Where did all the good old companies go???

[mikenbarb]

Im just wondering why and what happened to all the old companies that made great reloading and casting equipment like Potter, Herter's, Hollywood Gun Shop, Hensley & Gibbs, Modern Bond, Saeco pots, etc, etc. Its a shame that all of this stuff is lost over time and noone has taken them over to manufacture what they used to because it was mostly great quality stuff that lasted forever compared to the new junk thats imported. What would it take to buy one of those old patents and start making something again that was made a long time ago? Im just so supprised that a company like Herter's wasnt bought out by someone that had money to keep the ball rolling because it seems that they were the king of mail order in the 60's. Plus they made real good reloading equipment that was made to last for generations.

[zampilot]

Herters was bought out, by who I cant remember. Eventually their stuff was discontinued, or bought out and shelved. Anyone for a .401 PowerMag!

[HeavyMetal]

H&G sold out to Balisticast, Owners do get old and sell!

Saeco sold out to Redding, not sure who bought Herter's, Hollywood has been in and out of business several times in just the last ten years or so I think they are currently open.

The others got bought out or just retired. Bomar is a classic example they sold off and retired, I believe because of health reasons.

Then, of course, you have the comglomerates like RCBS, who have bought everyone worth having! Check the RCBS web site for our old freinds.

[Forester]

I'm too young to remember the "good old companies" but do you think the best of what was available then was really better than the best of whats available now?

Look at the good stuff being turned out by Sinclair, Wilson, Forster, and Redding...Maybe they are the "good new companies"?

[mikenbarb]

Forester, They are all good OLD companies you mention(40's, 50's and 60's) but theres many more that made things much better than todays stuff and not around anymore. Possibly their stuff lasted too long and hurt them. Wilson, Redding and Forsters products havnt changed in years and its a great design and thats why they kept it. See, The old stuff is the good stuff and you never knew they were all older companies and not newer ones. Im sure the companies you mention have all been around since the 50's and 60's and some are older like Wilson.

[mikenbarb]

Heres the best of both worlds. In the middle is an old Herters Super 81 2 ram press, The right is a Rockchucker with a Piggyback and on the left is a lee Turret press. Hmmm, What one looks strongest to you??? I think the Herters by far and just look how thick the casting is.
PS- The Herters has two 12 gauge shells in the shell holders because I use it for some special shotgun slug loads and theres a 30-06 case for comparison of the ram size and their solid rams not hollow. Its a unique design and well ahead of the times with the 2 ram design that they made and I think its much smoother and stronger than any of the new ones made today.

[cajun shooter]

Forester, you are young if you think that the companies you listed are new. They are as old or older than the ones that Mike listed. Mike, I agree all that we have is a nostalgia road but I'm sure that previous generations had the same. The Packard, Studebaker, Stanley, and Lasalle. The Indian. and Henderson motorcycles. I've got to stop as I'm starting to, sorry can't finish as I have something in my eye.

[mikenbarb]

I had to reminisce some and just dug out a bunch of 30-06 cases and loaded up 2 boxes on the old Herters Super 81. WOW, I forgot how smoothly it worked plus it was effortless for FL sizing them and I think its going to have a permanent home on my bench after I make room for it. Now I just gotta make room for my Hollywood 12 station turret.

[1hole]

Somewhat puzzled about your points.

"...manufacture what they used to because it was mostly great quality stuff that lasted forever compared to the new junk thats imported."

I've been loading since '65 and don't know of any "new junk" that's imported. To what are you speaking?


"... supprised that a company like Herter's wasnt bought out by someone that had money to keep the ball rolling because it seems that they were the king of mail order in the 60's. Plus they made real good reloading equipment that was made to last for generations."

I remember Herters well, you are right that they were THE source for young guys like me with growing families and needed to stretch a few bucks! Still have ONE remaining big Herter's catalog, a 1967, that I enjoy thumbing through on rainey Saturdays sometimes. Didn't buy as much as I should have but, like all young folk, I thought things would last forever as they were. Wrong. But Herters wasn't a manufactor at all but they seemed to have a gadget for every need, real or perceived!

Like Sears, Herters contracted for items from various makers and had the Herters labels put on. That's how they could sell such a wide variety of simular products. The catalogs have several pages showing different designs of dies at widely varying costs for common cartridges! Some think Hornady "invented" their sliding bullet seating guide. Not so, Herters had it in the early sixties! All of the dies I got from them were good, internally any way.

Herters presses were indeed massive. They were almost entirely of cast iron, including the handles, and it took a lot of iron to hold them together! Good tools, but no better than any modern ones I know of.

