mask says on 20/Nov/09
Old George Bell:
Click Here
I don't think think he was 7'11" most likely around 7'5"!
Staley says on 20/Nov/09
Kim Carter of Whitehaven b 1954 featured in a pageant at Bowness on Windermere about 1975. She was six feet eleven and a half inches and two hundred and forty five pounds in weight. Curly says on 20/Nov/09
I have seen information on the web that claims the Grady Patterson story has been proven to be a hoax. Does anyone know if this is true and if so, who uncovered the hoax? Victor says on 19/Nov/09
Has anyone seen or heard of Rhona Fraser. She was born in 1942 and was living in Banbury and later Cradley Heath in early 70s. Her height at 6 ft 11 would have made her, one of the tallest, if not the tallest woman in UK. Grosmont says on 17/Nov/09
Curly, I wasn't concentrating. I've just realised the eight foot claim by Guinness for Kramer was in fact EARLIER than the one I mentioned! So at least they were prepared to correct themselves in those days, in contrast to the stubbornness over stadnyk. Grosmont says on 17/Nov/09
Curly, thanks for the references. The only mention I’d seen of Kramer was in the 1975 American paperback Guinness, in a list of exaggerated claims, where they gave his true height as only 7’ 8¼’’. I wonder what led them to change their minds later. The ironic thing is, only a few years earlier Kramer was still alive, and they might have been able to measure him, if he’d have allowed it. Even if retired from show business, he might have wanted to hang on to his spurious claim. mask says on 17/Nov/09
a few years back tv program of giants and dwarfs in russia:
Click Here Curly says on 16/Nov/09
Grosmont:
In its 1964 American edition, Guinness states on page 10, "The greatest credible height claimed for a living giant is 8 feet 4 inches for Albert Johann Kramer (Netherlands) (b. 1897), who was measured by doctors in July 1923." In their 1962 edition, a slightly less detailed entry states, "The greatest credible heights claimed for present day giants are 8 feet 2 inches for A. J. Kramer (Netherlands) and Don. Koehler of Chicago, Illinois." I have no clue as to why Kramer is two inches shorter in 1962's Guinness than he is in the 1964 edition. Interestingly, both of these editions credit Marianne Wehde with a height of 8 feet 4.5 inches. I have compiled a list of about a dozen giants whose heights Guinness overstated over the years. So, Guinness has never been free of error, even in the old days... Poker Portal says on 16/Nov/09
More of Timofey Bakulin:
Click Here Grosmont says on 16/Nov/09
Great information. So Kramer was indeed born in 1897. The only question I have is, when did Guinness ever say he was over 8 feet tall? Boxerwhiteray says on 16/Nov/09
Regarding Albert Johann Kramer - according to my files - he passed away in 1965
and this information was sourced from Guinness - there was no exact date given.
As most of us know - he was usualy known as Jan van Albert and Lofty. But he was sometimes called Albert van Holland and Jan van Holland. Big Show says on 16/Nov/09
chris says on 15/Nov/09
anyone have a login name and password for the REX site? can't expand the photos without it... I sent them an email requesting one and never heard back...
This site isn't available to be used by private people. When you try to register they mention this. Only companies are alowed to register. chris says on 15/Nov/09
anyone have a login name and password for the REX site? can't expand the photos without it... I sent them an email requesting one and never heard back... Curly says on 15/Nov/09
By the way, Kramer was, indeed, born in Amsterdam on June 15, 1897. He was measured in 1918 at a height of 7 feet 5.75 inches, although I am sure that he was still growing at that time. In 1923, his armspan was measured at 7 feet 9.9 inches, suggesting a height in the 7' 8" to 7' 9" range. I have a few of the old medical papers on him. Unfortunately, Kramer was working as a professional giant by the time of these examinations and would not allow doctors to measure his standing height. However, he let them in on the little "secret" that his height was not really 9 foot 3 but actually 8 foot 4. Incredibly, these doctors took his word for it and published this figure as Kramer's actual height! This led to Guinness' later assertion that Kramer had been over 8 feet tall. Curly says on 15/Nov/09
The photo of Kramer with his wife was not taken in 1964...it was taken in August of 1958 and published in a German or Dutch magazine later that same year. I will have to look through my files to see if I can find this magazine and give proper attribution. Sorry for the incomplete info... aramx says on 15/Nov/09
Yeah, Kramer doesn't look acromegalic. He's perhaps the tallest person in recorded history to not suffer from a pituitary disorder. Grosmont says on 15/Nov/09
Vonderburg - yes, that's the 1964 picture I was talking about. I got the 1897 birth date from Guinness, who gave it many years ago in a list of exaggerated height claims. However, it's not absolutely certain, because I've seen another picture taken, according to the caption, in Copehhagen on his 50th birthday - in 1953! All very confusing. Vonderburg says on 14/Nov/09
Kramer is one of my all-time favorite giants. Perhaps because he seems happy and incredibly healthy. Biographical information is sadly lacking (possibly due to the fact that he had about six aliases). I also am unsure about his actual peak height. I've seen his height mentioned as anything between 7'8" and 9'2." I think he's 7'10" or perhaps a little more. I am 90% sure that he was not acromegalic. (look at his hands and feet in any picture). I do not know when he died but this photo (very bottom left) Click Here is dated 1964. I did not know when he was born until Grosmont posted it here Yesterday. I had never seen those photos that Big Show posted today. Neat, Neat stuff. Thank you and keep it coming. Grosmont says on 14/Nov/09
Big Show - good to see those pics of Kramer, they're new to me. There is a picture of him and his wife dated 1964 though I can't remember where I saw it.
