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Messages - rbwillnj

256
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 11, 2015, 10:56:47 pm »
Yes, 30-06, in fact both of them are 30-06.

257
Star History / Re: Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 11, 2015, 10:53:00 pm »
More Pictures

258
Star History / Star Inline or Straight-line Reloader
« on: September 11, 2015, 10:49:16 pm »
In December 2014, not long after purchasing Star Machine Works I took a trip to the northern part of New Jersey to look at a collection of Star Reloaders that was for sale.   Among the ten Star reloaders and four Phelps reloaders were two Star Inline (also referred to as Straight-Line) reloaders.   I brought them home along with six Universals.  As time has allowed I have been working to restore one of the Inlines.   It required parts from both machines plus some parts I acquired in the Star acquisition to get one of the Inlines to its current state.   I am still missing the primer slider, chain and counterweight that can be seen in the last two black in white pictures that were taken by Ken Walters and provided to me by Ken Neeld from the ARTCA forum.  The missing parts are a Rube Goldberg system of advancing primers held in the horizontal rectangular primer tube to the priming station.

This machine cannot be considered a progressive reloader as the cases must be moved from station to station manually, and it is not possible to perform all operations at the same time.   

You will note that the patent number is the same number used on Progressives and Universals.   Since there are Progressives with "Pat Pending" bases, it would seem to indicate that these machines came after the introduction of the "Progressive" even though the Progressive seems a far more advanced than the inline.  Although the Patent number on this machine is the same as used on the Progressives, I don't see anything in the Patent that would apply to this machine.

It's difficult to get a good idea of how this machine works based on the pictures, so when I have the time I plan to put together a YouTube video of the machine in operation.

Bruce Williams

259
Star Reloaders / Re: Another Homemade Star type reloader
« on: September 11, 2015, 09:23:44 pm »
More Pictures

260
Star Reloaders / Re: Another Homemade Star type reloader
« on: September 11, 2015, 09:22:31 pm »
Another homemade Star type reloader.   Although it came to me from an entirely different source, it is so similar to the one above that there is little doubt that it was made by the same individual.   This one is entirely functional.  Most notable is the Brass (Bronze) tool head.

261
Star Reloaders / Re: Hulme Case Feeder Plate M-2
« on: September 04, 2015, 01:41:21 pm »
FOR_Star,    If you are looking for top plates I have a complete selection.  Here is a link to my listing in the WTB/WTS section.

http://www.starreloaders.com/forum/index.php?topic=1392.0

262
Star Reloaders / Re: Hulme Case Feeder Plate M-2
« on: September 04, 2015, 12:06:35 pm »
Yes, the M2 is the Mark II.   It is the predecessor of the M3 or Mark III.   I believe the difference is with the size of the hole.   Older Hulme case feeders did not have the T slot, so they couldn't be used to load 44 Magnum, 45 Colt or 45 AR.   Correspondingly, the hole in the Top of the M2 Top Plate was not big enough to handle the rim on the cartridges.   With the M3 and a Hulme case feeder that has the T Slot, you can load 44 Special and 45 AR.  Of course need an M3A Top Plate to load 357 Magnum, 41 Magnum, 44 Magnum, and 45 Colt.   You do not need a case feeder with the T Slot to load 41 Special or 41 Magnum.

Note:  Many M2 top plates have been modified so they will handle the larger calibers.

Bruce Williams

263
Star History / Re: Star Price History
« on: September 02, 2015, 10:11:40 am »
I have updated my previous list

For a Universal Reloader, I can share the following price history;

