HDLowrider said:
Before starting at it again a few months ago the only thing we had at the gym I last worked out at (early 70's)were dumbells, bars and plates, basic racks, seated calf, rowing, etc. and a few Universal machines I think? My how things have changed since the prehistoric era.
But those basic tools are still the most effective and versatile ones in any gym IMO. The machines and cables are nice accessories to have for variety, and for the legions of folks that dont want to deal with the much more difficult freeweight alternatives who have in the last 20 years or so become the greater majority of gym goers. With the exception of a couple bodyparts, all the muscle building exercises that work the fastest and stimulate the largest cross-sectional area of the muscle are basic barbell and dumbell exercises.
Lets break it down by body part:
Chest: all the accesory exercises have a place in chest training, but none of them seem to build the same mass and thickness as barbell and dumbell presses from flat incline and decline, and wide grip dips.
(wich kick the crap out of any machine dip I've used.) And dumbell flye movements have shaped some legendary pecs before machine flyes and cable cross.
Back: chinups done correctly w/ various grips and various forms of barbell and db rows will blow up lats quite sufficiently w/ out machine rows and cable pulldowns (wich however can be usefull and fun add ins). Deadlfts and variations of them will involve more muscle than just about any other exercise in creation.
Legs: Barbell squats, and front barbell squats. Need I say more?
However the invention of the 45 degree leg press, and hack machine have proven usefull. And various hamstring curl machines and calf machines have made it easier to develope those muscles than their freeweight alternatives.
Bi's: barbell and dumbell curls done seated or standing or on a preacher (or "scott") bench, or DB incline curls kick the crap out of most curl machines as far as pure mass is concerned.
Tris: Lying barbell or EZ bar ext, over head barbell, dumbell, or EZ bar ext, close grip bench, and narrow grip dips are the basic mass builders. Pushdown and machine extentions are great and Im glad we have them, but they will never pack as much muscle on a person as the aforementioned.
Shoulders: Barbell and Dumbell overhead presses and dumbell raises (lateral, front and rear) along with upright rows are all anyone needs to build great delts. And DB/barbell shrugs are at least as good for traps as any shrug machine I've witnessed.
Moreover, the mahines and contraptions that DO work almost as good as free weights also happen to be the ones that are CLOSER TO being like freeweights than the other machines. IE

late loaded machines, smyth machines etc.
My point is that the vast majority of the "improvements" in gyms have been to make them look nicer, and make exercise easier and more convenient, but not always more effetive. Because that's what sells memberships. Not saying that being a "regular" member is wrong, just that the gaurd has shifted. Convenience and flashyness has supresceded pure effectiveness.
Sorry for the hijack.