His date of death can't really be "unknown" in a modern European country; it must be registered. I'll investigate further. He does seem to have been one of the longer lived giants. At least I've now learned the name was Albert Johann and not the reverse! aramx says on 14/Nov/09
It appears to me Bissad also has spinal curvature or least he looks very bow-legged much like Juncai. I think he is also the tallest British citizen (along with Neil) although he obviously wasn't born in the country. Not sure if he still lives in Britain though. Nippu says on 14/Nov/09
Kosen´s lying down height is 8´1 and actual standing height about 7´10! He can stand also 8´0 but it´s too hard for him to stand straight all the time. Don´t ask how i know this=) I made some calls.
8´1 is his maximum height. And that´s a lot! Anonymous says on 14/Nov/09
Sanchez - That is Bissad, who lives in London. His hands are certainly bigger than Kosen's though perhaps not as long. aramx says on 14/Nov/09
I mean 27.8 cm long hands and 36.7cm long feet aren't that long for an 8 footer. That's all. Of course, his hands are probably larger than the majority of 7 footers, but a few 7 footers probably have bigger hands and feet than Kosen. If I heard correctly on the Today Show, his shoe size is 'only' size 22 Us. There are plenty of 7 footer's who's shoe size is comparable if not larger that i.e. Kenny George, Alam Channa (who actually wore size 22 and not size 28's), and Zhang Juncai (his shoes are about 40 cm long so his bear feet still must be at leas 37-38 cm). Big Show says on 14/Nov/09
Grosmont says on 13/Nov/09
Evidently several of you people are in the Netherlands. Do any of you know when Johann Albert Kramer ("Jan Van Albert") died? As he was born in 1897 he must be deceased by now, but I've never seen a date mentioned.
His date of death is unknown. All I know is he was still alive in 1958. Here are some pics of him in his own pub in Amsterdam in 1955.
Click Here
Sanchez, the guy I think you're referring to is Hussain Bisad, whose hands are actually smaller than Kosen's. Kosen's hands measured 10.8" and Bissad's 10.59". Sanchez says on 13/Nov/09
Aramx one inch is well over 8 feet , one inch is just barely over 8 feet , whose hands are you comparing them to the guys who claim 14 15 inch hands Wadlow's hands were 12 3/4 and Constantine's may have been the same , whose hands were bigger that have been verified, there is one black dude from England or Great Britain who's hands may have been bigger and I forgot his name respectfully Sanchez
Poker Portal: did not mean any disrespect , I agree with you and Neil Fingleton is the guy i had in mind Grosmont says on 13/Nov/09
Evidently several of you people are in the Netherlands. Do any of you know when Johann Albert Kramer ("Jan Van Albert") died? As he was born in 1897 he must be deceased by now, but I've never seen a date mentioned. Grosmont says on 13/Nov/09
Katu, I've always been round-shouldered, and now that I'm over 60, I definitely cannot stand perfectly straight. If I lie down on a flat surface, my shoulders are still curved slightly upward, so my head falls back at an angle most uncomfortable for my neck. This is a problem at the dentist's, where I'm not even horizontal. I don't believe Don Koehler in his later years could have straichtened his back, or Sandy Allen, or most of the others with spinal curvature. As for the astronauts, when they returned they wouldn't be any taller than their usual MAXIMUM height. The effect of low gravity would mean, not that you gained height, but that you wouldn't lose height over the course of a day, because your spinal discs wouldn't compress. aramx says on 12/Nov/09
For somebody who is well over 8 feet when standing, Kosen's hands aren't actually that big. katu says on 12/Nov/09
Grossmont
Zero gravity has the same effect on height as lying down. Astronaughts are two inches taller when they return to earth. Also spinal curvature is generally not rigid. The spine still flexible, so when lie down it straightens out to some extent. If Kosen is 7-10 standing height, I dare say he would be 8-3 in space. Poker Portal says on 12/Nov/09
Sanchez: i would love Kosen to stand next to a 7'7" person. Neil Fingleton comes to mind. But by saying that Bruintjes is wearing Herman Monster shoes, does that not mean that you agree with me?
Just like Big Show, I am from the Netherlands too, and I grew up with Bruintjes. He is very confident about his height. Never exaggerated it, and he met quite a few people taller than him.
What we all want to see is Kosen next to Zhang Juncai. Because in my eyes it is between them, who is the tallest man in the world. Kosen has been measured by Guinness ( 6 times according to Chaz), how can anyone dismiss that? I am with Grosmont, Chaz, Vonderburg: Kosen's average height is 8'1".
Does anyone know if Guinness corrects height for spinal curvatures? I thought they did. Don says on 12/Nov/09
Not sure if this has been discussed, but is anyone familiar with a Chinese man by the name of Chang Jiao-Tai? He supposedly lived in China around 17th-19th century and had an unconfirmed height of 288 cm. Robert Wadlow obviously has the highest confirmed height in history, but this intrigued me nevertheless.
Here's the list that includes his name:
Click Here
A link that has copy of the newspaper article describing him.
Click Here
I would appreciate it if anyone could kindly translate the article. Michael S. says on 12/Nov/09
Bruintjes claims a height of 221cm (he always has). He's somewhat of a familiar face here in the Netherlands and every time they ask him his height he replies 221cm. All the articles about him state this as well and even on the KLM site (for which he's the chairman) they claim he's 221 cm. 221cm is the equivalent of 7'3" not 7'4".
Interesting. I've always seen him claimed as 7'4" I stand corrected. Chaz says on 12/Nov/09
Grosmont is right,Guinness have not got it wrong this time,cos this time they have measured Kosen,6 times 3 standing up 3 laying down,unlike Stadnyk.were they just beleved he had been measured by a UK Dr.Kosen is 8'1''. Big Show says on 12/Nov/09
Michael S says on 12/Nov/09
Kosen looks 8'1". Bruinjes has always claimed to be 7'4" and looks it. Guinness got it right. Note also that those photos are taken at an angle.
