[Lone_Gunman]

Does anyone know?

[rcmodel]

I reckon it would be Star, or Belding & Mull maybe?

Seems like Lyman-Ideal might have had a semi-progressve a long time ago too.

rc

[Lone_Gunman]

Damn, RC, how old are you? I never even heard of those companies...

[243winxb]

Star was the first for home reloaders http://www.starreloaders.com/history/history.html

[rcmodel]

Only 65, but my brain is packed full of totally useless gun information. :D

rc

[freakshow10mm]

I was thinking Star. I think RCBS was still making bullet swaging dies and presses (Rockchucker) at that time.

The Star bullet sizer is the finest hand operated bullet sizing machine ever in the whole wide world.

[Walkalong]

So you like them, huh? :D

[Pistol Toter]

Only 65, but my brain is packed full of totally useless gun information.

RC, No knowledge or skill is useless as long as it is not Illeagal, Immoral or Unethical.

I'm the same way as you and my phone rings off the wall. I'm in failling health and told a very close friend the outher day that I felt pretty useless and nonproductive. He quickly countered with the reply, " who in the world, Tom, would those of us, who constantly seek you out for "how too" help and information; who would we call? The answer is nobody" he said.
Your head full of useless knowledge is 65 years of learning and knowledge, that when you are gone will be lost to a world that hasn't got the slightest idea what to do or where to go. The day will come when a bunch of us old farts are gone; and those that sre left won't know how to blow their nose or find their a$$es.
Kudos to you, Sir.;):D

[MikeKeyW]

I believe Star is correct but it was Dillion that took progressives to a new level by marketing to the more "Average Joe" enthusiast.

[Jim Watson]

I thought Star and went to look it up. It was the only true progressive mentioned by Phil Sharpe in 1937. There were multi station and turret presses but the Star was the only one stroke, one round progressive he showed.

By the way, Mike Dillon got started in reloading equipment by making rifle caliber conversions for the Star.

[rodregier]

Supplemental on RCBS origins:

RCBS - Rock Chuck Bullet Swage (from memory).

[Vern Humphrey]

No knowledge or skill is useless as long as it is not Illeagal, Immoral or Unethical
Some of my most treasured knowledges and skills are Illegal, Immoral and Unethical.

[freakshow10mm]

Rock Chucker Bullet Swaging. Huntington made the RC press which was part of a kit that included .22 swaging dies to use .22 rimfire brass to make jackets for .224 bullets in the .22 centerfires of the time. Some buddies complained about the quality of reloading dies and told him to make some reloading dies for them. He modified his RC press ram to accept shellholders from Herter's and a priming attachment and thus he started the reloading side of RCBS. Unfortunately the bullet swaging stuff was dropped but if you can find some original RCBS swaging dies at an estate sale, get out your wallet. You will surely pay for them.

[freakshow10mm]

So you like them, huh?
How can you not?

Video of me sizing some Lee .45 230gr TC boolits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZCtLi8i7tMg

[Walkalong]

Very solid looking nicely designed sizer. Looks fast. Watch yer fingers. You sound a little like my relatives from Buffalo. They make fun of my southern accent, but that's OK. :)

[MMCSRET]

Interesting trivia: I was talking with John Lee at Lee precision about 4 years ago and we were talking about progressive presses. He said that back in the late 50's his dad, Richard, Had modified a Lyman All American turret press to progressive operation and took it to Lyman with a proposal of partnership or outright sale of rights to it and Lyman said "no thanks", no handloader would ever want to load that much that fast.

[Lone_Gunman]

Some of my most treasured knowledges and skills are Illegal, Immoral and Unethical.

Old age and treachery will always defeat youth and skill.

[Peter M. Eick]

My Sharpe 1937 book shows on page 214 a Star loading machine that delivers a complete round with each pulll of the lever.

It looks like it costs $60 which is the same price as a Registered Magnum in 1939 as a side note.

As another side note, Sharps book "complete guide to handloading" is probably the best book on reloading you can buy. You just need to understand it in context but his techniques and discussions are superb.

[freakshow10mm]

Interesting trivia: I was talking with John Lee at Lee precision about 4 years ago and we were talking about progressive presses. He said that back in the late 50's his dad, Richard, Had modified a Lyman All American turret press to progressive operation and took it to Lyman with a proposal of partnership or outright sale of rights to it and Lyman said "no thanks", no handloader would ever want to load that much that fast.
Same thing with many other products. Big names make a prediction that ends up being the opposite. Ford turned down the intermittent wiper, then used it later and was successfully sued by the inventor. Bill Gates didn't design Windows around the Internet like Apple/Mac had done because he thought the Internet was going to be a 5 year fad. Now look at the problems Windows has with Internet security versus Mac.

[Otto]

As another side note, Sharps book "complete guide to handloading" is probably the best book on reloading you can buy.
Absolutely. It's the holy bible of reloading.
The Star loading machine manually indexed and had a primer feed tube. According to Philip Sharpe it could produce 500 rds and hour.
Incidentally, Mike Dillon started in the business by making conversions for the Star since the Star wouldn't load .223 or .30-06.
The high demand for his conversion kits motivated him to develop his own reloader. The rest is history.

[Peter M. Eick]

I agree with your comment on Sharpes book.

My 1937 copy is autographed.
My 1949 copy is in ok condition.
My 1953 copy is in near perfect shape.

I wanted to keep the 1937 copy clean since it is autographed.

[rfwobbly]

Incidentally, Mike Dillon started in the business by making conversions for the Star since the Star wouldn't load .223 or .30-06. The high demand for his conversion kits motivated him to develop his own reloader. The rest is history.

I was going to add the same comment. And so, a few million dollars latter... "Mike Dillon" became "Mr. Dillon, sir".

[Shoney]

Illeagal, Immoral or Unethical.
As a kid I remember when some older ruffians in the neighborhood would get excited when the next copy of National Geographic was due in the mail. I was too young to really understand and asked my mom what that meant. With a surprised look and a few wise words which I don’t remember, she calmly said, ”Yada yada yada. Pornography is a matter of geography! Yada yada yada.”

Well, Illegal, Immoral and Unethical is a matter of Geography and Religion.

[_DMC]

As another side note, Sharps book "complete guide to handloading" is probably the best book on reloading you can buy.

The 1937 edition of the book can be downloaded (free) here:

http://stevespages.com/page7d.htm

DC

[Seedtick]

DMC +1

The 1937 edition of the book can be downloaded (free) here:

http://stevespages.com/page7d.htm

DC

Thanks for that link!

ST

[James Thomson]

I was reading some time ago that Dillon's machines were based on the Star reloading press. I don't remember where I read it or if it has any truth or not. Anyone have any information about this?