Richard Lee and George Leonard Herter

[PapaG]

I have and use quite a bit of Lee equipment along with stuff from about every other major manufacturer. I was thumbing through a 1975 Herters catalog the other day and was struck by the similarity of the hyperbolic titles and descriptions used by both forms in describing their products. I began to wonder if Richard was a fan of George.
Both put out pretty good value for dollar products but few can live up to the descriptions.
Herter's Model Perfect such and such. Lee Perfect Powder Measure just for examples.
Lee has had innovations I really like as in the new trimmer with the die and crank cutter. The universal expander die which I have used on everything from 32 blanks to 45-70. The moulds, six cavity for less than a Lyman single. Push through bullet sizers (though I have a Star that does the same but lubes too).
I'm waiting for Lee to put out a product that is "Cree Guide Association Backwoods Reloaders Approved", like George did.

Just having fun on a Covid hunker in place rainy day.
Anyone else wonder, or are you all to young to remember the real Herters?

 

[entropy]

Both put out basic useable stuff at lower prices than the good stuff, and yes, used puffy verbiage to sell it. I still think a .401 Powermag would be a neat SA revolver. There was a Herter's store not far from my house when I was a teenager , and I spent a lot of time in it. I bought a rather unique bow there, it had the eccentrics mounted on the riser, and idlers on the end of the limbs. It was a very compact bow, built to compete with the Browning Micro Midas, and it was a great hunting bow. When I first started go in in there, the bow was set at 70# and I couldn't pull it. I started working out, and after six months of going in there twice a week trying it, I finally was able to pull it. I had also saved up my lawn mowing money over that time, so I bought it. I'd still have it today if my dad hadn't sent it out to me in the Army, and I stuck it in an empty locker in an empty room. They found it during a barracks inspection; I sure as hell wasn't going to go to the SGM's office to claim it!

Herter's reloading presses, (metallic and shotshell) were popular in our area, as it was based just down US 61 in Winona, MN. My Dad insisted on the best, so we had RCBS metallic reloading equipment, and MEC shotshell stuff. I still have it, though augmented by some Lee dies for certain calibers.