Quite an interesting reading journey back to the reloading technology of 63 years ago.

The shotshell section gave loading data for Dupont Bulk Smokeless powder in Dram measurment. 
Shotshell data for familiar powders like RED Dot were given in grains. 

All hulls shown were paper and roll crimped. Data included instructions on how to fit the fiber and card wading to the hull/load. No specific hull or primer were recommended, with the exception of avoiding High Base (not the same as high brass), hulls when using Bulk powders.  The use High base hulls were recommended with High Density powders like Red Dot to reduced the wad column stack needed to fit the load to low base hulls.


http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/OM/IdealHandbook38.pdf

So how did they figure muzzle velocity before the chronograph was invented?

The earliest reliable method was the ballistic pendulum.  Here is a reasonably short explanation:

http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2011/01/testing-firearms-measuring-bullet_14.html

So how did they figure muzzle velocity before the chronograph was invented?

I've got a chronograph that probably dates to about that time.



It used wire screens that each had a single continuous wire looping back and forth through it, so that it could detect when a bullet had cut the wire. The screens had to be set up something like 10 yards apart, and the measurement was read out in binary coded decimal with incandescent lights.

Thank you for updating the link.

I recently came into possession of my father's copy of that booklet, but it is missing the first few pages.  I've been meaning to look to see if I could find a copy online.  Now I don't need to, and can leave it safely in the envelope he stored it in.