REP Fitness
York Barbell Vintage Buns & Globes Dumbbells
The York Barbell Vintage Buns & Globes Dumbbells were York’s original fixed-dumbbell line, produced from 1934 to the early 1960s before being succeeded by the Vintage Roundhead Dumbbells – they have not been manufactured in over 60 years and today exist only on the used and collector market. The set ran 1-100 lb: “buns” (named for their rounded, bun-like shape) from 1-45 lb in mostly 5 lb increments, and true two-sphere “globe” dumbbells from 50-100 lb, also in 5 lb increments. Weights up to 12 lb were solid cast iron; 15 lb and heavier used a steel bar handle, roughly 1” in diameter and unknurled, running between two cast iron heads – a design meant to prevent the breakage that plagued earlier solid castings. Every piece is stamped “York” with its weight, though the lettering style and handle length vary noticeably across the production run. An in-depth independent YouTube review found real casting-process flaws (indentations, loose heads, misshapen castings) and notably inconsistent weight tolerance when weighed on a scale, but also documented strong collector demand across the line – with the rare 9 lb/12 lb buns and the 85-100 lb globes especially sought after.
| Handle | Straight, unknurled steel bar, approximately 1" diameter |
|---|---|
| Status | Discontinued (produced 1934-early 1960s; succeeded by the Vintage Roundhead Dumbbells) |
| Markings | Stamped "York" with weight; lettering style and handle length vary by weight/era |
| Bun weights | 1-45 lb (mostly 5 lb increments; solid cast iron up to 12 lb) |
| Availability | Used/collector market only (not currently manufactured) |
| Construction | Cast iron heads on a steel bar handle (15 lb and up); solid cast iron (1-12 lb) |
| Manufacturer | York Barbell |
| Weight range | 1-100 lb |
| Globe weights | 50-100 lb (5 lb increments) |
| Weight tolerance | Inconsistent -- independently measured examples deviated from their stamped weight |
What is a Fixed Dumbbell?
What fixed dumbbells are
Fixed dumbbells are single-weight hand weights — grab and go, no adjusting. The hex shape (flat sides) keeps them from rolling and makes them stable for push-ups and renegade rows; round heads sit in racks more neatly. What lasts: a comfortable knurled steel handle, a durable rubber or urethane head coating (urethane wears best and smells less), and a tight weight tolerance. Most home gyms buy a range and a rack rather than adjustables if budget and space allow.
How it compares
| York Barbell Vintage Buns & Globes Dumbbells | Rubber Hex Dumbbell | Rubber Hex Dumbbels | Vintage BFCO Bun Dumbbells | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GymRadar rating | 4.04/5 | 4.03/5 | 4.08/5 | 4.0/5 |
| Price | ||||
| Handle | Straight, unknurled steel bar, approximately 1" diameter | |||
| Status | Discontinued (produced 1934-early 1960s; succeeded by the Vintage Roundhead Dumbbells) | |||
| Markings | Stamped "York" with weight; lettering style and handle length vary by weight/era | |||
| Bun weights | 1-45 lb (mostly 5 lb increments; solid cast iron up to 12 lb) | |||
| Availability | Used/collector market only (not currently manufactured) | |||
| Construction | Cast iron heads on a steel bar handle (15 lb and up); solid cast iron (1-12 lb) | |||
| Manufacturer | York Barbell | |||
| Weight range | 1-100 lb | approx. 3-120 lb, sold individually | ||
| Globe weights | 50-100 lb (5 lb increments) | |||
| Weight tolerance | Inconsistent -- independently measured examples deviated from their stamped weight |
Reviews by source
| Expert | 4.04/5 | 9 reviews | |
| Youtube | 3.0/5 | 1 reviews | "When it comes to actually using them in your gym, they're really not the best... weight tolerance is horrible with this weight set" -- but "all at the very least moderately collectible, and some of these are highly collectible." |
York Barbell’s Buns & Globes were the company’s original fixed-dumbbell line, produced from the 1930s through the 1960s before being succeeded by the Vintage Roundhead Dumbbells – they haven’t been manufactured in over 60 years and exist today only on the used/collector market. The standout dimension is versatility as a collectible: a detailed 29-minute reviewer walkthrough rates most weights as moderately to highly collectible, with the 9 lb/12 lb buns and 85-100 lb globes singled out as rare “unicorns.” Build quality is mixed by design era – solid cast iron up to 12 lb, then cast heads pressed onto a steel bar handle above that – and shows real casting-process flaws: indentations, loose heads, and misshapen castings turn up across the line. The clear weak spot is functionality for actual training: the same reviewer weighed his own set and found weight tolerance badly inconsistent (dumbbells stamped 65 lb weighing a true 70 lb), concluding that buyers who want accurate, everyday training weight are better served by a modern urethane set, while buyers chasing the history and “cool factor” of lifting an original York globe are exactly who this is for.
- +Versatility: strong collector demand across most of the line -- moderately to highly collectible even in common weights, with the 9 lb/12 lb buns and 85-100 lb globes especially rare (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- +Functionality: the smooth, non-knurled 1" steel handle is a deliberate change of pace from modern knurled dumbbells, and heavier globes never turn up bent despite decades of use (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- +Build quality: 1-12 lb weights were solid cast iron; 15 lb and up used a steel bar between two cast iron heads specifically to prevent breakage (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- +Durability: originals have survived 60-90+ years of use and storage, with globes in particular resistant to bending (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- −Functionality: weight tolerance is inconsistent -- the reviewer's own set included dumbbells stamped 65 lb that actually weighed 70 lb, making them unreliable for tracking real training load (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- −Build quality: casting flaws are common across the line -- indentations from air pockets, loose/rattling heads, misshapen castings, and smashed lettering from decades of use (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- −Value: discontinued for over 60 years and available only on the used/collector market, with no fixed or predictable price (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
- −Versatility: the reviewer's own conclusion is that buyers who mainly want accurate training weight are better served by a modern urethane dumbbell set (YouTube: VintageWeightsPGH)
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