Hey y'all,
I've been in the market for a 1-group semi-commersh for my home, and noticed one of those old vertical VA machines for sale in "working condition" and am wondering if it's worth considering -- that is, for anything other than retro kitsch appeal. Do these actually work well by today's standards? Thermally stable, appropriately pressured, with solenoid and safety valves and long-lasting steam power, etc? Or are these things the reason bars in Rome started serving lemon peels with espresso way back when (i.e. to mask bitter/sour off notes)? Are they easy to work on & find parts for?

Any knowledge or experience is appreciated. Specifically the machine for sale looks like a Venus Family 1-group semi-auto domestic machine (HX, 2.3L, 110V, 1000W, p-stat) but it's apparently a bit taller and older, maybe one model behind...

Thanks

It's the Venus Family, a basic single boiler machine, similar to the Silvia, with a fancy case, and fancy price. There is very beautiful, true tower machine, the Venus Bar that has one to three groups attached via HXs to a tower boiler and rotary pump.

Hm. Conflicting info out there in webland. The VA site I suppose would be the one to trust, and I see they offer a schematic indicating single dual-use boiler. Like the Silvia, as you said, Jim; thanks. But does the Silvia have a "temperature control" knob?

I was thrown off by Food Service Warehouse, which describes the Venus Family as a HX. Too bad.