Kenneth L. Walters wrote some interesting things about the Star Machine Works in his posts to the forum. One thing that comes to mind was about the business practices at Star or lack thereof of SMC.
As I posted the other day, I have just seen a Star Reloading Tool for the first time. The owner has quite a number of paper items from Star which I obtained today and made copies for reading and research. Some are duplicates, just with differing dates, like price lists. One price list, dated March 1, 1978, ends with the following:
AT THE PRESENT TIME OUR SHIPPING SCHEDULE IS APPROX:
Reloaders: 22 - 24 Months
Extra Tool Head 12 - 14 ?
Lubricators 8 - 10 ?
Parts 2 - 5 ?
With a production schedule like this, it is no wonder the company went out of business. I know, there are undoubtedly many factors contributing toward such a situation such as the health of the principals, other aerospace industry business, etc., but still....
My friend who owns the machines that I mentioned will be taking them apart for a thorough cleaning and reassembly before any attempt at reloading. I will get more information as I can. Meanwhile, a question or two: First, Quality. You can see that this machine is very well built with materials of the highest order and dimensions held to very close tolerances. Do you know just what areas of this press assembly contribute most to the production of quality ammunition on this machine?
I cannot look at the diagrams or at the press itself without comparing it to Dillon products, which may be heresey to some of you who have owned and used the Star for decades. Yet, both are progressive machines; both use a rotating shell plate, a primer feed system, and a powder drop system. One wonders just where one machine may be better than the other. Even which Dillon machine most fairly compares directly to the Star? What do you think??
dd in MA
Still learning.
