Antique Atlas Powder Rack Bar Blasting Machine
Item Number: 155
Time Left: CLOSED
Description
WOW! This is a rare find, indeed.
This item is sure to appeal to the history buff looking to round out their collection, the memorabilia aficionado and anyone interested in our nation's history. Do not miss out on the chance to add this antique circa early 1900's, Atlas Powder Rack Bar Blasting Machine.
This piece is vintage and includes the original leather strap. Constructed of oak and plywood, this machine is amazing. While it shows obvious wear, the beauty lies underneath the dust and dirt. The unit measures approximately 13" x 8" x 6 1/2". The functionality of this unit has not been confirmed or conveyed.
Special Instructions
This item is available for pick up at the conclusion of the auction or can be shipped at the expense of the winning bidder.
HISTORY:
The Atlas Powder Company was organized in Delaware in 1912 to comply with the decree of the federal court dissolving the E. I. Dupont de Nemours Powder Company. Dupont was split up into three companies: Dupont, Hercules, and Atlas. The name Atlas was chosen to represent the Atlas brand of dynamite which had been assigned to the new company by the courts. Atlas started out with a capitalization of $5 million with William Webster as its new president. Atlas was assigned six blasting powder mills in Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Illinois, Kansas and Oklahoma as well as four dynamite plants in New Jersey, Michigan, Missouri and California. In 1916, Atlas bought the Fort Pitt Powder Company, incorporated in 1911 in Pennsylvania, and its powder mill at Putneyville, PA. Also in 1916, Atlas greatly increased its production capabilities with the purchase of the Giant Powder Company. Giant was the first company in America to manufacture dynamite. Organized in California in 1867, Giant became a major explosives firm on the west coast and a significant acquisition as Atlas expanded its operations westward. In the early 1960s, Atlas Powder Company changed its corporate name to Atlas Chemical Industries to reflect its business focus. In 1972 Atlas Chemical Industries was purchased by Imperial Chemical Industries PLC (ICI), a major chemical-manufacturing company in Great Britain.