Bruintjes claims a height of 221cm (he always has). He's somewhat of a familiar face here in the Netherlands and every time they ask him his height he replies 221cm. All the articles about him state this as well and even on the KLM site (for which he's the chairman) they claim he's 221 cm. 221cm is the equivalent of 7'3" not 7'4". Sanchez says on 12/Nov/09
Poker Portal, Vonderburg: Rob Bruintjes got Herman Monster shoes on, look at the photos that Big Show posted , the heels on those shoes look huge , does not look to me that he takes somebody being taller than him lightly Poker Portal and Vonderburg Kosen the real deal he is 8' 1" We need him to stand next to someone 7' 7" Poker Portal says on 12/Nov/09
Mask; The Harry Lawson mystery was solved by the people from Click Here
There is also a page about it here:
Click Here Lamborghini says on 12/Nov/09
I agree with ABC123. Grosmont says on 12/Nov/09
ABC123 and others- you are missing the point. It's no good saying "Have Guinness got it wrong again?". This implies a) that they measured Stadnyk, and did it incorrectly, and b) the measurement of Kosen is, to be blunt, a fraud. The whole point about the Stadnyk affair was that they DIDN'T MEASURE HIM! They took someone else's word. With Kosen they have carried out the procedure they always used before, and measured him with proper care and thoroughness. If we are going to disbelieve the result, we might as well give up giants altogether, and decide we have no idea how tall ANYONE is or was. With someone from the 19th century, where all we have is photos and sideshow claims, it's fine to play the estimating game, but Kosen has been properly measured. Why don't you get together and sue Guinness? By the way, what the heck has gravity got to do with height, Katu? Do you think you'd be taller on the moon? Aram, did anyone say specifically that that particular ceiling is 8 feet high? Ceilings do vary.
As for this talk about spinal curvature and "lying down" height, if your spine is curved you CAN'T LIE FLAT, so you'll be no taller lying down. Michael S says on 12/Nov/09
Kosen looks 8'1". Bruinjes has always claimed to be 7'4" and looks it. Guinness got it right. Note also that those photos are taken at an angle. Vonderburg says on 12/Nov/09
Nope Poker - not the only one. I was skeptical of Kosen at first - but am now a true believer. Kosen stands 8'1" when fully upright and in the morning before disk compression sets in. Here's a couple photos that put it to bed.
Click Here
If his height is corrected for spinal curvature - like it is for Rogan, Carroll, Patterson, and others - he likely could be north of 8'3" Poker Portal says on 12/Nov/09
I must be the only one then who thinks that Kosen does look the real deal at 8'1" in the pictures with Rob Bruintjes. ABC123 says on 12/Nov/09
Have Guinness really got it wrong, yet again. mask says on 12/Nov/09
Johnny C mystery probably solved:
Click Here
this is the proof that 9'2" Harry Lawson was actually 8'1" Gabriel Estevao Monjane because he was dressed in the same way! Nippu says on 12/Nov/09
I´m just saying. Of course i notice Bruintjes boots and i´m aware that Kosen don´t strech himself. That´s why he look to me about 7´10. Barnaby Joyce says on 12/Nov/09
Based on these photos it's safe to say that Kosen is 7'7" max. Those clowns at Guiness have done it again. What a bunch of clowns. katu says on 11/Nov/09
If Monjane can armpit Greener, then Kosen should easily be able to armpit Bruintjes. Kosen might be an 8-footer, but only in zero gravity. aramx says on 11/Nov/09
Yeah good point Big Show. Standing up that's why Kosen only looks about 7'll" or slightly less than 8' (the photos of him standing under a supposedly 8 foot ceiling with his head slightly under it proves your point. Thank you Johnny C for those amazing photos btw!). Lying down he is probably a little over 8,1". Radhouane Charbib btw was measured at only 227 cm before but that's because of spinal curvature. I think Zhang might be as tall as Kosen when measured lying down because he was measured at 242 cm standing up and he has very spinal curvature too. As of right now, Zhang and Kosen are the only confirmed 8 footers. mask says on 11/Nov/09
More informations and better quality images about the tallest man in Indonesia for Johnny C:
Click Here(Rasyid Monas)
Click Here(Rasyid Monas)
Click Here(scroll down to "manusia tertinggi 212 cm" it says that a man called Mulyadi was measured at 212 cm in september 1999)
Click Here(according to Indonesia book of records Rasyid Monas stood at 219 cm in 2008)
Click Here(here says 221 cm)
Click Here(at number 6 it says that Rasyid Monas was 219 cm tall and now 223 cm and before him there was Suparno at 6'9" and then Mulyadi at 212 cm and 216 cm)
Click Here(this is Mulyadi)
only for you guys! Big Show says on 11/Nov/09
I think some people here are making the mistake of thinking Kosen has a 8'1" standing height. If Guinness measured him (which I don't doubt), they measured him several times a day including a measurement while laying down, which would probably increase his average height considerably seeing as he has a curvature of the spine, which greatly influences his standing height. I think Kosen would probably be 3-4 inches taller when he's laying down than when he's standing up. Curly says on 11/Nov/09
Kosen's height does look a bit suspicious in his photos with 7' 3" Bruintjes. However, Bruintjes is wearing VERY thick soled shoes which probably make him close to 7' 7" and Kosen has difficulty standing completely upright, which would make the difference in their respective heights less spectacular. Still, given Guinness' recent track record in such matters, one can't help wondering if their measurements of Kosen were 100 percent accurate. Just my opinion... aramx says on 11/Nov/09
Of course, he is talking about Kosen. He's just saying Kosen doesn't towering over Bruintjes as much as expected, but that is because he wasn't standing fully erect. Grosmont says on 11/Nov/09
So what's your point, Nippu? Whose height are you questioning? Nippu says on 11/Nov/09
Bruintjes is almost Kosen´s eye level. So Kosen´s head from eye level to top must be about 25cm(almost a foot). I don´t think so. Nippu says on 11/Nov/09
I´m little bit suprise that Kosen does not look taller to compare with Bruintjes. Bruintjes is only 7´3 but 8´1 Monjane did same to 7´8 Channa and 7´6 Greener? Maybe Kosen don´t strech up? Bruintjes has big shoes but still... Kosen has long head! Big Show says on 10/Nov/09
Click Here
Here's another pic of Bruintjes and Kosen. This is the only good pic of the two where you can make a height comparison. Bruintjes is wearing some chunky boots there with Kosen. Click Here aramx says on 10/Nov/09
Well Zhang also has difficulty walking, but I haven't seen him use crutches yet even though he is 42-43 years old. Not all pituitary giants are in terrible health (like the modern George Bell) but I don't think pituitary giants usually live to normal life expectancy even with their tumors removed. Big Show says on 10/Nov/09
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
Yesterday Sultan Kosen was in my country to hand the Dutch version of Guinness Book of Records to 7'3" Rob Bruintjes (who according to the article is the tallest man in The Netherlands, which is not true). You can also see German shoemaker Georg Wessels in the pics.
