Herters Super O Press

[richhodg66]

One in really nice shape in a local pawn shop of all places which can be had cheap. Even has the adapter installed for modern shell holders.

I already have a bunch of vintage presses which I haven't mounted up to use yet, just something about these old school tools that appeals to me. I don't have much in any of them, they just seem to follow me home.

This Super O is massive (under statement). Big and strong as it is, I kinda doubt it'll do anything the big Redding Ultra Mag I got cheap about a year ago won't do as well or better. Just trying to decide if the old school cool factor would make it worth having.

Thoughts on these?

 

[RicinYakima]

PM Pressman, as he is the Herter's expert in the US.

 

[fiver]

yeah he is.
i had one of the 90 lb herters presses.
gave it to the SIL, then went over and used it once, kinda wished i hadn't of gave it to him it was still tight and smooth after all these years.

 

[richhodg66]

This one is in excellent shape. There's also a variant of the Model 3 which are pretty common, also set up with a shell holder adapter and with the bar thing on it to strengthen the C press frame for swaging. Surely both owned by the same guy and obviously knew what he was doing.

I may just buy thins, even if it won't do anything a modern press won't do as well or better. I just like old tools.

Haven't seen Pressman post in a while, hope he's doing OK.

 

[Rick]

Pressman posted here just this past Saturday,

 

[Pressman]

Rich, from what I can see here you are talking about both of the "O" presses. The Super O is the Model 3 variant and the best of the Model 3's in my not so humble opinion.

The big, heavy beast is the Model O Super. Notice the difference. Both are excellent presses. The big O Super is limited by its linkage design, though there are 4 possible combinations of ram travel vs handle movement. And it has roller bearings in the bottom link pin.
It also has an uneven bottom that must be accounted for when bolting it down lest you crack something.

You should have both.

Your email didn't work last night, I did win that odd Lyman press on eBay.

Ken

 

[Pressman]

Oops, it wasn't you that was asking about this thing. Sorry.

An eBay link for context of this conversation. https://www.ebay.com/itm/195170402315?hash=item2d7110000b:g:VAEAAOSw5LZiuOqB
Ken

 

[seagiant1]

Hi,
This is mine as I have actually wanted to sale if anyone interested.

I took Pressmans info, and flattened the bottom of the mounting plate so there was no danger mounting it!

It is a Beast!

 

[richhodg66]

That's the one in that shop. The other one is a C style press, looks like a model 3, with an attached bracket of some dort that bolts on through the holes for the priming arm at the top and bottom to make it more rigid for swaging.

I have another press, kinda got it by accident, looks just like the U3 except that part of the U is cut out, I presume to give better access. Seems like it was listed as a SUper O, but most definitely not the same as that picture of yours.

 

[Pressman]

OK, the press you describe is the 3A. It's one of Herter's better designs. The U with the slot is the O Super.
Ken

 

[richhodg66]

I'll have to get back to that shop. He's asking 125 apiece for those, but they've been there a while and I think I know him well enough to strike a deal.

I did not notice that the mounting surface of the big one wasn't flat, I will look more closely. WHat's the easiest/best way to deal with that?

 

[Snakeoil]

I have an old Herter's C-press that was my Dad's. My guess is he got it in some horse-trading exercise as he was a shotgunner and not much of a rifle shooter other than for hunting. He had purchased a Savage 110 in .243 and I'm thinking that is what he was going to reload. Doubt that he ever did. The press is a stout SOB, I'll say that. I bought the adapter to use standard shell holders but never did use it. Sits on the floor under my bench. I think I read here that Herter's presses were actually Saeco or Redding presses that were factory seconds. I'll post a pic if I remember to take one next time I go home to mow.

 

[Pressman]

Rich, I used washers under the plate to level it. It works with no problems.

Snakeoil, Herter's presses are uniquely Herter's. The design was copied from the Lachmiller Model 100 of 1952. The first Model 3 presses were on the market in 1954. They have no connection to the much later presses from Redding or Saceo. The Saeco press is rather small, about half scale to a Model 3 and the first Redding press was a mechanical failure due to weak link arms. It went on to become the Lachmiller Shell Saver for shot shell resizing.

 

[Snakeoil]

Rich, I used washers under the plate to level it. It works with no problems.

Snakeoil, Herter's presses are uniquely Herter's. The design was copied from the Lachmiller Model 100 of 1952. The first Model 3 presses were on the market in 1954. They have no connection to the much later presses from Redding or Saceo. The Saeco press is rather small, about half scale to a Model 3 and the first Redding press was a mechanical failure due to weak link arms. It went on to become the Lachmiller Shell Saver for shot shell resizing.

Thanks for the clarification. My Dad was an avid Herter's customer. We were both trap shooters and Pop paid for the components and my job was to load. We bought shotgun primers by the case back then. I think there were 10,000 in a case. I have an old Edelman's catalog at home and should check that number as well as look up that old press.

I did a search for Lachmiller and Herter's presses and I see what you mean. They are just about identical. I think mine is a #3, but I want to say that mine does not have the cast operating handle. I'm pretty sure it is just a piece of round barstock. Might be a later version of the same press.

 

[JonB]

So I was looking for some random info in my Herter's reloading manual and there were pictures of Herter's presses. I assume you all participating in this thread would like to see 'em.

 

[richhodg66]

Jon, that Triple Web C is the one in that shop with that monster model O. I have a U 3 and an O 3, same press as near as I can tell except the ) 3 is cut out for better access.

 

[Pressman]

Top picture, top row center is a Herter's Model 3, the press to its right is the Model 3A. It is pictured again in the bottom picture, lower pic with the strain gauge and optional tie bar.

Above it, on the far right is the Model O Super, nominally called the Super O. The O-3 illustrated on the left is a very nice, easy to use press.

 

[richhodg66]

Rich, I used washers under the plate to level it. It works with no problems.

Snakeoil, Herter's presses are uniquely Herter's. The design was copied from the Lachmiller Model 100 of 1952. The first Model 3 presses were on the market in 1954. They have no connection to the much later presses from Redding or Saceo. The Saeco press is rather small, about half scale to a Model 3 and the first Redding press was a mechanical failure due to weak link arms. It went on to become the Lachmiller Shell Saver for shot shell resizing.

Good advice should I choose to buy it.

It was a Lachmiller 100 that got me started down the rabbit hole of collecting old presses. Tripped on it in the floor of a stall in an antique mall in Abilene. Rusted frozen open and missing the spent primer cup. Couldn't stand the thought of someone pitching it or using it as a boat anchor so went back a wek later and bought it for about 16 bucks. It works now, I even found the proper spent primer cup. One of these days I'll really start using it. Didn't know it went back to 1952, I'd have guessed it was more recent.