Belding & Mull Powder Measures How Old?

[Andylit]

In my collecting adventures I have acquired a box load of B&M Visible Powder Measures. 7 of them.

Looks like the guy bought a new one every 5-10 years, or maybe he collected them.

Is there a web resource for collectors or users? I'm trying to figure out how old each of them is. The differences are tiny. Name plates w/wo the city or blank. Plain brass vs coated brass finish. Knurled lid edge vs smooth edge. Short tube vs long tube vs micrometer tube. They are otherwise identical. Looks like you can swap any parts across all the units.

B&M is still in business, claims to have parts but is pretty much non-responsive. Any leads or help will be appreciated.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

They are still made in the Brass hopper model for Black Powder. Shiloh Sharps sells them.

Ivan

 

[sbrmike]

I was just past their place Sunday. Huge new billboard. They are still around.

 

[rockquarry]

Never had a B&M measure, but they had the reputation of being the most consistent measures for coarse-grained rifle powders. I read that more than once, long before the Internet was around, so maybe it's good information...

 

[505Gibbs]

I used one for several years & yes, quite accurate with the coarse kernals!

 

[Green Frog]

Check in with the ARTCA (Antique Reloading Tool Collectors Association) forum on their website. IIRC, They have a whole sub forum devoted to Bedding and Mull. I’ve had a couple, and while a little slow to use compared to some other types, they’re tough to beat for accuracy and consistency.

Froggie

 

[Ruger 13]

They’re worth some good money!

 

[Tex1001]

They’re worth some good money!

How much money?
Asking for a friend.

 

[Joni_Lynn]

They work great, best with the long grain powder. I have a small collection them and the various drop tubes.

 

[leadhead2]

The first ones were made with the brass tubes, and then they went to
aluminum tubes, and the last ones were made of plastic. all were very
good measures. I still use mine once in a while.
leadhead

 

[USBP SW]

I purchased a Belding & Mull powder measure in about 1970 and have used it ever since. I bought it because it was reputed to be very accurate, the design always had the same powder volume over the drop tube. I think I paid the princely sum of around $18.50 for the powder measure, at the time. The one flaw that I could mention was the glass window, they always broke. Who designs a glass window, held in place with two screws? Incidentally, mine have the brass reservoir, one tube is standard and one has the magnum drop tube. They give any reloading bench a nostalgic look.

 

[ACORN]

I can’t offer much other the one I bought new ~1983 has plastic screws holding the front glass in. Mine had a plastic reservoir that I broke. I made a brass reservoir from a 18” sink tailpiece.
I’m guessing around $50-60 ea. for a value. But with inflation running rampant they could go for $100 ea.
Micrometer powder drop tubes are more valuable than the regular tubes.
Looking at yours they seem to be the regular tubes.
OOPS. The bottom left one looks like a micrometer type tube.
They are nice measures for target shooting
Definitely not practical for high volume semi automatic rifle shooting.
Too slow.
I’m not sure the “new” B&M is the same outfit as the old company. I read somewhere they just used the name.
They also made nice one piece stainless cleaning rods.
I had a couple that my little nephews used to play sword fights with. Bent them up so that I wouldn’t use them anymore. I was afraid they’d rub on the bore.
I have a pocket cleaning rod of theirs. It came in a vinyl pouch with 5-6 sections that screwed together for length. It’s a nice stout rod.

 

[Skeet 028]

I've had a bunch of them. In fact a fellow down the road a ways offered me one for 25 bucks...no measure tubes...but I have beaucoup powder tubes micrometer and fixed. I also have a Powder measure based on the B&M made by a company in Mt. Nothing but a kinda high priced B&M made pretty. But it does work. It is really a Black Powder measure though. I am in the process of selling most of the powder measures I have here that I don't use. So I doubt I will buy the B&M

 

[Green Frog]

Somebody gave me a like and reminded me of this thread. I just wanted to add that of all the classic reloading gear, this is one of the few high quality items that has gone down in price lately. I have no explanation for this except for slowness to use and complexity of a separate powder tube, etc, but I’ve seen them go from well over a hundred dollars 10-15 years ago to about $50-75 on auction sites now. If you want one they are available, and may be a bargain these days!

I’m holding on to my two of course. They are among the most precise powder measures ever made, and although you can find “faster” it’s hard to find “better”.

Froggie

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

I was up at their store in Phillipsburg a few years ago to do a handgun transfer. They were in the middle of a remodel of the store. Asked the sales lady if they still made the powder measure and she said "yes, right out back". This was around 2014 or so.

John

 

[tominboise]

I use mine all the time to load rifle cartridges. I don't know why someone would have more then one loader, except if perhaps they stored their powder in them. A bunch of the drop tubes would be handy, though, as each could be set for a specific charge weight of a specific powder.

The weakest point of these is how they mount to the bench, IMO. If they had a couple of bossed cast into the body for screws, they could be mounted firmly to the bench. As it is, the clamping system is a bit weak.

 

[Skeet 028]

One other neat thing about the B&M is you can do BP also. The observation of the weak mounting system is very true. I mounted mine on a soft pine board screwed to the bench. I have a recollection of drilling a hole in the top of the base of the mounting lip for a screw. It may have broken though. Many years ago in another life. I found the Lyman 55 powder measure pretty reliable so stuck with them