That is Herter's first press from 1952/53. In those days there was a connection between Herter's and Dunbar, the presses are sort of alike though there are several significant differences. But, it is thought it was made by Dunbar. Herter's and Dunbar sold the same powder measure, but with very different mounts. Herter's used the Model 9 for about a year before it was replaced with the Model 3 Super, which is a copy of the Lachmiller Model 100.
It's a good, strong and very well made press even though the paint used was not so durable.
Ken
Looks like a well built heavy duty press!
I have one. Only one I've ever seen in the flesh. Took a bit to clean it up but everything moves now. I still need to mount it up and load some ammo on it one day.
I passed one of these up at a yard sale years ago. Don't remember if it was a Dunbar or Herter's but it was interesting in the extreme. One glance at the price tag was enough though. Twenty bucks! (I wasn't making much money back then).
My rear end STILL hurts from kicking myself.............
Looks like it’s pretty stout!
Just one question, though. What kind of shell holders does it take? The holes look almost like it would need to be something like a Lyman J-type.
Froggie
"It aint easy being green!"
It takes the Hollywood/C-H "H" type.
Those are awesome. The shell holders look like a Lathe man's job to make. I think I'd end up trying to make an adapter for those.
Well, I kind of have one of these. About 20 years ago I bought a bunch of reloading stuff form a local pawn shop sight unseen. All was from an estate sale from a man who had a machine shop for decades. My press is homemade but an almost exact duplication of the Dunbar. Weighs about the same as my old Hollywood 12 hole turret. Works great. Also had homemade adjustable powder meadures, powder trickler, and several dies. He had made it with a shellholder adapter for standard holders held in with a set screw like the Herters presses used.
Had no idea what it had been patterned after but a quick description to Pressman and he came back with the Dunbar name. Thanks again Ken. What a wealth of knowledge.
Steve
I bought that same old Pacific press at a gun show for $15 a while back, I had a new ram that takes modern shell holders, so have been cleaning it up off and on, I plan on it becoming a "portable" set up. I painted mine a nice light blue.
I also have one of those powder measures like that one somewhere in Dad's stuff. I like these old tools.
RIHP, the unmarked 4th is a Hollywood. 1&2 are probably C-H.
RIHP, that powder measure on the left is pretty desirable too, if didn’t already know it. It’s a #5, made first by Ideal around the turn of the last century and continued by Lyman (still with the Ideal name) all the way up to WW II. After the war Lyman redesigned the body casting and initially kept the same rotor assembly to start making the #55 which, with modifications and improvements, is still available today. Your cast iron #5 was a very nice addition to the other stuff!
Froggie
"It aint easy being green!"
Yes, that is a Lyman made No 5. As the esteemed frog person says you can swap the rotor for a #55 micrometer rotor for an update if you should desire. It's a direct swap, no modifications.
Believe it or not, I find the slides on the earlier rotors faster and less frustrating to adjust than the standard #55 slides. Of course the #5 Micrometer and #55 Culver conversion units are nice if you can get them.
I just seem to gravitate toward the old #5... it's about bullet proof and other than losing the little cast iron top or allowing the rotor to get gummed up (or heaven forbid, rusted or corroded) there's not much that can go wrong with them. They just keep following me home on a regular basis!
Froggie
"It aint easy being green!"
RIHP
Is there a scale in that Redding bullet and powder scale box.
Was my first scale.
Still use it. Good to .1 grain, but didn't have a magnetic damper.
Used an oil reservoir with a paddle to slow the oscillation of the beam.
Mine was purchased about 1960 for 14.95 at gun store in St.Louis. Never saw another except in catalogues till now.
Also thanks for showing pics of the Herter shell holders.
Got one with the shotgun plates and 12& 20 gauge die’s can’t figure out how to post pictures
BP | Bronze Point | IMR | Improved Military Rifle | PTD | Pointed |
BR | Bench Rest | M | Magnum | RN | Round Nose |
BT | Boat Tail | PL | Power-Lokt | SP | Soft Point |
C | Compressed Charge | PR | Primer | SPCL | Soft Point "Core-Lokt" |
HP | Hollow Point | PSPCL | Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" | C.O.L. | Cartridge Overall Length |
PSP | Pointed Soft Point | Spz | Spitzer Point | SBT | Spitzer Boat Tail |
LRN | Lead Round Nose | LWC | Lead Wad Cutter | LSWC | Lead Semi Wad Cutter |
GC | Gas Check |