Abstract: A crimping station of a motor-driven portable crimper (A) has a movable head driven by a motor (M) to reciprocate straight towards and away from a fixed anvil. An automatic switch will automatically stop the motor upon detection of the movable head retracted from or having approached the anvil, so that the head and other members stand still for a while relative to the fixed anvil to allow the wire end to be inserted readily into the contact and then the contact thus crimped can easily be withdrawn from the crimping station. A manual switch is operable to restart the motor and resume the crimping process. A blind plate attached to and outside the frame is disposed near the crimping station so as to inhibit a user from erroneously inserting wire ends to the contacts which have not arrived at the station.