On the origin of the Smith Machine
From the first issue of The Dino Files:
"in the 1950s, Weider's Muscle Power ran article after article about heavy partials. Many of these were written by the prolific Charles Smith… The Smith Machine, which bears his name, was developed for the primary purpose of allowing home gym trainers to perform heavy partials in complete safety."
Didn't know that. It makes so much more sense using the Smith m/c for partials. Of course, a rack is great too. I'd still rather use a rack, even if it is a bit more fiddly to set all the pins.