Pressman
03-16-2017, 09:03 AM
One of the more unique parts of our reloading tool history began in 1905 when John Barlow of Ideal brought it out. From the beginning and all through its 30 year history the marketing of the press was limited to Armory's, police and gun clubs. Never to the individual who needed something better than the Ideal tong type tools. This resulted on low volume sales and an even lower survival rate. Barlow retired in 2015 and sold Ideal to Marlin Arms Company. Great War production demands caused Marlin to sell Ideal to Phineas Talcott who copyrighted the Ideal name regarding reloading tools. For reason unknown at this time Mr Talcott sold the Ideal line to Lyman in 1925 where it has remained.
Early tools are marked with the New Haven address, later ones with the Middlefield address.
The 1905 tool and the Marlin are marked New Haven, the Lyman tools pictured here are all Middlefield.
In 1935 the Armory tool was discontinued, to be replaced with a simplified tool following the same pattern, the Tru-Line press. Simpler production but the same limited marketing and using the same dies.
But there are two additional tools that use the Armory frame. The #2 Lubricator and sizer and a full length case resizing press. Both are extremely rare. There are probably less than 5 #2's known, only one resizer has been identified. The same holds for the Marlin press, there are just two known to exist.
190687190688190689190691190688
Early tools are marked with the New Haven address, later ones with the Middlefield address.
The 1905 tool and the Marlin are marked New Haven, the Lyman tools pictured here are all Middlefield.
In 1935 the Armory tool was discontinued, to be replaced with a simplified tool following the same pattern, the Tru-Line press. Simpler production but the same limited marketing and using the same dies.
But there are two additional tools that use the Armory frame. The #2 Lubricator and sizer and a full length case resizing press. Both are extremely rare. There are probably less than 5 #2's known, only one resizer has been identified. The same holds for the Marlin press, there are just two known to exist.
190687190688190689190691190688