John Barlow patented this first loading tool in 1880. By 1891 the initial Ideal Mfg. Co. Catalogue had been published. The Ideal Mfg. Co. would be owned by the Marlin Firearms Co. from 1910 through 1916 and then would become a part of the Lyman Gunsight Corp. and continues to be an integral part of this company today. The Ideal Shot shell Loader patented on February 12, 1884 as No. 293,297 for paper shot shells is shown here.
