In 2002 I was walking along Oxford Street in Woollahra, Sydney when I spyed in the window of a store an Atomic Coffee Maker. I spun on my heels and headed inside Bon Trading to meet the wonderful Rita.
Rita is one of these indomitable mature women who you know will go on forever and has a friendly chatty nature. I asked if I could buy the Atomic in the window but unfortunately she told me that it was for display purposes only as they were waiting on stock. However she was expecting an order probably before Christmas and she could put me on the waiting list.
My Atomic
WoooHooo, I thought I’ve always wanted an Atomic and if all goes well I should have one in a few months.
Well I didn’t hear from them that year or the next or the several few years after that. Often when I was in Sydney working on a film I would drop in and see Rita and ask when the shipment was due and she assured me that if all goes well they should arrive in the next six or maybe twelve months…
Over the years I have seen them occasionally in second hand shops in Sydney but no one in Melbourne seems to know of them and only occasionally would I meet someone in Brisbane who understood what they were. Eventually I got the word that the high quality Lifeline store in Brisbane had one in stock. That was a target for me.
I walked in and there it was in all it’s polished glory. In as new condition as a secound hand Atomic could be. The price $350 was reasonable for Brisbane. In Sydney it would have been more like $500 – $700. Well I wanted one, so this was the one and here it is now these 3 years making me my daily coffees. It’s taken a while to get to know how to use it but I now make brilliant coffees with my Atomic.
Then out of the blue I get this call today from Ray at Bon Trading saying that they now have stock in and would I still be interested in getting an Atomic. Seven years after putting my name on that slip of paper, thinking that I had been long forgotten I get the call.
Bon Trading now has Atomic Coffee Makers in stock.
So if you’ve ever wanted the original 1947 designed Atomic they are now available. I’m okay I have mine but if you want to contact them say hello to Rita and mention that you read this.
Bon Trading www.bontradingco.com.au
12-14 Oxford Street
Woollahra 2025
02 93312007
UPDATE: In homage to this classic design the full story of OTTO, inspired by The Atomic, is now a podcast episode in Ep 63 : Craig. Creating the Best Stove Top Espresso Machine from a Classic
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great story- I put my name on the Bon Trading waiting list back in 1998- they told me “before Christmas” back then- and I never got my call. Seems you were lucky.
I had a similar experience…I put my name down (over the phone, I live in Melb) about 5 years ago, and checked in every 6-12 months to see if they had come in. I had all but given up when I got a message on my phone earlier this year from Ray, and then a hand written letter from Rita, telling me they were back. It seems good things do come to those who wait. (….and my coffee-tragic partner will soon be getting the Atomic for her birthday)
Hi love my atomic brought it at a garage sale in Brisbane May 2008 for $10. Had no idea what they were worth till I brought it back to NZ & found the web site by accident. Makes great coffee & so pleased I brought it.
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