Tell me about my Hollywood press

[Boltgun]

Picked this up at the fun show last weekend, from what I've gathered so far is that they seem to have a pretty good reputation.


Fresh off the table:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Mdigz704/021.jpg


Tearing down:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Mdigz704/022.jpg


Fresh coat of paint:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Mdigz704/023.jpg


Back together:
http://i212.photobucket.com/albums/cc226/Mdigz704/024.jpg

[scrapcan]

well it had a little bit of surface rust, now it has a nice shiney coat of paint! Not much help am I?

Well others will be by soon, you might do a quick search for Kevin Rohrer or Hollywood presses here on the forum, You will find some good info.

[ReloaderFred]

It appears you have a Model B Special press. It looks complete, which is rare these days. If you can open the link below, it will give you some history:

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.0&thid=12d77e8430479eec&mt=application/pdf&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D42207dd8ac%26view%3Datt%26th%3D12d7 7e8430479eec%26attid%3D0.0%26disp%3Dattd%26zw&sig=AHIEtbSqn9CubLPw0gntBroCJPaVflHrSQ&pli=1

Hope this helps.

Fred

[3006guns]

Well, I can tell you that I have its twin, except in factory original paint and they're HEAVY. I picked mine up, new, at a gun show over twenty five years ago and used it only briefly just because I couldn't get use to the upswing handle. I still keep it "at the ready" though, just because of the huge turret and how it impresses the heck out of other reloaders when bristling with dies, measure, etc.

Even Dillon owners turn pale!

Seriously, these were very well engineered and well built presses. I'd suggest a bungee cord to keep that "knee knocker" handle raised though.

Edit: Forgot to compliment you on the "freshening up".......looks great!

[Boltgun]

Fred, cant open the link even through my gmail account, not sure what the deal is there.

06, i know what you mean about heavy, I got to the show late and subsequently had to lug this thing about 300yds back to the truck! Not sure how i feel about the upswing stroke either, may take some getting used to I guess.

[ReloaderFred]

If you do a google search for "ANTIQUE RELOADING TOOL ASSOCIATION ISSUE #15 SEPTEMBER 2008", it will bring up a link to a black and white scan of the article. The one I have is in color and has better detail in the pictures.

If you want to PM me and give me your e-mail address, I'll forward the direct link that Kevin Rohror sent to me.

Fred

[Boltgun]

Thanks Fred, my google-fu worked that time, very informative article.

[Kevin Rohrer]

You have a Hollywood Universal Model-III Special. It weighs about 48lbs and in excellent condition is worth around $600. It was probably made around 1960 or later.

Those primer arms will cleanup nicely if you soak them for a few days in citric acid and water. The discoloration on the two round turrets can easily be removed be rubbing them w/ a purple Scotchbrite pad soaked in a penetrating oil like Breakfree. It will also smooth up that handle.

I like the upstroke. Even large cartridges FL resize quite easily w/ this press.

CH/4d sells a red rubber grip for it for <$3.

Here's mine:

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0458.jpg

[3006guns]

ReloaderFred.....thanks for the tip off about the Hollywood article. Now I know quite a bit more about my presses.

[Pressman]

Most of what you read in the article is correct, or as much as can be determined. There are some changes because new information has been discovered. This is mostly apparent in relation to the RCBS presses covered in the same issue.
Ken

[SWANEEDB]

Most of what you read in the article is correct, or as much as can be determined. There are some changes because new information has been discovered. This is mostly apparent in relation to the RCBS presses covered in the same issue.
Ken

Hi Ken, I have looked at a press like this but 4 of the die holes are bigger for the inserts, was that another model or someones handy work? Dave & Gus in Ft D.

[Pressman]

Dave, it was factory. They could be ordered with none, one, or as many as you wished threaded for 1-1/8-30 shotgun dies.

Hey, is it ever going to quite snowing up there??
Ken

[Kevin Rohrer]

Swaneedb,

Ken is the master and I am merely his student in matters of Hollywood presses, but I think I can answer your question.

When the original purchaser ordered the press, he specified the size of the die holes. Back then, the larger holes (1.5"x12) were for loading shotgun. The inserts allowed the loading of regular cartridges. My Model-III Special has one larger die station out of twelve.


