No. 1 Ideal Bullet Lubricator and Sizer

[Ziptar]

Here's an oldie but a goodie. When I saw the box I thought what was inside would be twice as ugly. Turns out it wasn't in too bad of a condition. Had the original instructions and mounting clamp which always seems to get lost. Lube plunger was a bear to get loose. With the plunger out I was able to shake out a really hard patina encrusted chunk of lube that smelled like Crayola™ crayons. After closer inspection and based on it color(s) I think that's exactly what it is. Someone was using crayons for bullet lube, I wonder how well that worked.

Tried out some Lyman and RCBS sizing dies along with the plunger and o-ring from a Lyman 4500 lube sizer, all fit perfect. Needs some cleanup, the nickel plating on the lube tube is almost perfect, almost totally gone on the guide rods, might see if I can get them re-done. I'm going to use it to lube my boolits for BP cartridges I think, it'll add to that old timey feel.
(I don't know why the forum is cocking the oriention of the pictures to the left... Tried everything and couldn't change it. sorry.)

[Bazoo]

Nice find. It's not common to find the box and paperwork in any condition. The sizer appears to be in pretty good condition too.

[poppy42]

That is a nice find! Probably close to 100 yrs old! Lyman 45 dates back to the 50’s. If I remember correctly. I would not use it for any heavy sizing. My 45 is relegated two pistol bullets only. And not for anything that needs to be sized more than a tenth or two. And no overly hard boolets! I know that the handles is not as stout as it could be. Not like ya an call Lyman and order parts? except for sn o-rings or s seals.Lol Enjoy your find, it is truly a rare spare!

[Ziptar]

Thanks, I was pretty stoked to get it, kinda always wanted one. I've been doing some internet reasearching Lyman bought Ideal in 1925 and the No. 1 was made up until or just after World War II. This one was produced somewhere in that time frame given the back of the instructions having "Lyman Gunsight Corporation" printed on it.

poppy42
I've got a 45 also, was the first lube sizer I bought when I started casting ~15 years ago. I also only use it for pistol boolits and just a tenth or two. The No. 1 will have it easy just doing BP boolits, soft lead, smoothing, and lubing not so much sizing.

I post some more pictures when I get it cleaned up.

[Green Frog]

Good find. The paper and box are great, but from a practical standpoint, they often come missing the clamp, the wrench, or the spider cap from the top of the reservoir. Looks like you got it all. Congratulations.
Froggie

[Green Frog]

PS to last: I too like to use mine with soft lead bullets with soft lube and minimal sizing… just trueing them up really. I’ve also used one with little pistol bullets, but again with soft lube and minimal sizing. They’re much too good to be put on a shelf and not used, especially since modern dies and top punches still are made to the same specs.

[35 Rem]

Yes, it is rare to find anything that old with all the small pieces and instructions. Congratulations! I'd use it for sure as these tools weren't meant to be set on a shelf to look at. Just take it easy on it and it should last forever.

[HWooldridge]

Friend of mine used to make 4 different recipes of bullet lube and he added one crayon per batch for easy identification. Unfortunately, his kids were always missing the same four colors from every box they owned. <LOL>

[Green Frog]

I made a very soft lube for Schuetzen and a batch of Emmert’s for BP. My 1st Models thrive on both of those.
Froggie

[poppy42]

Yes, it is rare to find anything that old with all the small pieces and instructions. Congratulations! I'd use it for sure as these tools weren't meant to be set on a shelf to look at. Just take it easy on it and it should last forever.

Say Wait a minute I’m kinda old and I still got most of my small pieces and parts lol. Although they don’t all work ha ha ha ha ha!

[poppy42]

Ben’s Red! That’s what I use in my 45. Nice soft lube. Although I have no idea how it would work would with BP but I suspect it would be just fine. Now I also use Ben’s red in my 450 not because I need the soft lube but because I just happen to like Ben’s red for everything I load lol. Actually I can’t remember the last time I used anything else.

[metricmonkeywrench]

Nice catch, Tripped into one myself. Definitely used for the light end of the sizing duties.

Having all of variants in the family it’s interesting to see the progression and improvements over time.

https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sho...al-1-Lubesizer

[Ziptar]

Ben’s Red! That’s what I use in my 45. Nice soft lube. Although I have no idea how it would work would with BP but I suspect it would be just fine. Now I also use Ben’s red in my 450 not because I need the soft lube but because I just happen to like Ben’s red for everything I load lol. Actually I can’t remember the last time I used anything else.

I'm all set for lube about 3 or so years ago I bought a bunch of Pearl II lube sticks from Dick at Big Lube. Have 18 left, that ought to last me the rest of my life I think.

metricmonkeywrench Nice job on the restore. That was allot of love and effort, right now it looks like mine won't require too much but, I've yet to take it completely down and start cleaning it up.

[metricmonkeywrench]

metricmonkeywrench Nice job on the restore. That was allot of love and effort, right now it looks like mine won't require too much but, I've yet to take it completely down and start cleaning it up.

Thanks, though all in all for mine just doing a minimalistic cleanup was really easy, simplifying the task.

The one key lesson learned from Jon_B’s excellent walkthrough is that if the reservoir wlll not move by hand leave it be if not damaged.

[Green Frog]

For a while it seemed like good to great deals on #1s were showing up on flea Bay. I lucked into a couple of complete number ones and even found a clamp for cheap. Another time found a wrench I needed… they get lost a lot! Right now I’m just missing one of the cast iron spider reservoir caps, but I believe it’s in the clutter on my workbench. I really just need to use one or two of the complete ones!
Froggie