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Messages - rbwillnj

46
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: February 15, 2021, 02:33:27 pm »
Kenn,   I think your 1909 birthdate is more plausible than the D&B reported birth date of 1926 which would have meant Elard was 13 when he joined Star.   Not impossible for a relative of CR Peterson in those days, but not likely.  I know he passed away in 1996 and had spent some time in a nursing home prior to that.

Elsewhere it has been reported that Elard worked for Star for 57 years.   That would line up fairly closely with a join date of 1939 depending of course on the length of time he spent in the nursing home.

47
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: February 14, 2021, 09:25:44 am »
The picture below is from the May 1934 issue of American Rifleman.  I had never noticed it before, but after seeing the powder shut off in the above pictures, I think this machine, which is even earlier, also has a powder shut off. 

48
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: February 13, 2021, 09:48:08 pm »
Should probably put this in the Star History section, but further to the above, I have a Dun & Bradstreet Report from 1979 which states Elard Mock was born in 1926 and went to work with Clarence Peterson at Star in 1939.   He along with Willis (Bill) Brenizer bought the company from Clarence Peterson (50/50 partners) in 1954.

49
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: February 12, 2021, 09:18:56 pm »
I suspect you are right Kenn, but we will never know.    We have heard that Elard Mock didn't like powder shut offs, but I think these machines might pre-date Elard at Star.  He was Clarence Peterson's nephew and he would have been pretty young in 1933 when the patent was filed. 

These are very early machines.  The machining is crude compared to even later Pat Pending machines.  Some of the parts like the Rocker Arm and Angle Lever look almost hand made.   The pictured rocker arm is from the machine above and on the other side it is stamped with the same number that was stamped on the base.

Bruce Williams

50
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: February 12, 2021, 08:54:30 am »
A couple weeks ago, a customer sent me two bases with columns to have me drill and tap them for mounting case feeders.   I recognized one as a very old base so I asked the customer to send me pictures of the machine when he got it back together.   As it turns out, it was another Pat Pending machine with a bronze powder slide housing and a powder shut off.    I think this confirms that Star experimented with powder shut offs on very early machines then abandoned the idea.

Bruce Williams

51
Stars Want to Sell/Want to Buy / Re: WTB star universal
« on: February 03, 2021, 09:35:34 am »
I have fully rebuilt/refinished Star Universals available which can I can configure in a number of calibers.   9MM is currently out of stock but is in production.  Most other calibers are available.

Attached are few pictures of a typical rebuilt machine.

It's best to call to discuss caliber, options and price.

Bruce Williams


Hi All, I’ve been studying all the details of the star universal and find them irresistible! Sooo I decided to buy one ,well here I am!
 I would like to buy one in very good operating condition preferably with a 9mm set up but 45acp is good too or heck any caliber! A shell loader option would be desirable too.
 Willing to pay a fair price for the right unit plus shipping of course. If you like you can call me at 360-three five 6 two three two 9.
Thanks!

52
Star History / Re: Powder Shut-Off
« on: January 23, 2021, 02:51:41 pm »
The pictured reloader is a very early Pat. Pending machine.   I have one that is nearly identical with a Bronze powder slide housing like the one pictured.  Mine does not have a powder shut off.   

It should be noted that a No. 0 powder slide is not used with this powder slide housing.  The powder slide is 1/2" wide rather than 5/8" wide.  I have another Pat. Pending machine that uses a standard No. 0 powder slide, but the housing is not marked as such.  I'm guessing it predated the development No. 00 powder slide housing so there was no need to distinguish between them.  Although Star reloaders remained largely unchanged for many years, there were quite a few changes in the first few years.

The machine itself is not a prototype.  It is definitely a commercial model, and not the earliest commercial model which would have had a cast iron rather than an aluminum base.   As for the shut off, I don't know if it is something Star tried then abandoned or if it was user installed.

Bruce Williams

PS   My early Star was given to me by the late Larry Lawson.   He was a great guy with whom I spent many hours talking on the phone.  That alone makes this machine a cherished part of my collection.

53
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: problem crimping 357 magnum
« on: January 14, 2021, 09:57:32 am »
When I set up machines for a roll crimp, I back of the seating stem so it doesn't come into play.  I put an sized, unflared case in the seating/roll crimp station, and with the tool head as low as it goes (not camed over) bring the die down to where the crimp section of the die just touches the mouth of the case.  Then bring the die down another half turn.  Then I adjust the seating stem to get the desired OAL.   You will mess up a few bullets in the process, but that's jus the way it is.   If you happen to have a loaded round with the correct OAL, you can put that in the seating station and with the tool head in it's lowest position, bring the seating stem down to where it stops on the bullet.   This will get you pretty close but you might need to make some minor adjustments.