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here
The pics of Bruintjes and Kosen also sadly shows the differences between a pitituitary and a non-pitituitary giant. Rob Bruintjes is I believe 30 years older than Kosen, but looks to be in fine health. I agree with Mask here, you gotta be insane if you want to be as tall as Kosen. The guy is younger than I am but is unable to walk without crutches. Chaz says on 10/Nov/09
Any one see the TV prog on Discovery 1, Zhang went to see Yao defen in hospital,after she had the fall at home,she looked in a bad state,not just from the fall but the free drugs she was geting run out a long time ago,but looks like A British Dr has come to her ade,he as got a drug compeny to give her free drugs thru the NHS in the UK,let's hope she dose no get let down again,cos I cannot see her lasting much longer if she dose. aramx says on 9/Nov/09
Stadnik could be 7'9 with his boots on in the morning, but he looks more like 7'7 to me. He's definitely at least 7'6' but there is no way he is 7,9' barefoot. Kali says on 9/Nov/09
Does anyone have any further information about a giantess called Emily Blucher.
She had an association with Burlington in Vermont, but may have came from Germany. A distant relative of hers called Martha claimed that Emily was billed at 7 ft 11 but was really 7 ft 1 and weighed 357 pounds and wore size 19 shoes. Emily toured with different outfits, which may have included Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show and was thought to have appeared at Sea Lion Park at Coney Island. She was said to have passed on in the 1930's. Grosmont says on 9/Nov/09
For a long time now, that postcard site has included a picture of someone named F.E.Wilvert, who is very obviously a man on stilts. I wonder why they have never realised the mistake. Clay says on 9/Nov/09
Stadnyk looks 7'9''. xei says on 8/Nov/09
Old post cards - circus tallest person
Click Here Grosmont says on 8/Nov/09
xei, I'm tempted to answer that with "Avec un tape measure, je should pense". xei says on 8/Nov/09
La taille des célébrités : combien mesurent-elles ?
Click Here Rand Hobart says on 8/Nov/09
xei
Excellent find regarding Henry Clay Thruston. Like Grosmont, I am not convinced he was 7 ft 7 and would consider Grosmont's estimate of 7 ft 2 to be closer to the truth. aramx says on 7/Nov/09
To me Ajaz doesn't look like a legit 8 footer. The only times he does is when he is posing with people who are well below average in height. aramx says on 7/Nov/09
Vonderburg, Zhang has been known to be way taller than Xishun (the former tallest man) since May 2006 when he was measured along side with Xishun on that weird Japanese show. He was technically the tallest man in the world for at least 3 years until Sultan's claim was verified. However, Zhang was only measured ONCE and he is EASILY over 8 feet with assumed normal spinal curvature (I say Zhang is as tall as 8,2" Don Koehler who also suffered from pronounced curvature and thus was slightly under 8 feet tall during his latter years).
I am not so sure about Ajaz Ahmed's height. I can't be certain he is 'only' 7,7" but there is no evidence he is an 8 footer either despite looking extremely tall compared to the people of unknown height he poses with. He also spinal curvature so standing straight he would definitely be taller than he is right now. Who knows he might only be Stadnik's height, but he might be another 8 footer. I will not believe Ajaz is a legit claimant unless he stands with somebody of known height and appears that tall.
Besides, Ajaz and Zhang I also think there is nobody else in the world who looks remotely 8 feet tall. Grosmont says on 7/Nov/09
Mask, don't go away! The first thing I always do when I arrive here, is to look for blue links, hoping that there will be some posted by you, because you are so good at digging up obscure items. I can't speak for others, but I do not regard giants as items of entertainment. I am interested, and curious to know more about them. I couldn't care less who could out-wrestle whom, or who had the biggest boots or the longest toenails or whatever. It would be great if there were never any more giants in the future, because giantism is a handicap, and I'd like to see all handicaps wiped out by medical science.
Xei, those are good pictures of Thruston, though I don't for a moment believe he was really as tall as he was said to be. Considering the height of average men in those days, he might have been no more than 7'2" or so. Dandelion says on 7/Nov/09
I wonder who was the strongest giantess. Any suggestions. mask says on 7/Nov/09
Click Here
now aramx and the others I wanna know from you guys if there is one among us who would like to be that tall and have such problems with health mobilty etc.!?
we always discuss about giants and their height waiting for someone taller and taller but I don't know what I would think of someone like me if I were a giant 8 foot tall and were not even able to walk! I wanted to quit a few time back then I came back only because one of you (don't remember who) said to me that through our sort of publicity we could have helped some giants to be known and receive help and treatments for their disease but now I seriously am not sure anymore to keep doing what I did until now!I'll take some time to look inside myself and then if you'll see me ok if not thank you everybody! Vonderburg says on 6/Nov/09
I'd say there are only two gentlemen out there right now that could potentially take Sultan's crown over the next couple of years. Remember, we all thought Kosen was 7'9" until he measured out at 8'1"
Click Here
and
Click Here
This does not preclude someone growing or coming out of the blue. aramx says on 6/Nov/09
Well, I knew Sultan would be the tallest man in the world because he requested to get measured unlike the countless other giants who claim to be 8 footers but are probably not. Kosen might hold the title for the rest of his life like Sandy Allen, but maybe there might be somebody who could legitimately take it from him within his lifetime (which is likely no more than to his 50s because extreme pituitary giants rarely live to normal expectancy) although it is unlikely there is anyone taller him (since all those claimants are rather questionable). Yeah I wouldn't mind if he held the title for the rest of his life either, but if there is actually somebody confirmed to be taller who is ignored, then no he shouldn't be recognized anymore. Big Show says on 6/Nov/09
Grosmont says on 5/Nov/09
aram, why are you so anxious for someone to take Kosen's title? What have you got against him? Or do you merely find it boring for a record to stand for long? If the latter, you must be really bored by Wadlow!
