Abstract: An apparatus and a method is disclosed for determining the crushing strength of pellets of a powdered material by compressing individual pellets between one pellet-contacting face on a force-exerting means and another pellet-contacting face on a force-measuring transducer. The transducer provides an output current at a voltage which varies in correspondence to the compressive force that is applied to a pellet during the crushing thereof. Accordingly, a pellet is first placed between the aforesaid pellet-contacting faces and the force exerting means is then driven toward the transducer at a controlled rate for compression and crushing of the pellet. Current voltage from the transducer is recorded permanently on a chart or else temporarily by means of a peak voltage remembering module in conjunction with a voltmeter having a digital read-out.