The condition you have happens when the crimped portion of the brass bottoms out in the crimp groove, or digs into the bullet while the bullet is still moving.  The brass has nowhere else to go so it begins to buckle or bulge the case below the bullet.

This is also a common problem with bullets that have no crimp groove like 45 ACP.   If people try to crimp too much they get a bulge below the bullet.  Doing a Taper Crimp in a separate station alleviates the problem.   For 45 ACP, I set the Seating/Role Crimp die so it removes the flair, but doesn't crimp, then crimp with a Taper crimp die.

54
Star Reloaders / Re: Parted out Machines on eBay - Buyer Beware!
« on: January 11, 2021, 11:47:17 pm »
Sorry, the $250 does not include dies or shell plate.  I was trying to do an apples to apples comparison to the stripped down tool head that sold on eBay.  There are from time to time some good bargains on eBay for complete tool heads with dies, but you have to be patient and hope no one else is looking for the same thing.



Maybe,  If you don't mind unhappy customers.   I'm pretty sure the ones who purchased the crankshaft assembly and primer casting won't be very happy with their purchase.

As for the tool head, I sell a nice complete tool head with powder slide housing for $250.   If you add up all the parts that tool head is missing, it comes to $138 plus shipping, The tool head customer spent $140 plus $10 shipping, so not exactly a bargain.

Does tat $250 price apply to a tool head equipped with 45 ACP dies? I don't want to spend the money right now but that will be on my wish list if it does. And does it include the casing holder?

Mike.

55
Star Reloaders / Re: Star Universal Shell Plate Movement
« on: January 11, 2021, 03:52:06 pm »
The steel ball is probably not coming all the way up.  This is usually caused by crud in the hole in which the steel ball rides.   The best solution is to unmount your reloader, remove the brass plug on the bottom and clean up the hole.    Sometimes, you can fix the problem by pushing down on the ball with a pencil eraser and blowing out the crude with some air.

56
Star Reloaders / Re: Parted out Machines on eBay - Buyer Beware!
« on: January 11, 2021, 11:58:29 am »
Maybe,  If you don't mind unhappy customers.   I'm pretty sure the ones who purchased the crankshaft assembly and primer casting won't be very happy with their purchase.

As for the tool head, I sell a nice complete tool head with powder slide housing for $250.   If you add up all the parts that tool head is missing, it comes to $138 plus shipping, The tool head customer spent $140 plus $10 shipping, so not exactly a bargain.

57
Star Reloaders / Re: Parted out Machines on eBay - Buyer Beware!
« on: January 11, 2021, 08:48:15 am »
Most parts are interchangeable, but the #75 is matched to the steel base early in production before the balance of the machining on the base is done, and the hole for the taper pin is drilled and reamed during final assembly.

The angle lever cam is matched to the tool head early in production as well, but new angle levers can be installed.  Adjustments will be required.

The #75 is numbered, and there is a matching number stamped on the steel base.   Be aware that the numbers were reused for each new batch of machines.




Bruce Williams

58
Star Reloaders / Parted out Machines on eBay - Buyer Beware!
« on: January 09, 2021, 12:09:13 pm »
Once again I see that there is a seller on eBay parting out Star reloaders.   Of particular concern is are the Crank Shaft Bearing Assembly, and the Bronze Primer Casting.   Both of these parts are matched to their original counterparts.   

The Crank Shaft assembly is matched to the original column during final assembly.  Even if you can insert the taper pin all the way, which is rare, there is a good chance the link arms won't be square with the tool head.  There is maybe a 5-10% chance that the Crank Shaft Bearing assembly will function on a different column.

The chance that you will be able to use the #75 bronze primer casting on any machine but the one it came from is not much greater than 0%, so don't waist your money.

Bruce Williams
Star Machine Works LLC

59
Loading Data & Reloading Procedures / Re: Loading Hi-Tek coated bullets
« on: December 30, 2020, 09:04:40 pm »
I believe that somewhere in the Star literature it mentions mounting the reloader rotated counter-clockwise a bit so you can reach around an place the bullet a little easier.  My machines are mounted so the bronze primer assembly is at about 3:15 O'Clock.  This also gives me a little better leverage on the standard Star crankshaft handle.   Might not work so well if you are using a roller handle.

Bruce

60
Star Reloaders / Re: Detent Ball - How much spring tension?
« on: December 30, 2020, 08:58:56 pm »
That's unusual, but as I said it wouldn't hurt anything if you didn't screw it in that far.


Thanks for the info.
FWIW, this Universal circa 1979, when the plug is screwed in until it stops (0 torque), the top of the plug is about 1/4" below the steel base bottom. (NOT proud ["UNPROUD"], recessed in the hole]

HNY