BTS VALVE BODY https://blog.dnevnik.hr/bts-valve-body

In this detail you can see how long the valve pin is on the red ball part- far longer than normal. Also it is made of steel rater than the brass used on Italian made atomic machines.

Around 2006 brand new Atomic coffee makers started appearing on the market. For many years prior to this the only source of Atomic coffee makers was second hand markets and auction houses. Lucky individuals found one in the attic or at a church sale, but most people had to bid high, and pay through the nose. Atomics became extremely collectible.

However all was not as it seemed with these new machines. Although they were labeled as being Bon Trading (australia) imports of Italian made Atomics- they were poorly made with a rough, hand finished appearance. Many of them did not work very well, and they were 'not quite right'...

It was soon discovered that these machines were made in India and falsely labeled as being 'made in Italy'. The prices paid for Indian atomics dropped rapidly and then they disappeared from the market altogether. Today it is hard to find one - and they are collectible in their own right.

For the keen collector interested in purchasing an Atomic it is a simple matter to identify one of these fakes. The most prominent difference between these machine and earlier Italian made atomics is the boiler plug. On the Indian machine this plug sticks out in an ugly fashion. Other obvious differences can be seen in the bakelite parts. These parts are much thicker and are poorly formed compared to vintage atomic machines. The filter basket is distinctive: the holes in it appear to be randomly punched in with a nail or similar implement randomly by hand.

These machine are not too bad as a hand finished attempt to replicate the atomic form. It is by no means an easy (or cheap) process. Sand casting the body is an art in itself. It is clear this machine was reverse engineered from an Italian made Atomic- probably a model dating from the 70's. The example pictured hear is a working one and the original purchasers (who were fooled into believing it was from Italy) actually used it to make coffee for several years. However we would not recommenced using one to actually to make coffee: these machine are poorly made from inferior materials. There are rumors the alloy was recycled from car parts...

company in East Chicago, IN. found in abandoned trade school

<< Arhiva >>