Steven,
I remember several times Elard would grumble about people wanting a powder cut-off. He indicated that he thought it was a bad idea. He wanted to be sure the machine would always throw a charge. He also wanted to be sure the safety cam was installed and working on every machine not using a taper crimp die. A friend of mine - Frank Appel - designed a safety cam that would work with the taper crimp die (at Elard's request), and sold some to Star. I still have a few. This was in the 70's, and CNC was still quite expensive, so only a low quantity was made. I'm not positive the design was ever really fine tuned.
Bill Brenizer is still around, but not in very good shape. If you ever knew him, please send him some good thoughts. He is/was a really fine man. He ran the manufacturing end of Star Machine Works, and was Elard's partner in the business. He also ran part of the machine shop at North Island Naval Air Station during WWII. He was working there, when he met Elard, IIRC. He was walking around downtown, and found Star. They bought the business from Elard's uncle about 1945.
edit: I too have a few of the Al bodied powder magazines.....
all the best,
Mike