New Zealand - The Kiwi side of the story.

Mr. Robert Harris from Hamilton (New Zealand - marked on the Map as (A) ) paired great business vision and a passion for coffee.

Although Instant coffee was the new trend back in the 50s in New Zealand, Mr. Harris built a roaster and started to sell his Coffee Brand under his name in 1952.

The market was pretty small in those time... although there was strong Italian and Greek communities in Wellington (marked on the Map as (B)), something to build upon.

The business got more and more successful as Mr. Hamilton's passion for blending and roasting grew fonder.

Mr. Harris died in 1979... but a new generation was motivated to keep up to Mr. Harris's reputation and business vision.

The rest is history...


... But why on earth am i talking about Robert Harris?

Well, Thanks to Mr. Tony Richardson who did his jolly good part of researching in New Zealand, the Kiwi side of the Brevetti Robbiati (or S.T.E.M.A.C. ) / Bon Trading Co. history didn't go lost.

It is unnecessary for me to reformulate what he wrote so here it is:

Tony Richardson tells us:

"It seems that most of the Atomics brought into New Zealand in the 1980s. About 150 were brought in by R L Bowden Ltd, most of them in three shipments, sourced partly direct from Robbiati in Europe and partly from Bon Trading in Sydney. Spares were purchased as necessary. The machines were sold to Robbert Harris coffee shops, Belaroma and other boutique establishments over a three-year period. The retail price then was $AU70"

Note: R L Bowden Ltd is/was an Import-Export kitchen utensils business based in Auckland. (north of (A) on the map)

(how many do you see?)

Mr. Richardson goes on:

"The folks from Robert Harris were still selling the machines as late as 1992 - i have an invoice from that era for an "Atomic body, clamp handle, basket and strainer" for a total of $AU92; No mention of a jug!"

Mr. Richardson finishes with:

"Undoubtedly a few machines have also made their way to NZ with private owners, just as some have migrated back to Australia and the USA as interest in them has grow."

There is only one thing left for me to say (not just for this great information but the great conversations we had in the last 2 years):

Thank you Mr. Richardson!