Herter's dial-o-matic powder measure - The Firearms Forum

11-13-2003, 08:40 PM

Bet you've never seen one of these babies, a genuine Herter's Dial-O-Matic powder measure fresh from ebay treasure box.

Haven't got the granualations figured out yet, but the dial ranges from zero to ten. Man is it ever neat, the little piston in the powder chamber raises and lowers like a little elevator when you twist the big dial.

This is a seriously good idea that should be brought out again in a modern version by one of the big reloading outfits.

Jim da Gunguy

11-13-2003, 08:42 PM

Here is the other side with the big dial-o-matic knob.

Of course its shown here kind of dingy looking, but its old and now have it all cleaned up and buffed.

Took the orange cap off and put it on my No.55 powder measure that is the same color. The Herter's DOM now sports a black cap.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OK, its an hour later and have the PM figured out now as to the dial-o-matic granualations.

In the scale of 1 to 10 its apparantly higher than I thought. For example, 1+3.5 dial setting is a consistant scale weighed read out of 8.7 grains for HS6 Hodgdon powder.

I chose this powder because its been kind of cranky with some of my other powder measures as to throwing inconsistant drops.

So, my manual Dillon slide bar PM and this old Herter's seem to handle HS6 just fine.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Oh yeah, got rid of that flakey looking wing nut screw thingy, turned out on my mini-lathe a small knurled knob one that looks real classy.

GG

tuckerd1 · 11-18-2003, 09:27 AM

Gunguy,

I know you reload, but you really seem to get a lot more enjoyment out of this old reloading equipment! It is interesting to see what you get next.

ENJOY,
Don

11-18-2003, 10:37 AM

Yes sirree Don, but only the old stuff that has merit in reloading; like this dial-o-matic is the cats meow in engineering.

I'm serious in saying one of the big reloading equipment outfits should take a serious look at this gizzmo and up date it to modern technology...it is a super idea that is wasting away from the past. After all, the patents are long gone away on it.

George Herter did more for the reloading domain than anyone else except maybe Mike Dillon. I'll bet if the two of them were able to have got their heads together they'd come up with some really good things for us.

Jim

tuckerd1 · 11-18-2003, 11:45 AM

I know things can be made better in most cases, but things are pretty simple with what these guys have come up with already.

11-19-2003, 03:38 PM

Well, I made this old thing a little better, got new aluminum knurl knobs and a lathe turned powder spout with 5/8 - 18 thread.

The old spout was a tad too big of a pour hole and had a ding in the out hole.

Jim

11-19-2003, 03:41 PM

Another picture...

11-13-2003, 08:40 PM	#1
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Herter's dial-o-matic powder measure Bet you've never seen one of these babies, a genuine Herter's Dial-O-Matic powder measure fresh from ebay treasure box. Haven't got the granualations figured out yet, but the dial ranges from zero to ten. Man is it ever neat, the little piston in the powder chamber raises and lowers like a little elevator when you twist the big dial. This is a seriously good idea that should be brought out again in a modern version by one of the big reloading outfits. Jim da Gunguy Attached Images -->

11-13-2003, 08:42 PM	#2
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Here is the other side with the big dial-o-matic knob. Of course its shown here kind of dingy looking, but its old and now have it all cleaned up and buffed. Took the orange cap off and put it on my No.55 powder measure that is the same color. The Herter's DOM now sports a black cap. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- OK, its an hour later and have the PM figured out now as to the dial-o-matic granualations. In the scale of 1 to 10 its apparantly higher than I thought. For example, 1+3.5 dial setting is a consistant scale weighed read out of 8.7 grains for HS6 Hodgdon powder. I chose this powder because its been kind of cranky with some of my other powder measures as to throwing inconsistant drops. So, my manual Dillon slide bar PM and this old Herter's seem to handle HS6 just fine. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh yeah, got rid of that flakey looking wing nut screw thingy, turned out on my mini-lathe a small knurled knob one that looks real classy. GG Attached Images

11-19-2003, 03:38 PM	#6
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Well, I made this old thing a little better, got new aluminum knurl knobs and a lathe turned powder spout with 5/8 - 18 thread. The old spout was a tad too big of a pour hole and had a ding in the out hole. Jim Attached Images

11-19-2003, 03:41 PM	#7
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Another picture... Attached Images

11-18-2003, 09:27 AM	#3
tuckerd1 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Paint Rock Valley, Alabama Posts: 3,147	Gunguy, I know you reload, but you really seem to get a lot more enjoyment out of this old reloading equipment! It is interesting to see what you get next. ENJOY, Don

11-18-2003, 10:37 AM	#4
Gunguy Adnanced Senior Member Posts: n/a	Yes sirree Don, but only the old stuff that has merit in reloading; like this dial-o-matic is the cats meow in engineering. I'm serious in saying one of the big reloading equipment outfits should take a serious look at this gizzmo and up date it to modern technology...it is a super idea that is wasting away from the past. After all, the patents are long gone away on it. George Herter did more for the reloading domain than anyone else except maybe Mike Dillon. I'll bet if the two of them were able to have got their heads together they'd come up with some really good things for us. Jim

11-18-2003, 11:45 AM	#5
tuckerd1 Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Paint Rock Valley, Alabama Posts: 3,147	I know things can be made better in most cases, but things are pretty simple with what these guys have come up with already.