Boltgun,

Although there are no stampings on these presses that give a date of manufacture or serial number, I have been told that the manufacturer (Lyle Corcoran) made them in groups of 100. If you turn the press over and look at the bottom of the frame arm that holds the primer arm turret, you may see a faint number stamped into it. That number is probably the x of 100 in that series.


Ken,

Do you know if anyone has ever examined Hollywood's records, or if they still even exist?

[ReloaderFred]

The ownership of the Hollywood patents has passed through several hands since the original Hollywood Gunshop went out of business. When I was rangemaster for our department between 1977 and late 1979, I was dealing with the guy who owned it during that time. All I remember was his name was Jim, and I'm even fuzzy on that. I do know that I had to call him early in the morning, as after lunch his speech got a little slurred, if you know what I mean.

His shop was at the back corner of a small industrial complex in Reseda, CA. I was at the shop several times to take our Hollywood turret shotgun loader to him. He had invented an adapter that would automatically feed the wads, which was pretty slick and worked great. He gave me several shellholders for my press. There was one afternoon that I think he would have given me the whole shop...........

I wish I had taken more interest at the time, but I do know that right after that he sold the whole works to someone else. I saw them at the Great Western Gunshow at the Pomona Fairgrounds (8 miles of tables!) in the early 1980's, and they had really raised the prices and weren't real friendly.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Boltgun]

Thanks for all the info guys, I'm still not entirely sold on the upstroke design, but maybe it'll grow on me. How rare and/or expensive are the super turrets? That looks like the end all be all of turret presses.

[Kevin Rohrer]

If you mean the one in the newsletter w/ the twin tie rods, I have never seen one. It's on my "Must Own" List.

(See below) Interestingly enough, I don't recall having seen the press on the right, either; also call a Super Turret. Ken says they came in aluminum only.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/1685.jpg

[Dutchman]

All I remember was his name was Jim.....His shop was at the back corner of a small industrial complex in Reseda, CA.

James/Jim Whitney? He was an NRA board member and lived in Reseda. He manufactured some kind of scope mount for .45 auto and ?? I don't know what else. I'm not sure this is who you're talking about. I met him at a gunshow once but I don't recall if it was the Great Western when it was held in East L.A. (before Pomona).

I was Reseda High School Class of 1969.

Lyle Cochran was the inventory/patent owner of the many Hollywood reloading tool patents. If you go to google patents and put his name in you'll bring up all his patents in PDF files.

http://images22.fotki.com/v814/photos/2/28344/6456804/anReloadingPressHollywood1962b-vi.jpg

[Kevin Rohrer]

Yes, that is the never seen Super Turret. The top turret seems to be a bit thin, but I still lust after one.

I haven't had much luck w/ the Patent Office web site. I have been trying to find and dload pictures of the presses I own so I can frame and hang them in my reloading room. So far, I have only been able to find one of the Senior. It always seems like the site wants money to view the patent information.

(ten minutes later)

I tried the search and found PDFs of the Junior, Senior, Senior Turret, and powder measure. I guess I need to get the patent numbers off my presses.

[Dutchman]

These are the two oldest Cochran patents I have in my 3,300 file patent database. There may be some earlier, I don't know.

The US Patent Office website doesn't cost anything to download patent drawings. There is a learning curve, though. I spent considerable time there so it seems easy to me. But the google database is easier to search on random keywords. The problem with the google database is they hired non-English speakers to index the database. They have some outrageous patent titles that don't resemble anything. Much of it is gibberish. But you can still search it out if you can negotiate the patent titles as they come up in the search listings.

This was one of the funnier index titles from google. The problem is you can sorta understand what it says... "firing mechanism for firearms". It was a 1942 patent for Carbine Williams.

FIRIJJG_MFICTFANISM_FOR_FLITEAIEIMS.pdf

FIREAKM_AND_STOCK_STRUCTTJBE_TSEREFTHE.pdf
(firearm and stock structure therefore..... (Garand rifle stock 1948) patent 2,435,217

The US Patent database files are .tff format, uncompressed and print beautifully at 8x10". These below are compressed and converted to .jpg.


http://images56.fotki.com/v127/photos/2/28344/6456804/anReloadingPressHollywood1951b-vi.jpg

http://images108.fotki.com/v613/photos/2/28344/6456804/oranLoadingPressHollywood1954b-vi.jpg

[scrapcan]

Ah, now you know why I mentioned Kevin earlier.

