An article crushing device having a base support on which is mounted an anvil bracket for supporting the item to be crushed includes a crushing piston disposed in a cylindrical housing which is adapted to slidably move therein. An operating handle, pivotally connected to the base support, is provided with a means connecting the operating handle to the piston for progressively increasing the ratio of force on the piston to moment on the operating handle as the piston approaches the anvil bracket during the crushing operation of the article.