I found this on ebay and can't justify a new project.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180621180744


1978 Lever single group, only 1300 watts, can easily convert to 110, add an autofill box.

It has the original mercury pressure switch, perfect body, gate valve single v-ring piston, 53mm deep filter basket . . . .

Anyone even thinking about springing for a pretend E61 box or dreaming of a Marzocco GS3 should buy this NOW. It will make better coffee and is completely old school. This needs to go to someone who can appreciate and not someone who just thinks its "pretty."

I never recommend machines to anyone, but at a grand its a steal.

It's gorgeous, Michael.

I would bid, but by the time it got out to the east coast, the body would undoubtedly no longer be "perfect."

Typical eBay shipping method: place in flimsy corrugated box, dump in styrofoam peanuts, ship UPS, let buyer spend weeks fighting claims dept.

michael,
I've been watching that listing for couple days now. I'm dying to bid but I'm missing 2 important things.
1 - $$
2 - knowledge to fix as you describe.

I'm in L.A. County. If you'd be willing to assist a complete newbie, I'd be more than tempted

First, the panels can be shipped separately.

Second, I would guide anyone willing to bring this machine back. Where to fit the autofill, how to wire it for 110v, fitting an autofill solenoid; this one is really pretty easy.

A PID retrofit on a Silvia is harder.

How interesting. This was the same machine (I'm quite sure) that was advertised on the SF Bay CL for $50 on the MLK weekend, then it got bumped to $200, then the seller (http://romolosfactory.com/default.aspx) sent this note, below, to all suitors. I wonder if they owner got wise, or this is the person that was the "best applicant".

-phillip

Thank you for your interest in the San Marco single station espresso machine from 1978. There has been much interest and I want to simplify the buying process. First let me answer the most asked questions; I have not used the machine ever, it was my Nonni's and used in a small parlor long ago. It does need some restoration, probably not much, so you should now what you are doing. Cosmetically its pristine. I do not know if its 110 or 220 Volt.

I have received offers ranging from $200-$500. I'd like you to put in an offer and let me know how you plan to use the machine, and I will contact the best applicants to view the San Marco. If I do not respond to your offer, sorry but someone wants it more.

Thank you,
Joe

Maybe he got enough interest on Craigslist to spring for the ebay ad.

Its just that Marzoccos, Cimbali's and Synesso's get all the press these days and machines like this never get any real attention. It looks like a real find and the coffee it makes will be better than any of the new, high tech trendy machines.

This is a Norton 850 Commando or a Ducati 900ss Bevel Drive, not a Kawasaki Ninja. This one is all about the coffee.

mteahan wrote:Its just that Marzoccos, Cimbali's and Synesso's get all the press these days and machines like this never get any real attention...This one is all about the coffee.

OK, if THIS one is "all about the coffee"...what are the Marzocco's, Cimbali's and Synesso's all about?

Enquiring minds want to know.

Fine, be that way.

Thermal mass, temperature stability, pre-infusion, perfect water column based infusion, thermal profiling during the extraction process, declining pressure curve during extraction . . . this machine does all of that and it doesn't even have an autofill box.

Its the difference between having a Renoir as your ipad background screen and seeing it in real life. It's like knowing when to shift when the engine makes that certain sound, not when the ECU tells the double clutch gear box to. Its about having an experience of making espresso that you can't quantify with a gauge or a digital display. Its about getting good at something because of experience as opposed to calculations.

Machines like this are art, the new stuff is science without soul.

Of course, that's my personal opinion. Maybe I am getting old.

I tried but was outbid right at the end. Oh well, I'll keep my eyes out for another similar machine. Michael, I enjoy others' tech genius. But coffee for me is about the love/romance or it all. More along your eloquently described version of coffee. I would love to open an old world cafe with no such thing as "to go." You want it to go, drink it out of a beautiful porcelain cup standing at the bar. Order an espresso; get a small glass of sparkling water and thimbleful of fresh OJ without asking, it's expected to be part of the experience. Traditions like the "caffee sospeso" hold great allure. What the heck, you convinced me to bid $1200 on a machine I have no idea how to fix just cause you said you'd help me. Crazy

By the way, I sent you an email at your work on help finding fix for my pavoni. Thanks for the response, rare these days. I've got her up and running again and in the interim purchased a Cremina that I hope to rehab. Yikes, if I'd gotten the San Marco, I'd be terrified.

Not me, but I think we will be hearing more about this machine. I believe it was picked up by a member.