Progressive NO. 54

[rbwillnj]

I have added to my collection of Pat. Pending Stars with the oldest one yet.     It's hard to see but stamped on the base is NO. 54, so maybe the 54th machine Star produced?  It has obviously been re-blued by a previous owner and It's green.   At first, I though it must be a re-paint, but the more I look at it, the more I think it is original paint.   There is a light green primer on the underside of the base and that same primer can be seen peeking through the green topcoat.   The angle lever is not original, and I think original the powder slide was probably brass.

The last picture is from a review of the Star Reloader that appeared in the May 1934 issue of American Rifleman.   There are a few differences between that machine and this that make me think that NO.54 is actually older.

Bruce Williams

[fc60]

Greetings,

The "tilted" powder hopper would add an extra machining operation!

I trust it is 38 Special, not 32 S&W Long?

The Sizing die appears to be hardened steel, not Carbide?

Cheers,

Dave

[rbwillnj]

The tilted powder magazine is required to clear the crankshaft bearing.

All of the early sizing dies were hardened steel.   Carbide sizing dies didn't come along until just after WWII.   I'm not sure if the sizing die is original.  The sizing die on the other very early machine I have, and on the American Rifleman machine is not knurled.  (like the seating die on this machine)

Yes,  38 Special

I was told this machine came from a Sheriffs Department near Tulsa, OK

[NYKenn]

Nice find.
Looks ready to load.
In better  shape than some more recent machines that I have encountered.
Kenn