The Victorio name brand is no longer made. Its been out of production well over 20 years now. Villaware Weston, or ROMA are the newer names. These have only a few plastic parts like the big hopper funnel on top, and the spiral auger inside the conical sieves. The auger also has a shorter version for doing large seedy items like grapes. The standard holed screen is used for tomatoes mostly to get a nice puree. If you also plan to use this machine for extracting juice from things like raspberries, the screen hole size is smaller, as a berry sceeen. They also have other optional screens for making pumpkin puree and also a minced tomato for a salsa. The optional screen set is 3 screens and the shorter grape auger spiral. It also goes under the brand names Cucina, Weston, as well as Back To Basics. These machines are cast aluminum body and have screw on clamps for holding to a table. They also feature many improvements like wrap around spatter shield, a rubber O ring seal on the cranking end of the shaft, to prevent liquids from passing through. Also they feature a twist on sieve strainer that has a single thumb screw to hold it in place. The older models had two big wing nuts and was a bit bulky. The link below shows many photos of these. I also have a motor attachment to eliminate the need for the cranking.

I have posted many hundreds of posts about these machines in the the recent past, if you do a search for food strainer, or Villware, you wll see many of them including photos like that in the link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Next tag link

I am liking the back to basics so far it says it is made in the USA. the ROMA one was bashed in some reviews about leaking and made in china and the suction cup giving out after a while. I just wanted to know about where the strainers are made. I try to avoid giving my money to china as much as i can.

It could be that some are still made in Italy. I know my Villaware is from there. China makes all kinds of things. Some are good quality and some are pure junk. In order to find out their place of origin, you would have to call them. Weston Brand is a US distributor for Italy, and also sell sausage making equipment. Prago Trade is another Italian dealer/seller here. Basically your looking for the type strainer that has the small thumb screw for the conical sieves. Once that is determined, all the rest of the new improvemens should be present too. I don't think any of these are made here in the US, as they all seem to use the same 'stock' photos.

Here is one of the oldest designs and is priced quite high. It offers no spatter screen around the sieves, but has an all metal construction including the big funnel/hopper on top. It also features the old design of sieves that use two wing nuts to help hold them onto the body.

Here is a link that might be useful: Older Squeezo for reference

Thank you! i have contacted the manufacturer that makes the back to basics brand. On Amazon it says USA but who knows.

The Back To Basics model I had was a bit more similar to the older Victorio. It had the same wing nut sieves and no wrap around spatter shield. It also used to leak around the cranking shaft. Suggest that you do a web search for FOOD STRAINER. It should bring up hundreds of sellers and similar models. Keep in mind, the latest ones have a wrap around spatter shield and use a twist on screen with single thumb screw to hold the sieves on. The cranking shalft as a rubber O ring seal to prevent liquids from leaking out. They usually also come with a clamp to mount to a table. A few have the suction cup, but also offer a clamp. Suggest that not only do you get country of origin, if they can answer that, but ask about the overall design improvements I also mentioned.
I see a deluxe version of these too, it comes with all the extra screens, shorter grape auger, and also a motor unit. Cheapest for that whole setup was just under $100 from one web source.

Talked to the company and it is also made in china. So since they all use the same stock photo i would just assume they are the same.. meaning the Roma and the back to basics strainer.

As mentioned, the Italian ones were copied and most of the ones today that have the clamp on the base, as opposed to the suction cup, are better designed. Also look for the twist on screens with small thumb screw, as that is also one major change. The Back To Basics in the ACE link below, or the link here for many differnet brands- http://www.kasbahouse.com/villawareonline/tomato_foodstrainers.asp

Here is a link that might be useful: Ace hardware food strainer

Do you like the Back to basics or the Roma? I would really use it for salsa more than anything.. I have not expanded the garden to include fruits for jellies yet. we just built and are still working on the house. I eventually want to venture into the low or no sugar jams as hubby is diabetic and really likes the low sugar jam from smuckers. he does not typically like the no sugar stuff, has the funny aftertaste to him. he likes a more fruity taste instead of the sugar flavor. anyways.. i will eventually use the other screens. so if i have to give my money to china i will probably go with the back to basics as it looks like it has what i would need. Thank you so much!!

I had an older Back To Basics, and it ddin't have the O ring shaft seal at the cranking end. It also had the older wing nuts on the screens. Right now, there are so many varables thata bout all you can do is ask and find out who the strainers are attached, what kind of mounting, clamp, or suction cup, shaft seal (O ring), and fully wrapped around spatter shield. There should also be clear plastic conical shaped tube that snaps on the open end of the strainers, to allow the waste to fall out further, and not mix into the extracted pulp and juices. My current one is the VillaWare brand, and they have stopped making that name.

I bought mine from Johnnies many years ago, but the link below shows the older models with wing nut screens and no waste extention tube. You need to find someone at the place your buying it from to describe the most important details I have mentioned already.

With all the links and photos I have given you, I am sure you will know a lot more about these than most people. My very old Victorio was sold many years ago, and I keep the Back To Basics (has the older wing nuts) one just for emergencies should mine fail (hasn't yet!). I also bought the motor unit a few years ago, and found its almost the exact same one used on those pasta rolling machines. For tomatoes, I simply cut them into big pieces to fit into the hopper. To get a thicker sauce, I also dig out most of the seeds and liquid before they get run through. This reduces cooking time and the sauce is quite thick even at the beginning. I use the optional berry screen for red raspberries and also the 1/4 inch holed one for making a minced tomato for salsas. The nice thing is even though the minced tomatoe sare bigger pieces their skins still get pushed out the end.

Here is a link that might be useful: Johnnies Seeds food straner

I just looked at the Roma I got this summer from Ultimate Nourishment and it was made in China. I've been happy with it and haven't experienced any leaks. I checked their website and they have free shipping and a deal on the strainer packaged with all the strainer screens.

I use mine clamped on to my table and find it quite sturdy.
So you might check it out. Heres the link:

Here is a link that might be useful: Roma strainer/Ultimate Nourishment

Thats why I always try to give as much detail on something I know a lot about. I only hope that all the positive info I covered will be on the unit you bought. If you plan to do Pomegranates or grapes, the need for the shorter grape spiral is very necessary. The machine can jam with big seeds from grapes, so the shorter spiral allows them to pass out the end a little easier. I also place all the waste back through the machine a second time, so you get every drop of goodness.

Thank you Ken you do give tons of info and i know i appreciate it greatly!

I don't see grapes in the future as we never buy grape jelly and i don't have grape vines but you never know and i will get the spiral if i plan on it. now poms interest me but i do not have a plan yet on those. I don't have a fresh access to them so it would be trying to get them on sale at the local store. So maybe next year ill purchase the grape spiral.. Thanks and i can't wait to get it.. its my Christmas present from my hub!

Once you try it with tomatoes, you won't do them any other way. Some people think that tomatoes need to be blanched to get the skins off befroe they are made into a sauce. The older saucapan type Foley strainer would be very slow if it were to strain tomatoes. Even apples done in the strainer will make a very good apple sauce. I would either cut them up in 1/2 inch wedges, or partially cook them to soften before running through. I grow red raspberries and these are very easy to deal with using the finer holed berry screen. I never see a single seed in the finished product. I make red raspberry jam and its been very popular with everyone that I have given some to. I never have enough of the berries and I'm considering adding a few new canes to my patch.