserved.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Massage Table/Treatment Table

This rare item was known as the Massage Table or Treatment Table. This is similar to the one sold through Atlas Athletic for Joe Pilates. Due to water damage prior to Sean’s ownership, the upholstery on this piece has been restored. For more, see Atlas Athletic.

Image first shared on 2/14/23.

The Iron Shoes and Iron Shoe Inserts

This incredible sun design was put on the main house of Sean’s Becket property by the owners after Joe died. The design is made from Iron Shoe inserts that Joe put inside slippers and iron shoes for his students to do matwork. This special design remains and has since become the logo for The Pilates Source®. Additionally, Sean has the original Iron Shoes themselves in his collection.

Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Original Furniture and Portion of Joe Pilates’ Library

Upon purchase of the Becket property, Sean acquired many pieces of original furniture that belonged to Joe and Clara, some of which can be traced back to their NYC Pilates Studio. Other pieces (not shown) look to have been handmade. Shown in this photo is a desk that seems to have been used by Joe, based on evidence of cigar burns along the edge and writing on the desk surface.

A selection of Joe’s books is commonly on display during Pilates at The Pillow®, as shown in the photo.

A fantastic example of furniture that can be traced to the NYC studio are the wire chairs shown. These chairs were used in the changing room in NYC.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

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sean-gallagher-pilates-archives-wire-chairs-changing-room

Book Collection from Joe Pilates’ library

Additionally, Sean has preserved an incredible collection of books from Joe Pilates’ library, most have either the Pilates Studio stamp or have two different name plates in front with Joe’s name on them. How the books were found and how they are housed in the museum today.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

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Original Pilates Studio Sign-In Books

One of the many Original Pilates Studio Sign-In Books having client signatures from the 1930’s through the 1980’s will be part of the Pilates museum’s permanent collections of historical documents. Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Original Baby Chair with no Springs and other Chairs

Within Sean’s collection are a variety of unique chairs such as these.
Image first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Electric Chair

This fantastic Electric Chair has been fully restored and is prominently on display in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Museum.
Image first shared on 2/14/23.

sean-gallagher-pilates-archives-original-electric-chair

Original Skis from Joe and Clara Pilates

Joe and Clara Pilates were avid skiers. In Sean Gallagher’s collection, he has sets of their original ski poles and skis.
Images first shared on 2/14/23.

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An Original Bench Mat

This original Bench Mat was owned by Paul and Beverley Allen and were recently donated to The Pilates Source®. It is another great example of wooden equipment painted silver. This Bench Mat is believed to date back to the late 1950s-1960s. Seasonally, it is displayed in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Museum (Spring-Summer-early fall) and Rhinebeck Pilates (late fall-winter-early spring).

The Pilates Source® is working hard to continue to add pilates apparatus history to the museum archives.
Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Junior Reformer

This is one of two original Junior Reformers in Sean Gallagher’s collection. This is a later model which was donated to The Pilates Source®. It is another great example of wooden equipment painted silver. This Bench Mat is believed to date back to the late 1950s-1960s. Seasonally, it is displayed in Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Museum (Spring-Summer-early fall) and Rhinebeck Pilates (late fall-winter-early spring).

Sean’s other original Junior Reformer (not shown) dates back to the 1940’s and was produced by Atlas Athletic for Joe. This reformer is currently the oldest known Junior Reformer to exist at this time. Both Junior Reformers are the only known, original Junior Reformers to exist today.

The Pilates Source® is working hard to continue to add pilates apparatus history to the museum archives.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

This archival chair found in Joe’s original Berkshire studio is similar to the Arm Chair (Baby Chair). This chair does not have any springs but it does have a slight hinge back and forth to the chair back.

This is the only known, original Foot Corrector to exist today. The words, “Pilates Corrector” are on it and it is a curious color red. Fascinating!

The oldest known original Junior Reformer to exist today, and currently the only known Junior Reformer produced by Atlas Athletic Equipment Company. One difference between this reformer and the other archival Junior Reformer in our collection and featured on this page, is that this reformer was foldable while the other junior reformer was not.

This original rack for weights can be seen in many archival pilates photos from inside Joseph Pilates studio. Incredibly, it still exists today within Sean Gallagher’s collection. We can see that Joe painted it his signature color silver.

