I'm thinking about undertaking the reconditioning of this old La Pavoni Compact and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice, where to go for parts, any idea when it was manufactured, how to distinguish it from the contemporary machine bearing the same name, or where I might find some info on operating/service info.
I'm still up in the air about taking on another project (like I don't have enough half-finished or yet-to-be-started projects lying around) so if there is someone out there that is absolutely green with envy over the possibility, I wouldn't be hugely upset if they were to snake this out from under me. Post here if you have any clues that'll lead me down the trail of tears that this re-build will inevitably be, and PM me if you want more info on how to pull the rug out from under me.
This belongs to a friend of one of the poster's here that turned me on to it, and he's a really great guy.
The machine is probably early eighties, and one of the groups is supposed to not work. Some of the internals are marked '220V', but there is a 20 amp edison (110V) plug on the end of the cord, so any help in that mystery would be appreciated as well.

Funky, great looking machine!

Call Will at Home Espresso Repair in Seattle for starters. If he can't help you he probably can point you to a better source.

prof_stack wrote:
Call Will at Home Espresso Repair in Seattle for starters. If he can't help you he probably can point you to a better source.

Yeah, she could be beautiful. The back looks so much better. She seems like she was too close to the other cookery, and folks were pretty good about cleaning the grease buildup off of her. Unfortunately, a lot of the sheen and paint and labeling went with it. I'd love someone to be able to identify her and get a parts diagram and a schematic. Armed with that, I could definitely bring her back to life. I'd love to get the sides re-done, and I'm thinking of taking her to an automotive place and having the truck and the machine done in the same shade of red. Anyone have any other solutions to getting a great paint coverage? Powdercoat?

Psyd-

I thought you wanted to downsize on espresso machines?.... or is this the backup to the backup machine?

So he's a belt and suspender guy, I can relate to that.

I'm half way through rebuilding a manual three group Pavoni P6 Bar.
It looks like yours is a Bar as well but it has fancypants solenoid groupheads.
http://espressoparts2.zoovy.com/c...03.01.lapavoni.02/

I've managed to get all my parts from Espressoparts, they are a great company, but they do not separate all the parts into mini ziplock bags anymore . I loved that. So I'm going to try these guys for my next order and see how they are.
http://www.cafeparts.com/listCategoriesAndProducts.asp

Read the plate on the front of the machine, it will either say 110v or 220v. Who knows how the previous owner had the outlet wired.

I say powdercoat. My frame is ready to go in, I'm just trying to decide on the color scheme. You may have some issues getting your truck in the curing oven though.

jesawdy wrote:Psyd-

I thought you wanted to downsize on espresso machines?.... or is this the backup to the backup machine?

This is not going to be a machine acquisition purchase, this is going to be more project oriented. I have always learned more on busted tech than I ever have from manuals. Give me your worn, huddled, broken kit, yearning to breath the fresh air of constant use again. A lil spit and some bailing wire, and I'll take 'er to the races. I've got a stack of broken VCR's, TV's, amps, you name it (trashed most of it fairly recently, though, as the house was starting to look a bit 'Sanford & Son') and nearly all of my home entertainment kit is cast-offs that were 'broken'. This one intrigues me, but I don't want to go down a blind hole.


Oh, and Bishop? If I could read any of those front plates (at least the important info) I'd already be there! That's kinda what I was talking about with their enthusiasm for cleaning her. Most of the good stuff got wiped away. Thanks for the links, if I do pick her up the will come in handy. I'm familiar with both entities, but I'd have no idea what to ask for, as I have no idea of model or year on this thing. Ergo, the thread.
Thanks guys, find all your old LP cronies and have them take a look.

The group heads on mine are stamped with Mfg. Dates behind the portafilter opening. Yours may have them as well.


This guy may be able to answer your questions;
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/260208697.html

bishopthirteen wrote:This guy may be able to answer your questions;
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/for/260208697.html

Well, it isn't mine yet, and I'm still on the fence about it. Everyone I've chatted with says that is sounds as if it's lime clogged. I spoke to those that have done maintenance and repair on it, and the rumour is that they ignored the softening maintenance, and one of the groups isn't working. I want to... but I have so many other things I need to do!
Again, if someone falls in love with this project machine, I'll introduce you. I discovered a guy (Mike Funk of ESI) that thinks he has the same machine. If anyone can find parts for it, I think that he may be able to. We chatted about a simultaneous rebuild, sharing knowledge and hidden springy thingies warnings. I want to...

Psyd wrote:I'm thinking about undertaking the reconditioning of this old La Pavoni Compact and I'm wondering if anyone has any advice, where to go for parts, any idea when it was manufactured, how to distinguish it from the contemporary machine bearing the same name, or where I might find some info on operating/service info.
I'm still up in the air about taking on another project (like I don't have enough half-finished or yet-to-be-started projects lying around) so if there is someone out there that is absolutely green with envy over the possibility, I wouldn't be hugely upset if they were to snake this out from under me. Post here if you have any clues that'll lead me down the trail of tears that this re-build will inevitably be, and PM me if you want more info on how to pull the rug out from under me.
This belongs to a friend of one of the poster's here that turned me on to it, and he's a really great guy.
The machine is probably early eighties, and one of the groups is supposed to not work. Some of the internals are marked '220V', but there is a 20 amp edison (110V) plug on the end of the cord, so any help in that mystery would be appreciated as well.
image: http://www.home-barista.com/forums/userpix/885_La_Pavoni_Compact_1.jpg

I just picked up a single group of this machine. Still waiting to get the motor and pump...it is big, and parts will cost you first born, but it promises to be awesome!

Good luck with diagrams...I have found nothing. I believe it is called a PUB VMT. If you buy it keep in touch we can compare notes.

Dave

DVL wrote:Good luck with diagrams...I have found nothing. I believe it is called a PUB VMT. If you buy it keep in touch we can compare notes.

It is a 'Compact', and it doesn't resemble the 'Pub' being offered today. I haven't had the opportunity to look at the group to see if there is a date on it, but I gues it could be an older version of the 'Pub'. Is there a 'Compact' version of the 'Pub', or a 'Pub' version of the 'Compact', or are they two different models names?