Fred Pilates, Joe’s Brother
Fred Pilates was Joe Pilates brother, a teacher of the Pilates Method, and builder of Pilates equipment. He was also an inventor, like Joe, and invented apparatus and a game. This article discusses Fred’s game, a paddle tennis game, as well as his work with Joe. Image first shared on February 16, 2021.
Early Detailed Full Advertisement from Fred Pilates
Words cannot describe the excitement about finding this original, rare advertisement from Fred Pilates in the early 1930s. This stands out because most of the other ads that we know of from Fred were only short, classified ads in the newspaper. Image first shared on 2/22/24.
These two 1940s articles about Fred Pilates highlight his invention, The Watercycle. Interestingly, it mentions Fred was injured while fighting in WWI. Images first shared on 11/25/23.
An early 1930’s publication that Fred Pilates wrote into to promote his Watercycle. Image first shared on 2/18/24.
These classified ads were taken out by Fred Pilates in his local newspaper throughout the 1930s-1940s. Its fascinating to thing about how Fred had a studio as well, though very little is known about it at this point. Images first shared on 11/25/23.
The First Recorded In-Home Pilates Studio – 1953
In 1953, Fred and Henrietta moved into a new home at this address, making Fred’s the first recorded in-home pilates studio that we know of today. Images first shared on 3/2/23.
The 1930 Census, listing Fred Pilates as “Tool maker.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
A phone book listing for Fred Pilates and his “Pilates Health Studio.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
A later phone book listing about Fred Pilates, this time listing him as a “masseur.” Image first shared February 18, 2023.
1890 Birth Announcement for Joe Pilates’ younger brother, Fred Pilates, who also taught Contrology and had a studio in St. Louis. Image first shared on 12/2/2024.
Image first shared on February 18, 2021.
Image first shared on February 18, 2021.
Fred Pilates obituary, who died 11 years after Joe. Image first shared on February 23, 2021.
