
Society's obsession with the gym appear to be a modern day phenomenon but these incredible photographs show the desire to get fit started as early as the Victorian age.

Swedish physician Dr Gustav Zander is largely credited with inventing the exercise machine in its recognisable form - and his creations can be seen in these black and white photographs dating back to 1892.

While some look to resemble instruments of torture, each shot shows the machines aiding workouts for different parts of the body - much like the mechanised trainers in a modern-day gym.

This horse-like contraption that offered women the chance to sit side saddle saw users exert energy to rock the machine

This instrument is more akin to a piece of torture equipment than a fitness machine, with the head strapped in and the user lying flat

Dr Zander believed muscles needed to be built up gradually over time, so began working on machines that would mimic systems and methods of movements that humans had been using for centuries

Dr Zander, a physician and orthopaedist from Sweden, recognised the link between exertion and overall health.

Born in 1835, he attributed his knowledge of resistance in the building of muscles to his time in medical school, in the early 1860s.

Dr Zander believed muscles needed to be built up gradually over time, so began working on machines that would mimic systems and methods of movements that humans had been using for centuries.

He would work on a version of the famous 18th century workout machine, the Gymnasticon, simplifying the model and allowing the user to be as active or passive as they wanted.

This can be seen in some of the images: in one shot, the user can be seen sitting on a horse-like contraption, exerting as much energy as they wish to rock the machine.

Born in 1835, Dr Gustav Zander attributed his knowledge of resistance in the building of muscles to his time in medical school, in the early 1860s

He would work on a version of the famous 18th Century workout machine, the Gymnasticon, simplifying the model and allowing the user to be as active or passive as they wanted

The creations were targeted at the wealthier members of society, allowing them to experience exercise that wasn't seen as the kind of labour poorer members of society did

And while any modern gym will be filled with fitness fans wearing lightweight, stretchy Lycra or thin, breathable cotton, the guinea pigs photographed in this series of photographs are wearing full period clothing.

Women are seen testing various contraptions in full skirts and corsets buttoned up to the neck, while men wear wool jackets, trousers and sturdy boots.

Gustav Zander's institute in Stockholm was stocked with 27 of his custom-built machines, becoming the first 'gym'.

His mechanical horse was an early version of the Stairmaster, a stomach-punching apparatus seems to be an early version of ab machines today.

While fitness was one of his objections, the complex machines were also believed capable of correcting physical impairments from birth and caused by accidents or hard labour.

Zander argued that blood letting or purging weren't the secret to good health but practising 'progressive exertion' was.

In the early 20th Century, Dr Zander's machines were widespread across America in health spas, and some of the expensive equipment was also found in the homes of the more wealthy

This machine closely resembles the muscle-building workout machines for triceps seen in gyms today

But the lack of sportswear invented in this period meant woman had to work out in bulky dresses while men wore suits

When he brought his creations to the US in the late 19th century, they were targeted at the wealthier members of society, allowing the likes of businessmen to separate the experience of exercise from what otherwise would have been seen as labour.

In the early 20th Century, Dr Zander's machines were widespread across America at health spas, and some were privately owned - although very expensive.

By 1906, the lecturer of the Stockholm University had established institutes in some 146 countries.

Children of the wealthy members of society also used the machines to build up their muscles

By 1906, the lecturer of the Stockholm University had established institutes in some 146 countries

But in the 1970s, Arthur Jones would create machines known as Nautlius, which aided high intensity training and moved with the times

But in the 1970s, Arthur Jones would create machines known as Nautlius, which aided high intensity training and moved with the times.

Those machines would become extremely popular, leaving Dr Zander's much more comfort-based creations to become a precursor for today's sweat-inducing exercise machines.

Stockholm's National Museum of Science and Technology now keeps the photographs.

By 1906, the lecturer of the Stockholm University had established institutes in some 146 countries

Although society's obsession with the gym may be a modern day phenomenon, these photographs show the desire to get fit started as early as the Victorian age