Arthur Saxon's Dumbbell Overhead Swing Tutorials [1905 and 1908]

The muscles called into play are practically the same here as in the one-handed snatch, but the bell must be placed on and between the feet as shown in illustration. Keep the head down, then, with a perfectly straight arm, pull up, using a combination of muscular efforts and concentration as described in the snatch lift. Lean back and watch the dumb-bell with your eyes, and when it is at a suitable height suddenly dip beneath same and twist your wrist violently, so that you may place a straight arm beneath the bell.

—The Development of Physical Power, 1905

The only difference between this lift and the snatch is that the swinging hand is turned thumb to front. The muscles employed there-in are practically the same, and yet it does not follow that a record “snatcher” will always be a record “swinger”.

In swinging the dumbbell, the weight must be placed between the feet. The body then bends over from the waist, and a grip is taken of the bell close to the front sphere or disc. The bell may be rested on its end prior to swinging, and the disengaged hand should be pressed on the corresponding knee.

Then with the head bent well down, swing the arm straight up, forcing the shoulders back, pushing with the thigh muscles and pressing with the disengaged hand. Just as the force of your initial swing aloft is failing, dip beneath the bell and twist your wrist so as to get the arm straight, and rise immediately erect.

Make the lift look as though it was a clean swing up as much as possible.

— The Textbook of Weight-Lifting, 1908