Iron Man Magazine had stopped advertising its grippers in 1977 due to lack of sales, but the grippers had some followers, one of whom was IronMind founder Randall J. Strossen. In 1990, Strossen contacted Warren Tetting, who had made the Iron Man Grippers, and asked if he would be interested in making grippers for IronMind. The design of the original Iron Man Grippers varied in such features as the diameter of their handles, whether or not the handles were knurled, and whether the grippers had keepers on the springs.Iron Man. September 1966. Vol. 25, No. 6, p. 57 Warren gave out prototypes to various of strongmen to test the grippers. After a series of the grippers were broken by Gary "the gripper" Stich he contacted Warren about the design. Gary pointed out that they were breaking as the springs were welded and suggested a pin be placed in them instead.
