Identify this RCBS Press please

[ovenpaa]

It says RCBS on the side, beyond that I have no ideas...

[Chapuis]

RCBS green machine linear progressive press and probably one of the worst progressive presses ever designed. The green machine was later modified but the mark 2 version still didn't work that well and was discontinued after a relatively short life span.

I may be mistaken but I think that in the mark 1 version primers were held in plastic strips of 10 (I believe) and would come pre-loaded from CCI. You could also buy the strips separately for loading with your own choice of primer so hardly a time saving operation. The later version definitely used a vertical primer feed tube which unlike the Dillon was unarmoured.

Not RCBS's finest hour when they decided to make this press.

[dromia]

There was someone on here looking for one not so long ago if my memory serves me correctly.

No not one of RCBSs better mousetraps which is why it didn't last very long on inventory.

[Chapuis]

I think it wouldn't be too unkind to describe the RCBS Green Machine as being the equivalent to reloading as the Sinclair C5 was to electric car development.

[ovenpaa]

Thank you for the identification, I watched a couple of short clips of it in operation on Youtube and it looks OK in principle albeit a tad wobby, what was the problem with them?

[bradaz11]

I'd get one for the right price to have a play with it

[Chapuis]

Thank you for the identification, I watched a couple of short clips of it in operation on Youtube and it looks OK in principle albeit a tad wobby, what was the problem with them?

The walking floor case feed was one issue I think along with the primer feed system/s. Also the cost and complexity of changing to another calibre made it easier to buy another machine in the other calibre. To be totally honest I can't remember all that much about them because they were around for such a short period of time, were rather costly initially and already totally outclassed in all respects by the Dillon when they were introduced.

There may even be a small collector market for the Green Machine by those that collect obscure or obsolete reloading equipment. There again some people will collect anything.