I don't know what aramx was implying, but I wouldn't mind if Kosen kept the title for the rest of his life as long as he is indeed the tallest man in the world. He deserves the title, as he stepped up to the plate and got himself measured, thus proving he is indeed the tallest 'recorded' giant! Not just one of those frauds who only claim they're the tallest. Olaf says on 6/Nov/09
Who could relieve Kosen of his title aram, who ? xei says on 6/Nov/09
Journal de la société des américanistes - 1909
Scroll down and read the article "Sur quelques géants américains" (also in PDF)
Click Here Grosmont says on 5/Nov/09
aram, why are you so anxious for someone to take Kosen's title? What have you got against him? Or do you merely find it boring for a record to stand for long? If the latter, you must be really bored by Wadlow! Rita says on 4/Nov/09
Brenden Adams plays football: Click Here aramx says on 4/Nov/09
Right now I am waiting for another giant who has the guts to get measured by Guinnes so that Sultan Kosen does not hold his record for the rest of his life (it's hard to tell he will live given his condition but probably at least another 10 years). Johnny C says on 4/Nov/09
I believe this thread is easier to follow if contributors stick with one user name. Maloney Durning says on 4/Nov/09
Kettlewell
Eliza Simpson came from Bantry in Ireland. She grew to a height of 7 ft 2 and was measured by Doctor Cloynes at Cork and also an agent of Barnum. Barnum's man was authorised to offer her a contract, which meant leaving for America.
She appeared at Barnum's Museum and was paired off with Norfolk giant Robert Hales. There has been speculation whether there was a marriage, between these two. But it may have been a publicity stunt. Several sources have indicated that Eliza came from Pittsburgh, this is incorrect, but she may well have had relatives, who had previously left Ireland and settled there. Kettlewell says on 3/Nov/09
Who was this Eliza Simpson (Irish Giantess) and giantess called Sophy, another new one on me. Have heard of several Irish gints, but never any Irish giantesses, are there any other Irish giantesses. ??? Boxerwhiteray says on 3/Nov/09
Click Here
Landon Middlecoff. Kentucky Boy Giant.
Click Here
Fedor Machnow. Boxerwhiteray says on 2/Nov/09
Grosmont
It would be good to see that photo of Sophy blown up. Whilst I am not convinced
that Sophy and Mariedl "The Tyrolean Giantess" are the same person - I must say
you do have a point. The height - body type and facial features do appear to be similar. As we know many show giants and giantesses appeared under several guises - so you may be right. Conal Cochrane says on 1/Nov/09
I would think that Eliza Simpson, would have to be a strong contender as Ireland's tallest woman Maloney. Grosmont says on 1/Nov/09
Boxer, I'll tell you who that Sophy reminds me of - "Mariedl"(Maria Fussnauer) 1879-1917. She was Austrian, I'd guess Princess Elizabeth was Austrian or German, and the dates look about right.
Maloney, that's an interesting bit of information, and it suggests Simpson was indeed Irish, rather than American. Maloney Durning says on 1/Nov/09
Eliza Simpson of Bantry, was measured By Doctor Cloynes in Cork. She was 7 ft 2
and I wonder if that would qualify her as Ireland's Tallest Woman. Boxerwhiteray says on 1/Nov/09
xei
The postings you sent today - I posted some of those a couple of years back.
Russian giant is Fedor Machnow and Dutch giant William is Anton "Werner" Syre. Conal Cochrane says on 31/Oct/09
Autocrat
The Pathe giantess, I would say is Londy. Boxerwhiteray says on 31/Oct/09
Grosmont
That giantess Sophy is a bit of a poser. As you say Annie Haase otherwise Katja van Dijk - did use the name Sophia at one stage - but Sophy has a completely different appearance. mask says on 31/Oct/09
Some chinese giants:
Click Here(Zhang Huan)
Click Here(last 2 first line)in one of the 2 pics you can clearly distinguish Mu Tiezhu, Huang Chang-chiu, Zhang Huan and maybe Wang Tongxin and looking at it I must say that
Johnny C's estimations were all right! Autocrat says on 31/Oct/09
Grosmont
I am not sure myself, whether the Pathe tall lady is Katja Van Dijk or Londy. Indrid Cold says on 31/Oct/09
Does anyone know of a giant who played a Halloween monster or character. aramx says on 31/Oct/09
Zhang Juncai looks like an 8 footer. After all, he was measured at nearly 7,11 1/2" and I saw the vid of him being measured where he had very bad spinal curvature. I could easily see him as at least 5-6 cm taller if he could stand up straight. Zhang looks more like Don Koehler than Robert Wadlow imo. They are both about the same height and built (long leg high shoulders/small head) and had very bad spinal curvature (resulting in a standing height of slightly less than 8 feet instead of a full height of around 8,2"). Grosmont says on 30/Oct/09
Go to the Quasi-Modo page
Click Here
dealing with the midget Princess Elizabeth and scroll down. There's a picture of her with a giantess called "Sophy". I wonder who she was. Kaatje van Dijk (Annie Haase) used the name Sophia, but this woman looks much more "pituitary" than she did. Vonderburg says on 30/Oct/09
That thing on John Hollinden is one of the saddest things I've ever read. Roquefort says on 30/Oct/09
Pathe clip woman, looks like Katja van Dyke or Dijk, to me. Even the pose and the mannerisms are similar to photos of her, and the film clip, sitting in the Citroen car, from the fifties. Boxerwhiteray says on 30/Oct/09
The woman in the Pathe clip could well be Miss Londy "Eleanor Wagner or Waigener" also known as The Wonderful Giantess and The Dreamland Giantess. Some old postcards - I saw of her - listed her at 8 feet (exaggerated height) and 280 pounds (which was probably about right). About a decade after that clip
