Yes, Tom, that sounds like the old Roman Tower was converted, by Sig, to a less dangerous piece of equipment. That post would have been on the left hand side of the gym if you were standing looking out the front windows of the gym.
I wasn't saying Sig was sued, just that gyms everywhere in the country started to get sued in the late 1950s to early 1960s. Before then it was considered your risk if you went somewhere, such as a gym, where you paid to be there. About that time tort lawyers started claiming the owners were negligent, by not making it a safe environment, and therefore had liability. Many gym owners didn't even have insurance, so they started getting rid of risky equipment and exercises. Vince Gironda banned back squats, as so many people were getting hurt, as the weights used increased for weight lifting contests.
I doubt that even one percent of the gym goers today could use a Roman Column without getting injured. That was a real old school device, that won't ever again be in a gym opened to the general public.
Thanks for the extra thoughts Tom.