Additionally, we can see original weights owned and used by Joe Pilates, as well as the wooden dowels some of them were on which were also painted silver.

A unique O ring that Sean found at Joe’s Berkshire studio.

Floor Reformer

This photo shows Carola Trier on a floor reformer in Joe’s sunbathing garden in the Berkshires. Incredibly, the Long Box shown in the background appears to be the same long box that still exists today within Sean’s collection of original equipment. He first discovered this box amongst Joe’s original apparatus that was still inside his Berkshires studio. Images first shared 8/24/23.

Long Box from Sean’s collection of original pilates. equipment

Original Pilates Bednasiums

Original to the Pilates’ Berkshires Property, Sean Gallagher owns 4 Bednasiums that Joe and Clara Pilates used personally, as well as had in their guest house for visitors to use. These are the only original Bednasiums to exist today that we know of, in the world. Images first shared 8/24/23.

Bednasium Original to the Pilates’ Berkshires Property

Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives® Vintage Pilates Equipment Collection

Vintage Gratz Magic Circle

This rare magic circle was manufactured by Gratz in the 1980s and part of Sean’s collection. Image first shared on 2/14/23.

Vintage Floor Cadillac

This incredible, low Cadillac is believed to date back to the 1970s and is believed to have been manufactured by Gratz. During this time, Romana Kryzanowska moved the original pilates studio to a new location with lower ceilings. In order to have a Cadillac, she needs one to sit low to the floor. Romana can be seen teaching on this low Cadillac in a number of vintage pilates articles, one example is shown here.

Images first shared on 2/14/23.

Other Original Pilates Equipment

Vintage 1975 Gratz Pilates Apparatus

Originally purchased for and still found at S.U.N.Y. Purchase, in Purchase, NY

A collection of vintage Gratz pilates apparatus, originally ordered and manufactured in 1975, still exists today at SUNY Purchase. After so many decades, it is still in use at the same college it was originally intended for.

Incredibly, the original receipts and price lists for the equipment are still intact and were stapled together, revealing deep insights into pilates apparatus history. The broad depth of Sean Gallagher’s Pilates Archives® never ceases to amaze!

The price list contains the items as follows: App (“Apparatus”, meaning the reformer), Tower (also known as the Guillotine), Cadillac, Electric Chair, Large Barrel, Small Barrel. If only these prices were still in effect today!

Interestingly, an additional receipt was included in this collection of vintage Gratz receipts- for a Ped-o-Pul dated 1978.

Thanks to Sean Gallagher’s fantastic research into the archives, this paperwork has also showed us that the Guillotine at SUNY Purchase seems to be the oldest Guillotine known to exist today. Previously, we had thought that Sean’s Guillotine in the Pilates Museum from the early 1990s and my Guillotine from Drago’s Gym were the two oldest Guillotines. Now we know that there is one even older. Incredible!!

History tells its best story through primary source documents such as these. Thank you, Sean, for continuously being the Pilates Source®, for accuracy and historical data, and for preserving rare items like this paperwork that is almost 50 years old! Because of Sean’s conservation, this information can be freely shared and accessible through the Pilates Museum. Just amazing!!

Images first shared on 11/13/23.

1975 Gratz Pilates Apparatus at SUNY Purchase NY

1975 Gratz Pilates Apparatus at SUNY Purchase NY Equipment List

1975 Gratz Pilates Apparatus at SUNY Purchase NY Receipt

1978 Receipt for Ped-O-Pul Gratz Pilates Apparatus at SUNY Purchase NY

Original Small Barrel

This original small barrel is owned by Rachel Romdhane at Miami Beach Pilates. It is similar in design to the one owned by Sean Gallagher.
Images first shared on 2/14/23.

An Original Folding Mat

This original folding mat belongs to Cathy Strack and was given to her by the daughter of one of Joe’s former clients. There are a few interesting differences between Cathy’s mat and Elaine’s mat, and the most notable is the handles. Elaine’s mat has two separate wooden handles while Cathy’s mat has one long metal bar. Interesting!

Also curious is the cover around the mat itself. Hopefully we will find out more about this someday.

All Photos in this collection are copyrighted and cannot be used without expressed written permission (except the photo from the article about Romana).

Images first shared on 2/14/23.