was made - Londy was appearig at The London Olympia with The Bertram Mills Circus - but by then she was weighing around 350 pounds. Grosmont says on 30/Oct/09
I must correct myself - I got mixed up there! The woman in the Pathe clip (Swiss Miss) is, I think, “LONDY” (Eleanor Wagner or Waigener) born in the 1890s, who was indeed Swiss. Grosmont says on 29/Oct/09
Rand, I've always taken the woman in that clip to be "Van Dijk". So you have a woman who was really German, but was usually said to be Dutch, being called a Swiss! She must have got confused, herself. Rand Hobart says on 29/Oct/09
Vondenburg
Click Here
Is this, so called Swiss giantess perhaps a young Katja van Dyke. mask says on 29/Oct/09
Lyuba Shilo the tallest woman in Ukraine:
Click Here
Uvays Akhtaev:
Click Here Conal Cochrane says on 29/Oct/09
Eliza Simpson, might well have lived in Pittsburgh, at some point, during her life. But she was indeed an Irish lass. mask says on 29/Oct/09
Don't worry Vonderburg it took me only 15 minutes to find the videos because I already knew that site and I've already found all of them little by little during the last months!Anyway thank you very much!Nice to have a friend like you! Boxerwhiteray says on 29/Oct/09
Click Here
Scroll down. Accordiong to this article - Eliza Simpson came from Bantry in County Cork. Ireland. Yet other reports have said she was from Pennsylvania. Grosmont says on 28/Oct/09
I've seen a picture you probably saw, Windrush, of Simpson and Hales, described as "Quaker Giants". As usual with these posters, they are made to look about 12 feet tall! I also saw her described as Irish. Windrush says on 28/Oct/09
According to The Annals Of Norfolk, a giantess named Eliza Simpson was measured by an agent of Barnum at 7 feet 2 inches and weighed at 337 pounds. Barnum engaged her services and promptly advertised her at 8 feet. She was paired off
with the famous Norfolk giant Robert Hales. I am not sure if Hales and Simpson married. If they were ever betrothed, then they must have divorced, as Hales did marry another woman, but she was not a giantess. According to some reports
Eliza Simpson came from Pittsburgh, PA. But another source I came across, indicated that Simpson was in fact a native of Ireland. Vonderburg says on 27/Oct/09
Looks like MASK found some videos that I missed and vice versa in that beautiful archive that MASK found. It took me four hours to find the ones that I did - goodness knows how long MASK searched.
see here for my indexing.
Click Here mask says on 27/Oct/09
Djenizbek again:
Click Here Grosmont says on 27/Oct/09
Mask, you've excelled yourself! So we have yet another new name in Bakulin.
The captions to the Pathe video clips illustrate the readiness of the media to accept the most exaggerated height claims. By the way, in the clip of "Lofty" where he's said to be carrying a little boy, it's really his brother-in-law, the Swiss midget Seppetoni, who appears with him in many photos. mask says on 26/Oct/09
Timofei Bakulin:
Click Here mask says on 26/Oct/09
Timofei Bakulin:
Click Here(scroll down) Conal Cochrane says on 26/Oct/09
aramx: It is Charles Byrne, not Charles Brynes. Heap says on 26/Oct/09
Rand Hobart
About 50 years or so ago, there was a giant sized woman called Abigail Dean, who was about seven feet in height. I believe that she came from Manchester or Salford. Rand Hobart says on 26/Oct/09
I saw a woman, in Blackpool, during the late fifties, who had to be a genuine 7 footer. I am 6'4" and pardon the pun, but she towered over me. aramx says on 25/Oct/09
Well it could certainly be possible but historical accounts from ancient times are not reliable unless we have skeleton like Charles Brynes. Rita says on 25/Oct/09
GBR records that will probably never be broken, including Wadlow's:
Click Here|main|dl1|link3|http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sphere.com%2F2009%2F10%2F23%2Ften-unbreakable-guinness-records%2F# Gusher says on 25/Oct/09
Wadlow's official record may stand for all time. But I am willing to consider that there MIGHT have been someone taller, that we have no RECORD of. Highman says on 24/Oct/09
Gusher:
Lets stay in the realm of facts. This Board too often goes into disproving false negatives, fantasies, hyptheticals ranging from Biblical stories, buried femur bones to the thought that Robert Wadlow didn't die because of his height and he was going to be a 10 footer. Grosmont says on 24/Oct/09
I like this piece from the great online satirical site The Onion:
Click Here aramx says on 23/Oct/09
Well that makes sense because growth takes place mostly in the epipheysial long bones of a person, but I still think for the most part a giant is overall larger than a normal sized person. Extremely short people even midgets rarely have similar proportions to normal sized folks let alone giants. Sanchez says on 23/Oct/09
In general tall people have long legs and in general short people have shorter legs in proportion with their body size. giants are the extreme of growth and usually have long legs and arms (wingspan) sorry you guys are right arm span. Midgets and dwarfs are the extreme of very little growth and usually have shorter legs and arms n proportion with the size of their body than a normal person. Its not a rule just in general Sanchez says on 22/Oct/09
I believe Robert Wadlow's record will stand for a very very very long time especially with modern medicine. Rothwell says on 22/Oct/09
Old saying, where there is one, there is often another. I met 7 ft 1 tall Margaret Harvey in the seventies. So it is plausible that there could be another female of 7 feet or more, alive in the UK. Oih Oih says on 22/Oct/09
Click Here
Gusher has a point. Margold says on 22/Oct/09
