Lyman "RCBS JR" Press

[jimkim]

I've only seen a few and have often wondered if this is an original Orange Crusher, or maybe a Crusher "JR". What model is it? Thanks in advance. http://www.armslist.com/posts/236652/colorado-springs-colorado-ammo-for-sale--lyman-reloading-press

[Pressman]

It is an Orange Crusher. Essientially a copy of the RCBS Jr-3 and RS presses.

Ken

[jimkim]

When did they go to the more modern style linkages?
http://phoenix.backpage.com/SportsEquipForSale/classifieds/EnlargeImage?oid=15230776&image=15230774

[Pressman]

I am a little fuzzy on the date here. The switch to swing arm linkage would have come right at the time the RCBS patent expired. Some time around 1974 give or take a year or two.

Ken

[Ziptar]

Being a bit of an Orange Geek, I had to figure that out myself a little while back. I'd seen both the Lyman "O" frames and the turrets with simple and compound linkage and wondered about it.

The simple linkage model was called the "O-Mag" and the compound linkage model was the original "Orange Crusher".

On the turrets the older simple linkage is the "Special-T" or as the casting is marked the "S-T". Basically it's the old Spartan Turret with an orange paint job and the turret of a T-Mag painted black. It's a transitional model I guess, as they were working on and moving to the new compound linkage model, the original "T-Mag".

O-Mag Press
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/Lyman_O-Mag_Simple_Linkage.jpg

The Orange Crusher
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/Lyman_Orange_Crusher_Compound_Linkage.jpg

The Special-T Turret
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/Lyman_S-T_Turret_Press.jpg

The T-Mag
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/Lyman_T-Mag_Turret_Press.jpg

I found copies of old Lyman print ads. The compound linkage models show up as "New" for the first time for The Orange Crusher in 1982 and T-Mag 1981.

1980 Ad shows the O-Mag
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/1980_Lyman_ad.jpg

1982 Ad shows the Orange Crusher and announces it as "New for 1982"
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/1982_Lyman_ad_oc.jpg

1981 Ad shows the T-Mag for the first time announcing it as "New"
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/1981_Lyman_ad.jpg

1982 Ad showing the Special-T as part of the Expert Kit. so it was still available for a while at least after the T-Mag came out.
http://www.ziptar.com/reloading/Lyman_Presses/1982_Lyman_ad.jpg

I just bought a T-Mag, haven't even mounted it yet. It's a beast of a press compared to the Tru-line Jr. I have.

[Hardcast416taylor]

I bit the dangled baited hook and got a "new" crusher press back in the `80`s. I kept it for about 6 months then sold it and went back to my rock chucker.Robert

[jimkim]

I googled O-Mag and found another ad. It has it new for 1979.
I like the upgrades they made. I'm not sure I'd want to size many 378 Weatherby cases with it though.
http://store.vintagepaperads.com/catalog/BV1011.jpg

[Pigslayer]

I have a crusher press that I bought about ten years ago. It has served me well even with the 7MM Rem. Mag. cases. Those big belted mags. were too much for the RCBS jr. that I had. If I were to buy another press it would be the new Lee Cast.

[hk33ka1]

I had a chance to buy a used old Orange Crusher, a CH-4 and an older RC II and I waited and missed them. Wish I had just bought them.

[Pigslayer]

I had a chance to buy a used old Orange Crusher, a CH-4 and an older RC II and I waited and missed them. Wish I had just bought them.
If you can get a Lyman crusher used for a decent price, buy it. It's worth the money.