At long last, I have an original Twin Peaks prop to share with you, and it’s a doozy: Nadine Hurley’s screen-used rowing machine. It’s rare enough when a piece like this hits the market, but when the entire history of ownership is documented, down to a thirty year old receipt signed by David Lynch’s former assistant? Well, that warrants its own writeup. You can read about how fellow fan John Root came into possession of this iconic prop and passed it on to me in my article over at Welcome to Twin Peaks. For this blog article, let’s focus on the machine itself.
LET’S GET PHYSICAL
As indicated by a sticker beneath the seat, the rowing machine was produced by Allegheny International Exercise Co.
ALLEGHENY INTERNATIONAL
Allegheny International Exercise Co. was a subdivision of the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based company, Allegheny International (AI).
Before 1983, AI was manufacturing exercise equipment under the name Perfection Manufacturing Co. in St. Louis, Missouri. In March 1983, AI announced they were closing their St. Louis plant and relocating to Lincolnton, North Carolina by August 1983. According to a St. Louis Post-Dispatch article on March 29 that year, the company relocated due to a boom in business:
“The company has been working overtime in recent months to keep up with demand for its products … the main reason for the relocation is [the company] had outgrown the plant and [wanted] to get into new product lines.”
The Lincolnton plant was 230,800-square feet while the St. Louis plant was about 125,000-square feet.
By 1987, AI sold the exercise unit to Fuqua Industries Inc. who had a history of purchasing companies throughout the 1970s and 80s. They changed their name in 1993 to Actava Group Inc. whose subsidiary, Diversified Products Corp., made fitness equipment.
SEARS FIGURE CONTROL SHOP
At some point, the rowing machine was sold at Sears as part of their Figure Control Shop.
This “shop” carried the latest in exercise equipment and dates back to at least the 1970s (as seen in this advertisement above).
This 1980s advertisement for the Sears Figure Control shop includes a logo in the upper left corner.
Another sticker on one of the metal support bars shows an altered version of this logo, presumably because it was not cleared to appear onscreen.
APPEARANCES IN TWIN PEAKS
The rowing machine only appears in the first season of Twin Peaks in the following episodes.
EPISODE 1002
It primarily appears in episode 1002 when Big Ed tramples Nadine’s drape runners while she exercises.
Watch carefully between the shots of Nadine speaking with Big Ed. Her arms suddenly “bend back” between reaction shots.
In her fury, Nadine rows with such force that she bends the right arm in half.
Obviously, a rowing machine’s arms are built to offer a great amount of resistance, so the prop department created a set of more malleable aluminum arms for actor Wendy Robie to bend.
Though the right arm is broken completely off, a notch in the mostly intact left arm tells me that the prop department may have also precut the aluminum to assist Wendy in breaking the machine.
EPISODE 1004
The machine would have reappeared in episode 1004 but the scene was cut. Thanks to The Mauve Zone, we see an exchange between Big Ed and his assistant Sparky.
Here is the scripted version from the episode written by Harley Peyton and directed by Tim Hunter.
INT. ED HURLEY’S HOUSE – DAY
ED and his assistant, SPARKY, a wizened eager beaver, enter and tiptoe into the living room to examine Nadine’s rowing machine. The oars are bent like a “z.”
ED
Watch you don’t track any grease, Sparky.
(they kneel down and look at the machine)
How the heck could Nadine bend the thing like that?
SPARKY
That’s tempered steel, Edsker.
Ed glances at the window, picks up the phone.
ED
Nadine’s still rummaging around out in the garage. Catch an eye, will ya, Sparky.
SPARKY
Safe as houses, Edsker.
Ed dials. After a couple of rings his call is answered.
ED
Shelly… hi, it’s Ed Hurley. I need to talk to Norma. It’s kind of important.
EPISODE 1007
In its final appearance onscreen, the broken rower can be seen in the background in episode 1007 as Nadine attempts to overdose on pills.
ON DISPLAY
Today, Nadine’s rowing machine hangs above my fireplace where it will perplex visitors for years to come. And yes, I had a plaque made.
Many thanks to John Root for keeping this incredible piece of history safe for so long, and to Christian Hartleben for informing me that it was available. I also want to thank Steven for adding additional historical research and newspaper clippings about the company.