Chris: I saw a gigantic woman a number of years ago, in the area where Julie Till comes from. That is a place called Stroud. This woman is the real deal, a real giantess. I would assume this had to be Julie. aramx says on 22/Oct/09
Gusher, there is just no concrete evidence of anyone who has been almost as let alone taller Wadlow. Anecdotal evidence never counts because it will guaranteed to be exaggerated. And yeah your right the majority of 7 footers do have relatively long legs but it is very unlikely that somebody like Leonid Stadnik (who also have relatively long legs) would be as tall as a 5,10" individual when sitting down, eh? To be honest, I don't see that huge of difference in proportion between a typical 7 footer and 5 footer. Gusher says on 22/Oct/09
Sanchez
I hear what you say. I am not saying, there were definitely giants taller or near as tall as Robert Wadlow. But there may have been in byegone days. We cannot be sure. Grosmont says on 22/Oct/09
Gusher, this question has been flogged to death long ago, usually taking the form of "How tall could Wadlow have grown had he lived longer?" Watch the video clips and see how difficult it was for him merely to walk. Look at the pictures of Kosen on sticks that are almost crutches. Look at the historical record and note the early ages at which giants used to die. Even now many are in very bad shape. Why would you think they'd have done better in times before modern medical care? Of course it's seldom possible to prove a negative, but in this case we can confidently say it is massively unlikely. Portius says on 22/Oct/09
Mamum
Andre did have a very large skull. But Robert Wadlow had a relatively small head in relation to his overall size. Gusher says on 22/Oct/09
Highman
How can you be sure there has never been anyone taller or near as tall as Wadlow. chris says on 22/Oct/09
I'm gonna think that Julie Till is either well under 7 ft 3, or completely made up, until we see SOMETHING about her somewhere...photos, articles, etc JT says on 21/Oct/09
aramx, most giants seem to have long legs. This is generally the case for anyone around 6'2" and up. Pick any 7 footer in the NBA and they'll have longer legs relative to their height than the average 5'6" person will. This is not the case with Andre or Big Show. They don't look dwarf-like but I'll bet their pant inseam is shorter than that of any 7 footer in the NBA. Rob C says on 21/Oct/09
Has anyone heard of the Bhullar brothers? Their names are Sim and Tanveer and they play basketball. They live in Toronto, Canada and both of them are over 7 feet tall at the ages of 13 and 17. Sanchez says on 21/Oct/09
Gusher yes there were many giants claiming to be 9 and 10 feet tall in the old books but there true heights were usually betwteen 6' 10 and 7' 8" rarely does a giant make it to 7' 9" and almost never does a giant make it to 8" there is about 6.792 billion people on this earth and we have only verification of one giant 8" or more , Remember this whenever a giant claims to be over eight feet tall 99.9% of the time its a lie , there have been only a handful of giants that have made it to 8' tall in modern history that have been verified . Many circus giants claim to be over 8' but were not , one good example would be the famous circus giant Jack Earle , claimed to be 8' 7" but was really only 7' 7" or Leonid stadnik claims to be 8' 5" but in real life about 7' 7" Guinness has not been able to find a giant over 8' tall in over 20 years until Sultan Kosen and the second tallest person that has been verified is Zhang the chinese giant at 7 11" Its possible that there may be another person over 8 feet but most unlikely , until they are measured by professionals they are just claims aramx says on 21/Oct/09
39 inches? That is remarkably short for somebody that height. I think a typical person that height would have an inseam of probably around 43 inches at least. I heard 7,7.5" Neil Fingleton's inseam is around 42 inches, but 7,8" George Bell only has a 43 inch inseam? I would expect Bell's inseam to be much longer consider long-limbed he is (his entire hand hangs below his buttocks, and his fingertips reach down to his knees!). 7,7" Manute Bol has a ridiculous inseam of 48 inches, so I would have to say he has some of the most disproportionately long legs! Mamun says on 21/Oct/09
I also think Andre has the largest head of anyone in Human history ! I
think his head was even bigger than Wadlow's ! I would like to see some
proof other wise !
Regards
Mamun Mamun says on 21/Oct/09
Just kidding aramx ! I have always wanted to be as tall as wadlow ! That
statue was in a GBWR musuem in Los Angeles and is a little taller than 9ft
given Wadlow's shoes . And I am not too happy being a dwarf at 5' 8" .
regards
Supermun Nippu says on 21/Oct/09
Well maybe Rutanen was near that 7´7? We have to know how tall was Siistosen Emppa(man next to Rutanen). Highman says on 21/Oct/09
Gusher says on 15/Oct/09
There are many giants in old books that were taller than Robert Wadlow. Except we cannot prove their heights. But it is food for thought.
THERE WAS NO ONE CLOSE TO WADLOW....GIVE IT A BREAK!! mask says on 21/Oct/09
Djenizbek the tallest man in Kyrgykistan:
Click Here Nippu says on 21/Oct/09
Nice picture of Reino but i think his standing height is about 7´2 max 7´4. Because typical finnish door is 6,7-6´8. Well nothing like Myllyrinne but tall indeed. Conal Cochrane says on 21/Oct/09
I think that Big Show was supposed to be Six Ft Eleven, whilst at College. Assuming that he hit his peak at 18, then that puts doubt on him being a genuine
Seven Footer. Vonderburg says on 20/Oct/09
First known picture of Reino Rutanen
Click Here Curly says on 20/Oct/09
aramx says on 19/Oct/09
This is a random question, but has there ever been a giant (7 footer) with dwarf-like proportions rather than being normally proportioned or an eunchondial?
