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Re: Bou Trading Atomic in action - 2006/03/26 08:17To answer your question Sir Dave: No.
And I won't add finishing touches to make this coffee machine look like one of my ATOMICS. It is going to stay as it is. With this first (and last ) use, the inside of the filter basket did get pretty dirty, labor intensive work to get it clean, the leak at the knob level is caused by small void in the rabbeted surface. The security valve on the other hand seems to perform well, only very small bubbles escape. This is what it should do. Exactly like the water pump shaft on antique cars: they should leak by a very small amount, this is why you find a small hole in the casting underneath it. Lift the hood of any Pierce-Arrow, Ruxton or a lowly Reo....
I have nothing against a finely made reproduction, check PurSang Argentina to get a sense of what I mean. I have nothing against someone picking up where another has left off. But please make it as well, if not, be ready to suffer the stings and stones of misfortune. In this case: me.
Soon, if the card Dealer up above will let me have my way, I shall be sitting across a table, signing things....paper things....with a cover.. FrEdErIcKFrederick Nakos is the Global authority on the Atomic Espresso Coffee maker.
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colin
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Re:Identifying Fake Atomics? - 2006/05/20 14:32chatter on the fake atomics seems to have calmed down a bit --
still getting the odd e-mail on the issue.
frederick is probably getting way more.
ColinColin is the Senior editor and creator of the CoffeeCrew.Com Website
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Frederick
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Re:Identifying Fake Atomics? - 2006/06/03 16:29Well the fakes are still out there. Some vendors such as deceasedestate patinate or rather dip their fakes in acid to make them look as just found in a bog, others polish them up real nice and lie about them telling the prospects they have used it for years........
I just cannot tolerate dishonesty! A vendor or two admit that theirs could be a fake...but that they are no experts. Yeah sure! After selling a few without the filter, it's so badly made, they still are no experts.... Wisen up you despicable vendors: honesty is the best policy!
When you never had a real Atomic in your hand and want to be reassured look at the frothing shaft connected to the steaming valve: it should be in brass, not steel.
The inside of the jug should be smooth, not wire brushed. The filter should have a regular pattern of holes, either concentric or star not a random one with coarse edges. There are many others, ask for pictures and beware if the vendor finds excuses for not sending them.Frederick Nakos is the Global authority on the Atomic Espresso Coffee maker.
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Chiclet
Visitor
Re:Identifying Fake Atomics? - 2006/07/20 18:53i think i just purchased a fake
The knob on the steamer is burgundy - looks new - and has a seam all the way around. the handle on the filter has a seam from end to end. It's highly polished. the filter does look like it was punched at random but is not rough. who can i show this to? at least i did not pay hundreds (more like 180) I'm in D.C. Is there a repair shop or dealer around these parts?
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Do you have a digital camera? You could forward (or, as a user, post) pics of the discrepancies for our crack roadshow expert, Frederick. You can find addresses to send us your pictures on the "Contact Us" page (button top right).
Dave
A seam end to end on the group handle? Straight giveaway: FAKE!
Smooth random holes with a big tapered filter? Fake! Steel frothing shaft instead of brass? FAKE!
Pinched looking boiler plug with very apparent seal? FAKE! The originals have a protrusion with parrallel sides to it.
Label positioned towards the boiler plug? FAKE! But it could have been repositioned to fool unsuspecting buyers. Uneven jug with crooked spout and wire brushed inside? FAKE! Handle of jug with entry points for the plastic clearly visible? FAKE! The real handles have the entry points at the studs and have an even seam all around. Now be careful there are reproduction jugs out there with the correct original handles. These also have a slightly thicker wall to retain heat better and a very smooth spout to prevent a veil to form when pouring. These are very , very well made, you should trust me on this as.....I make them.
Another detail to look for is the positioning of the frothing wand. If you can't place a cup or metal recipient between it and the neck: FAKE. Ditto if it is not solidly positioned. I suspect that the copier does not know how to use it. You will see this badly made copy sold on Ebay by nauticalsareus who very carefully chooses his words in his sales pitch. He frothed the coffee in the jug! What a laugh!
At the price you paid, Chiclets, it isn't so bad. Of course, forget about parts, Bon Trading won't be able to help you. Handshake.
FrederickDave is an Ottawa resident and Coffee Expert
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David, Stockholm
Visitor
Re: Bou Trading Atomic in action - 2006/08/04 04:29O.K. this is more of a definition question than anything else regarding what hardcore collectors are defining as a "fake" Atomic.