December 1, 1945........$ 120.00     (no mention of carbide sizing dies)
January 1, 1950.......................   Parts price list only, Includes price for carbide sizing dies, Steel Resizing Die, $4.50, Carbide, $18.50
January 1, 1952 ......................   Parts price list only, Includes price for carbide sizing dies
May 1, 1952 ...............$  130.00     (no mention of carbide sizing dies)
July 1, 1953................$  150.00     (no mention of carbide sizing dies)
August 1, 1954 ...........$                Parts price list only.  Includes price for carbide sizing dies.
January 1, 1955 ...........$                Parts price list only.  Includes price for carbide sizing dies.
January 1, 1956 ......... $  170.00
December 1, 1958........$ 190.00     (with carbide sizing die option)
January 1, 1961.......... $ 190.00     (with carbide sizing die option)
May 21, 1963 ............. $ 210.00    (with carbide sizing die option) courtesy of Larry Lawson
January 20, 1965.........$ 225.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
April 1, 1966...............$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
March 1, 1968.............$ 248.00    (with carbide sizing die option)
Dec 1, 1968................$ 262.50    (with carbide sizing die option)  Courtesy of Larry Lawson
July 15, 1970...............$ 287.50    (with carbide sizing die option)**
December 1, 1971 .......$320.00     (with carbide sizing die option) courtesy of Larry Lawson***
November 1, 1973........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard)
November 1, 1975.........$ 450.00    (Carbide Dies are Standard
February 1, 1977..........$ 525.00
March 1, 1978..............$ 660.00
March 1, 1979..............$ 760.00   
March 1, 1980..............$ 925.00    (from Kenneth L. Walters
April 1, 1981................$1110.00    (pricing for "Progressive" Reloader no longer given)
January 10, 1983.........$  925.00    (Says New Lower Prices)
April 1, 1988.................$ 925.00    (Says New Lower Prices!)
May 1, 1990.................$ 925.00
September 1, 1991........$ 925.00
January 1, 1993............$ 925.00
July 8, 1996 .................$925.00    (from Welsh Rifleman)
May 1, 1997.................$ 925.00    Final Star "San Diego" Price List

*  July 1953 brochure/price list includes a note that "During the present emergency and labor shortage we will only attempt to carry in stock those parts necessary to load the 45 ACP and 38 Special"    Also says the Universal will adapt to the popular hand gun calibers "except 45 Auto Rim"

**  July 15, 1970 Brochure with stamp on the front cover indicating that lead time for a Reloader is 5-6 months and for a Lubesizer 1-2 months.

*** December 1, 1971  9mm Carbide Die $41; .30 Carbine Die $71; Two Stage Carbide Die $41; All other Carbide Dies $22.50

264
Star History / Re: Where star left off and Dillin begins
« on: September 01, 2015, 05:24:22 pm »
Thanks for the kind words Dave.

It would be interesting to know when Dillon produced the Super Star kit, and when Star produced the Star Rifle Machine and the Star 223 Pistol Machine.   There is folklore that Star produced the Star .223 Pistol machine for the use in Vietnam by the remote tribes.   "John Paul Jones" said he had one that was painted olive drab.   If Star did produce the 223 Pistol Machine for use in Vietnam I think it would predate the Super Star kit.   

Another Star mystery.

Bruce Williams

265
Star Reloaders / Re: Powder Slide Cam
« on: July 29, 2015, 11:02:43 pm »
To jiggle the powder slide so you get a consistent fill of the cavity.

266
Star Reloaders / Re: Maintenance after Loooong Inactive period
« on: July 08, 2015, 10:43:26 pm »
I would recommend a complete disassembly, cleaning and lubrication.   If you call me, I can walk you through it.  Too much to type up here.

Bruce


267
I wasn't suggesting that you purchase the parts from Magma, only that you might have more luck finding them on the Cast Boolets forum.  Maybe you already asked the question over there, I didn't see it, but I don't spend nearly as much time there as here so I may have missed it.  I did read and understand your post.

268
If you don't have any luck here, try the Cast Boolets forum.   There is a Star Equipment Corner in the Casting Equipment section.   Someone who has converted their Star Lubsizer to use the Magma air feed system might have the parts you need.  Alternatively, you could install the Magma air feed system.....but that would run $140.   

269
Star History / Re: Adding documents to the archive?
« on: June 23, 2015, 07:05:27 am »
Star San Diego closed there doors in 1997.   At one point I thought it was earlier, but not so. 

I probably have the carbon copy for that receipt.   i have the carbons for the last four or five years of operation, but I haven't had a chance to go through them yet.

Bruce

270
Star Reloaders / Re: Holmes Reloading Products
« on: June 02, 2015, 12:37:24 am »
I have one, I don't use it because all of my reloaders have Lee case feeder tubes installed, but the Holmes is an effective way of filling tubes.   The previous owner of mine shortened the legs and the tubes.