The example that comes to mind is Louis Moilanen. Although his height is the subject of conjecture (he was at least 236 cm. and possibly 246 cm.), other dimensions were accurately recorded at the time of his death. According to the mortician who took these measurements, his inseam was 39 inches, which is remarkably short for a man who was at least 7 feet 9 inches tall! Photos of Moilanen show that he had a huge torso and relatively short legs, unusual for a giant. I know that these proportions are far from dwarf like, but not your typical giant proportions. aramx says on 20/Oct/09
I disagree with JT. I think a large percentage of giants have proportions that are similar to 'regular-sized' humans. I mean people in the 5 foot range can oftentimes can very long limbs compared to their torso and head which is proportionally more similar to a 7 footer. I had this discussion before in Yao Ming thread, but I think the majority of 7 footers wouldn't look very strange if you scaled them down to a 5 footer (like 7,9" to 5,9"). On the other hand,a 4 footer who is scaled up to a 7 footer would probably look kinda unusual. I would say Andre the giant is pretty normally proportioned than dwarf-like, but he wouldn't look that strange as a 4 footer because the majority of 7 footers don't have relatively large heads compared to their frames.
What do you mean by looking a little taller, Mamun? It is possible the statue is less than 8,11". Of course, there is nothing wrong with your height of 5,8" if that is what you were suggesting. Beowulf says on 20/Oct/09
Agromegly (duff spelling, sorry) I seem to remember reading somewhere that one of the symptons of this is the elongation of the facial features, eyes. nose etc. Is this true? Mamun says on 20/Oct/09
My friend aramX , check out Andre the Giant's proportions ! He is closer to
dwarf-like than a normal person ! Also guys please check out my picture with
Wadlow on the top of this page ! I do look a little taller ! What do you
think ?
Regards
Mamun JT says on 20/Oct/09
aramx says on 19/Oct/09
This is a random question, but has there ever been a giant (7 footer) with dwarf-like proportions rather than being normally proportioned or an eunchondial?
Not dwarf-like, but Andre the Giant and Big Show have proportions similar to those of only an average size guy. Their legs are relatively short, meaning their torsos take up a larger percentage of their height. That's one reason why they weigh so much. I don't know of any other people with such proportions though I'm sure there are a few out there. It may also show that they stopped growing height-wise at a relatively young age for pituitary giants. Big Show said he hit his peak height at 18. Conal Cochrane says on 20/Oct/09
Julie Till of Gloucestershire is reportedly seven feet three. It would be good to hear any more news of this woman. aramx says on 19/Oct/09
This is a random question, but has there ever been a giant (7 footer) with dwarf-like proportions rather than being normally proportioned or an eunchondial? Conal Cochrane says on 19/Oct/09
Julie Till of Gloucesrershire is supposedly senen feet three. aramx says on 19/Oct/09
How tall is that Mohammed Riaz guy claiming? Giants exaggerating their height is so rampant that you can almost gurantee that they are unless they got officially measured or look the height they claim. mask says on 19/Oct/09
Search for "giant" in the last link! Grosmont says on 19/Oct/09
Mask, when I arrive at the Picture History site for which you posted the link, where do I go from there? I don't see a category which would include giants. Sanchez says on 19/Oct/09
Aramx how about Margo Dydek tallest female basketball plater, just a thought Crispin says on 18/Oct/09
I saw a woman in Gloucester, a few years back, who was a really super tall woman
and would estimate to have been above 7 feet tall. aramx says on 17/Oct/09
Speaking of giantesses, here's 6,11" Alana Renaud. I think she is the best example of a giantess I can think of right now. Click Here Rita says on 16/Oct/09
Gusher: Then you'd have to say they were "allegedly" taller since we don't know for sure. Grosmont says on 16/Oct/09
Minotaur, we can safely say Sorensen is a fake. There would be no reason for Guinness to have missed her: she isn't shy, because there is this (alleged) photograph, and she doesn't live somewhere like China, where access might be difficult. Kimberley Diamond is a bit more plausible, the claimed height being less extreme, but the name sounds suspiciously like a pseudonym. The two photographs I've seen suggests she was a professional model, so you'd think she would have turned up more frequently if she were really that tall. So, Sorensen definitely not true, Diamond just possible but unlikely. Arj says on 16/Oct/09
People shouldn't be so quick to write off Bret Sorensen, the photographic evidence is extremely compelling. Minotaur says on 15/Oct/09
Are Kimberly Diamond and Bret Sorensen definitely fakes. Is there any definite evidence of this. Grosmont says on 15/Oct/09
Well, Mask, now I know the Spanish word for "armspan" - "envergadura".
You learn lots of stuff on this forum!
Xei, excellent finds. I wonder where the skeleton of Khan is now. Presumably Iran, so it wouldn't be very easy to drop in and view it. xei says on 15/Oct/09
the second time that I post it:
Another pics of Siah Khan ibn Kashmir Khan
Click Here
Click Here Mordue says on 15/Oct/09
Saw a tall woman today, She was some height, getting on for seven feet. But slim in build, with a small head. Gusher says on 15/Oct/09
There are many giants in old books that were taller than Robert Wadlow. Except we cannot prove their heights. But it is food for thought. Poker Portal says on 15/Oct/09
More of the old George Bell: Click Here Sanchez says on 15/Oct/09
Sultan Kosen always wears very flat shoes unlike some other giants in the past . Circus giants were known to wear big boots to to boost there height . I guest also Sultan does not have much of a choice, shoes are hard to find at that size Grosmont says on 15/Oct/09
aram, there was once a carnivorous kangaroo nearly nine feet tall. Maybe, if it didn't eat you all at once, it tucked some in its pouch for later! aramx says on 14/Oct/09
Of course, there is no human in recorded history who was nearly as tall as this extinct, prehistoric short faced bear when it reared up! 11 feet or nearly twice as tall as the woman standing right next to its skeleton. That means the woman is around 5,8". I would be terrified if I saw something that tall on two legs! MisterSil says on 14/Oct/09
Bret Sorensen and Kimberly Diamond are fakes |
