Blast from the past - ATF 55

[Sean7a]

Customer just brought this puppy in.  I wasn't aware, but the saw has a light on it for overload.  Red when you're pushing the limit, green when everyone's happy.

The systainer was dirrrty as can be, dark dark brownish / yellow, but still holding up just fine!

 

[nickao]

I like the light feature, I wish they still had it. 

 

[Bob Marino]

Nice post Sean, forgot about the lights - IIRC, the ATF's were replaced by the TS's in 2005 -2006, could be off by a year though.

 Bob

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Nice post Sean, forgot about the lights - IIRC, the ATF's were replaced by the TS's in 2003, could be off by a year though.

Pretty sure the TS 55 was 2005 and the TS 75 was 2006.

 

[Sean7a]

Those lights are cool right?

 

[nickao]

Yeah , but that looks like an older one than that.

 

[Bob Marino]

Nice post Sean, forgot about the lights - IIRC, the ATF's were replaced by the TS's in 2003, could be off by a year though.

Pretty sure the TS 55 was 2005 and the TS 75 was 2006.

Correct, Shane; just checked  my 2004/2005 and 2006 catalogs.

Bob

 

[ccarrolladams]

When I bought my first TS55 in January 2006, I was told those had only been available in the USA for a few months. My dealer still had an ATF55, which appeared to be like-new, but was not for sale.

IIRC back then there was a TS 65. Those were available. Since I wanted the TS55 to break down sheet goods, I did not pay much attention to the 65. Soon the TS75 reached the USA.

Wow, that indicator light sounds way cool.

Speaking of way cool, the Henderson, NV training center has an idealized Festool display area inside the show window. Steve explained this is part of dealer training. Because that location was previously a Woodcraft store, several times a day confused customers would walk in, not seeing the Festool Training Center signs.

In a front corner of the display room there are several historic Festools and Festo tools. It is great to keep in touch with our roots.

 

[Sean7a]

Speaking of 65's, I think I have a few ATF 65 blades in stock.....

 

[Bob Marino]

When I bought my first TS55 in January 2006, I was told those had only been available in the USA for a few months. My dealer still had an ATF55, which appeared to be like-new, but was not for sale.

IIRC back then there was a TS 65. Those were available. Since I wanted the TS55 to break down sheet goods, I did not pay much attention to the 65. Soon the TS75 reached the USA.

Wow, that indicator light sounds way cool.

Speaking of way cool, the Henderson, NV training center has an idealized Festool display area inside the show window. Steve explained this is part of dealer training. Because that location was previously a Woodcraft store, several times a day confused customers would walk in, not seeing the Festool Training Center signs.

In a front corner of the display room there are several historic Festools and Festo tools. It is great to keep in touch with our roots.

Checked my 2007 catalog - that's when the TS 75 replaced the ATF 65.

Bob

 

[d8b]

that's no history, this is:

The very first ROTEX, a Festo RO 1, shown here without the sanding pad, it takes the same pads as on the ETS 150 sanders:

 

[Sean7a]

Holy crapola, you one upped me for sure!

 

[d8b]

according to the uk site, this machine was first introduced in 1982

Festool history UK site

according to the Belgian web site, the machine was introduced in 1984

Festool history BE site

greetz,

Philippe

 

[Dougie]

Hey guys Doug here from The Tool Nut. I'll be uploading some more pics of this saw later, but here's a brief history on the saw....Al bought this unit at a JLC show in 1994 from a dealer from Nevada (he believed the only Festo dealer in the country at the time). He said he used the saw almost everyday for years  making high end cabinets/built-ins in Manhattan. This saw was just brought in for service for the first time, after a drop, to have the base re-set and have the tool checked.....awesome!

 

[Bob Marino]

Hey guys Doug here from The Tool Nut. I'll be uploading some more pics of this saw later, but here's a brief history on the saw....Al bought this unit at a JLC show in 1994 from a dealer from Nevada (he believed the only Festo dealer in the country at the time). He said he used the saw almost everyday for years  making high end cabinets/built-ins in Manhattan. This saw was just brought in for service for the first time, after a drop, to have the base re-set and have the tool checked.....awesome!

Wow, that's funny. David McGibbon sold him that saw - and it was the first Festool saw ever sold and here. Dave remembered this customer's name, when we were speaking about some early Festool history the other evening.

Bob

 

[Ken Nagrod]

according to the uk site, this machine was first introduced in 1982

Festool history UK site

according to the Belgian web site, the machine was introduced in 1984

Festool history BE site

greetz,

Philippe

That would make sense since the RO150 25th anniversary edition that had the watch in it, I purchased in either 2008 or 2009.  Don't remember when it was sold in the stores, but the tag on my sander says 2007 so the sander would have originally been manufactured starting in 1982.

 

[Sean7a]

Hey guys Doug here from The Tool Nut. I'll be uploading some more pics of this saw later, but here's a brief history on the saw....Al bought this unit at a JLC show in 1994 from a dealer from Nevada (he believed the only Festo dealer in the country at the time). He said he used the saw almost everyday for years  making high end cabinets/built-ins in Manhattan. This saw was just brought in for service for the first time, after a drop, to have the base re-set and have the tool checked.....awesome!

Wow, that's funny. David McGibbon sold him that saw - and it was the first Festool saw ever sold and here. Dave remembered this customer's name, when we were speaking about some early Festool history the other evening.

Bob

Are you serious Bob, the first Festool saw sold in the states is now sitting in my office?  hmmmmmmm, might have to keep this one.

 

[nickao]

Maybe Festool should buy the saw back and toss it in a shrine somewhere  

 

[Bob Marino]

Are you serious Bob, the first Festool saw sold in the states is now sitting in my office?  hmmmmmmm, might have to keep this one.
[/quote]

Sean,

Serious? [blink] No, only kidding; you have an old paperweight on your hands.  I can swing by and get it off your hands and out of the way.
Kidding, that's the real deal.

Bob

 

[Sean7a]

Are you serious Bob, the first Festool saw sold in the states is now sitting in my office?  hmmmmmmm, might have to keep this one.

Sean,

Serious? [blink] No, only kidding; you have an old paperweight on your hands.  I can swing by and get it off your hands and out of the way.
Kidding, that's the real deal.

Bob
[/quote]

Super cool, thanks for the info.  It's heading back to Lebanon right now for a revamp and then back to work.  If this isn't a testament to how unbelievably well made and engineered these tools are, I don't know what is.