Herters sold me several semifinished gun stocks in the 60s. They offered a lot of value but Richards Microfit stocks are still around and their quality is just as good. And Richard's basic stock designs are MUCH more attractive!

I miss those days for many reasons but today is much better for us. We now have a wider variety of high quality tools, some only dreamed of back then, for lower cost (based on inflation of prices and wages) than then. This IS the "golden age" of reloading! Pray our political "liberal leaders" don't deprive us of it.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Last spring evil bay had several listers of single boxes of 401 brass. I believe 1 box of virgin brass went for near $70. The other brass was fired and not all there, it still went for $50. You know you`re old when the head gunsmith at William`s Gunsight for almost 20 yrs. had never heard of it? Robert

[atr]

I really miss Herters, I still am using the Herters press I bought in the 60's as well as their dies. My biggest regret is that I didn't save the catalogues !!!...well actually I did save them but my sister had a huge garage sale while I was in Nam and out they went. I did buy gunstock from Herters and they were good pieces of wood ! I think the biggest difference between todays reloading stuff and back in the good ole days is that you could find companies like Herters which offered solid value at bargin prices but its hard to find that now...I mean finding those "bargins"

[georgewxxx]

http://www.herters.com/
Herters was back in business several years ago selling mostly clothing and duck hunting supplies if I remember right. Now days check out this ad from Herters in a Cabela's web-page....Geo

[tonyb]

The RCBS RS I have when I'm not reloading, it's great for doing arm curls

[mikenbarb]

1hole, The Herters side loaders were supplied to them by KRUPP and were private labeled by them. And from what I have heard, RCBS is sourcing out lots of their reloading equipment now including the new RC press. I know of two so far that broke due to bad castings. Im a big fan of Herters stuff and I even still have one of their laminated stocks which were almost unheard of at that time. I also own a Super 3, Super 81, Super 234, Super O and a U press and love each one of them and still use them all from time to time plus I have lots of other items that have the Herters name. I think out of all my Herters stuff I like the Professional Guides Manual and Bull Book Book the best and have incredible info and recipes. Im comparing my Super 81 to a Rock Chucker and the Super 81 is by far stronger than the RC plus it takes alot less effort to FL size and swage boolits with it. Dont get me wrong because I own a ton of new equipment and swear by alot of it but im just a big fan of the oldies and always will be.

[Phil]

I had a Model 3 or Super 3 more years ago than I want to think about. I think the big difference was in the shell holder setup. Bought it new. Seems to me like there was an issue with getting the handle to stay in the upright position. Anyhow, one day the handle fell down, broke right through the pivot pin hole, and fell "kerlunk" on the floor. I heated it up in the oven for several hours, brazed it back together, and used it for quite some time after that. When I could afford it I bought a new RCBS Rockchucker and am still using it. This has to be at least 35 years ago. I gave the Herters to a young guy just starting out, and to my knowledge, he used it for many years.

Merry Christmas all,

Phil

[deltaenterprizes]

The 1968 Gun Control Act is what killed Herters and a lot of other gun related businesses,just like the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban and Brady Bill and other impediments to freely buy and sell firearms and ammunition.
Before 1986 you needed an FFL to buy or sell ammunition or components in interstate commerce.The USPS still does not allow ammunition to be shipped in the mail and to the letter of Federal law components are not allowed.

[GLOCKENNBOOMER]

Made in China
Made in Taiwan
Made in Mexico
Made in Honduras

[Texasflyboy]

H&G sold out to Balisticast, Owners do get old and sell!

Wayne Gibbs once told me in an answer to the question "Why did you decide to close the doors to Hensley & Gibbs in 1999?"

His answer was pretty much to the point. Liability insurance. For years the shop had nice affordable coverage for liability. In 1998 when the policy came up for renewal he was asked what his product was....his answer was bullet moulds.

The renewal quote that came back based on that answer is what caused him to close the doors.

He said he would have kept going because he loved what he did, but based on the lack of affordable liability insurance and his desire to enjoy life, he decided it was time to move on.

FWIW....

[mikenbarb]

Damn insurance companies! Im sure he could afford insurance now with what his molds are going for used. Just think of what he could sell a new one for now. Im sure it would reach upwards of 300.00+ if they were limited production made by himself. Its a shame that greed over money is closing the doors of some great companies. I wouldnt ever think of liability with a boolit mold but just like you said, The word "Bullet" was in the sentence so they instantly panic and throw 3 extra figures in the quote just to protect their butts. He should have just told them machined cast lead forms.LOL.

[Down South]

Mikenbarb, Your reloading bench reminds me of mine. There never seems to be an extra square inch of room on it.