Also if you guys are interested in the old tools, we need you to be part of ARTCA. They welcomed me into the fold, we will do the same others.

Dutchman,

Thanks for posting the patent drawings, they are a great source of information.

[ReloaderFred]

Dutchman,

It just may have been Jim Whitney! It's been over 34 years since I dealt with him, and we only met a couple of times at his shop. Once when I delivered the machine, and again when I picked it up after he converted it. I gave him some shot, shells, primers and wads to test the machine and he was quite shocked at that. He said "nobody gives you anything in this business". That was why he let me have some shell holders out of his big box of rejects. They were usable, but not cosmetically perfect.

I called him a couple of times on the phone at both the shop and his home, but if he was at home in the afternoon, it was hard to have a meaningful conversation......

Thanks,

Fred

[Kevin Rohrer]

An ad from a 1959 edition of GUNS magazine. Anything look familiar here?

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/1959GunsMagazineAd.jpg

[Kevin Rohrer]

Dutchman,

Here is the Model-A pic from the Patent site, which is the original Universal press (the granddaddy of all Hollywood presses). There apparently is no Model-B patent as it uses the same patent number.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/UniversalModel-A.jpg

And my Model-B
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0504.jpg

[seagiant]

Hi,
WOW! That pic just made my wallpaper status! I want one! A pic of my only Hollywood that I picked up at a gun show for $10 about a year ago! I'm always looking for them! Thanks

[ReloaderFred]

seagiant,

Wow! You got a Hollywood Senior press for $10.00?? I paid $25.00 for mine used when I bought it from one of my college professors in 1963. Mine came with a set of Hollywood .30-06 dies, a shell holder and a large primer arm, and I thought I got a really good deal at the time, but it doesn't begin to compare with your deal.

I recently paid 10 times what I paid for my original Hollywood Senior for my "new", larger Hollywood Senior, with the reinforcing rod for bullet swaging. It was also a good deal.

Fred

[new2cast]

Well it seems I have acquired a Hollywood Press as well. It is a universal model and that's about all I know about it.

12 station (two are larger than regular die sizes) about 15 inches tall and weighs a ton.

http://s1007.photobucket.com/albums/af194/bsrman36/reloading%20press/

Your help is very much appreciated!

[new2cast]

correction: about 17 inches tall and the turret is 9 inches in diameter

[Kevin Rohrer]

Newcast2: you have a Model-2. It is an earlier (2nd design) one due to the wooden handle. Looking at the pic I posted below; it is identical to the one on the left and the follow-on to the on on the right, which has a different frame design. The larger holes on your are 1 1/2x12 and an accommodate shotgun dies, or any big dies like .50BMG.

According to someone here who knew the designer, he made his presses in batches of 100. If you turn the press upside down and look at the bottom of the base that holds the primer arm, you should see a hand-stamped, 3-digit number. Mine is numbered 076.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0447.jpg

And although it looks rusty, it will cleanup well. Here is a pic of my Model-III after disassembly:
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0431.jpg


And after cleaning. It has a Dillon handle and after-market turret handles:
http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0465.jpg

And here is a link describing how I cleanup these presses:
http://www.thefirearmsforum.com/showthread.php?t=86279

[new2cast]

Thanks Kevin. Model 2 same as Model B?

[new2cast]

also, is that an adapter you have for standard shell holders? If so, where exactly did you buy it?

Thanks a bunch!
Bill

[Kevin Rohrer]

Yes, it is. It was originally Model-A and B, then changed to Models-I and II, and III. A III is in the background of my first pic.

You can get original-design shellholders off EBay. CH/4D makes universal ones that can also be bought off EBay. CH sells them for about $10.50.

[new2cast]

Thanks a lot Kevin. I'm going to by the universal shell holder from CH/4D. I found a powder measure for sale. Now it's evident that I don't know much about Hollywood products at all...so you can guess where I'm going with the powder measure...

It appears to be threaded, will it screw right into the press? Does it work like a regular powder measure then?

[Kevin Rohrer]

If you are talking about a Hollywood powder measure, yes, it is threaded to screw into a threaded stand or a press', like mine below. Mine is their first pattern as it is made out of iron instead of aluminum. It is extremely accurate.

http://i666.photobucket.com/albums/vv29/KevinRohrer/Reloading/IMG_0466.jpg

[new2cast]

So coool :) haha