One thing about Atlas machines, they typicaly didn't get much use, so I would be surprised if you see any signifigant wear on it. They were sold as hobby machines and not many were used in industrial settings, which is where you tend to get a lot of wear. Galling on the ram ways would be something much more common, which is caused by insuficient lubrication. I have one of these shapers, and it's a good little machine for it's size. I use it occasionaly for small jobs. I wouldn't let the zamak parts used on Atlas machines scare you off, many of them have lasted for 50 years and if treated well (not crashed or dropped) will last another 50. As stated above, having the vise on it is goodness. Those Atlas shaper vises come up on Ebay occasionaly, but they generaly sell for around 250, so take that into consideration if it doesn't have one. They also made a rotary table and index centers for them, but they tend to be fairly rare and expensive.