Close to eight years ago Bon Trading in Sydney (who everyone seems to be aware of) did a "re-issue" of the Atomic cappuccino machine using (they told me) original Atomic parts from Italy which were then put together in Sydney.
At the time I had no collecting agenda (still don't really) - I just fancied them and always thought the coffee was good (and eight years of usage later, I can say that it is).
I was always keen for Bon to continue with these re-issues because I thought there was great potential but, according to the Bon ladies "you can't get the Italians to work in an iron lung" so production stopped and they now just deal in spare parts (and many other varieties of coffee machines).
Now, are collectors considering these fakes or not (as they are re-issues I would have thought they fall into that uncomfortable area that stuff like Eames chairs inhabit - following original specs but not manufactured at the time of their heyday)? Not least 'cause mine seems to have a steel steam pipe (although it could be chromed brass - difficult to say without scraping away the chrome).
By the way, have since acquired an Italian labelled espresso-only Atomic at a junk store in Copenhagen, Denmark for a mere 20USD which has now been carefully tarted up with a spare part or two from Bon so....I guess I'm a collector whether I like it or not.
David, Stockholm, Sweden
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Frederick
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Re: Bou Trading Atomic in action - 2006/08/04 17:43To Dave from Stockholm. A re issue IS a reissue. Period. Same manufacturer, same specs, same quality. In short: Same thing. The Indian affair, does not have the same specs. It's a twenty-thirty thing. At twenty feet, driving at thirty miles an hour it will look similar. IT IS NOT. First the proportions are all wrong, the details are really bad, such as the plastic injection marks, the jug finish...and a whole series of defects. Look at the previous posts. Bon Trading, led by Irene, was and is a distributor of the whole machine and now of the parts. There is no such thing as a "reissue" of the Atomic. As she is the only one placing orders, the foundry waits for a certain quantity to fill them in. Unfortunately, prices have risen. I bought two, in Montreal, new in the box, in 1987 for exacly $100 Canadian.....The Euro did it's trick, labor went up...Hodie,sic tempora stat! That's the way it is. We cannot afford Fabergé eggs, or a Morgan car (quoted brand new in 1973 at $2900) or many, many other desirable things that make our short life more enjoyable. Unfortunately, the paycheck went up but not enough. The value of a complete, simple ATOMIC is well defined on Ebay. If you find a $20 one under a table at a flea market....thank the heavens. Frederick.Frederick Nakos is the Global authority on the Atomic Espresso Coffee maker.
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I very nearly just bought a shiny (fake) atomic from nauticalsrus at around 2/3rds the average cost for an atomic on ebay. I took a look on here because quite simply it just didnt look right...there was some serious proportion issues and I wondered if it was just his camera - but the head seemed massive. Anyhow, he admitted on the advert it was a repro, but I didnt know they even existed so at first I just thought he was being ignorant of a shiny Atomic... Now i realise it was I that was ignorant.
We have two atomics (in brown) that we use and kinda liked the idea of a polished one for show (yes i know - sacrilege) I'll just go find an original : the old saying still stands , if it looks to good to be true - it probably is!
Laugh though - he really doesnt know how to use it !
Anyhow, I can't thankyou all enough.. so I think i'll just have a coffee instead.
Cheers
Chris
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Frederick
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Re: Bou Trading Atomic in action - 2006/09/12 09:47You are so right about the proportions! The boiler should be bigger than the jug.
I'm glad that we have spare you a major let down.
Just the fact that you are taking the time to narrate your experience is thanks enough. Enjoy that coffee....must be cold by now. FIRE UP THAT BROWNIE!Frederick Nakos is the Global authority on the Atomic Espresso Coffee maker.
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nbertos
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Re:There are no Fake Atomics!!! - 2006/09/16 21:08Just picked up an alleged Atomic at a local garage sale (Italian neighbourhood in Montreal), and was wondering if anyone here could tell me if it's the real thing or a fake. Paid Can$10 for it, so it's more out of curiosity than anything else.
Brief description: Head about half the size of the body. Round label on top reads "Atomic Breveti Robbiati Milano Made in Italy". Vertical steel frother, burgundy knob. Coffee holder has a bent brass rod underneath (with another burgundy knob) that looks like it would block the coffee flow if left inserted. It came with two filters (one big, one small), with a six-pointed star hole pattern .. somewhat rough on the inside. Also came with a small aluminum measuring bowl (?) for coffee - at least, that's what I think it's for. Body is sturdy, seems well cast, two or three minor voids/pits. Black handle on coffee jug, seam runs up and down on handle.
I could post some pics if it would be of use ... thanks for any help/comments!
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