This website establishes a repository for collected information that pertains to the Lyman-Ideal Model No. 55 Powder Measure. The 55 Project is a small, loosely knit group of people that have joined together to study, collect and document all aspects of the Lyman-Ideal Model No. 55 Powder Measure. This site, is not open to the public in this form but, is a repository for those people who directly support The 55 Project. At a future date the collected information will be formally published.
Updates: Added the OHAUS DU-O, RCBS DU-O Measures and the Bonanza Bench Measure and on 7/10 the Dunbar Measure (thanks Ken) Added 4 Lachmiller measures 7/18 (SG Loader and Pistol), 7/23 the Lachmiller Early Bench Measure, 7/31 Lachmiller Late Bench Measure. Posted Photos of the C-H Shellmaster Shot/Powder Measures 8/15. Lyman Accumeasure Pistol Measure Posted 8/21. Pacific Type B and Pacific Standard Posted 8/28. Odds and ends updated, added the Jiffy Measure and the Martin Measures (no photos).
Feedback and arm chair editor comments welcome...and needed.
Classification System
This Section details the Classification System that was developed by team member Jim Carter. This system forms the basis for the study as it relates to the measure features and how they have changed from 1947 until the present. This System is fundamental to this study project and will be referred to throughout.
Historical Overview
The lineage of the Model 55 is very interesting in its historical perspective. This Section will highlight the evolution of the Model No. 55 from its predecessor, the Model No. 5, and its relationship to the Ideal Manufacturing Company and the Lyman Gun Sight Corporation. General historical events of the Nation such as WWII also played a part in the Model 55 and its evolution and these issues will be explored.
Photographic Review
Detail photographs are prepared, collected and presented to illustrate the Model 55 evolution and the variations that have been observed. This photographic study is organized according to the Classification System mentioned in the paragraph above.
Detail Drawings
Detailed, two dimension line drawings are presented in this Section to provide dimensional and style variation detail that might not be apparent from the photo illustrations alone. Links are provided to jump between the drawings and the photographs and reference material.
Reference Material
All available documentation that relates to the Model No. 55 Powder Measure is being collected and scanned to be made available in this Section. The material presented will not include the complete publication, rather the pages that contain Model No. 55 citations only are included. The labor and space required to present the full publication made the inclusion of the entire reference publication impractical.
Specifications & Comparisons
Specifications for the Model No. 55 will be collected and presented in this section. Capacities, sizes, and features will be documented here. Also, published comparisons with other measures will be collected here.
Historical Prices
Price information will be collected here for all years of Model 55 production. Retail prices will be extracted from Lyman Catalogs and Price Sheets so that the cost of these measures can be established in a historical perspective. I think it might be interesting to also present a comparison with similar measures where there is a comparable period and general capability. The historical inflation index could also be used to put the cost data into perspective.