Converting Conti Empress from gas to 240v - Page 2

[Paul]

Cheers,

That makes it 1200w per each @110v. I was wondering how hefty an element I could use given that some of the filament is out of the water.

I have found my empress to be an easy project. I think you'll have a great time if this is your first resto.

[Latte Jed]

After the weekend (I'm headed to Monument Valley for a John Wayne Festival) you might be able to talk me into taking the head off,
if it would give us a better idea what the elements are like. I was told I had a 110 v setup,
but who knows, they might be 220. Is there a way to test externally? Or could Conti tell me? The p-stat is 220.

[Paul]

Just got back from the heating engineers with my boiler. I am putting in a custom made element through the endplate. The element will only heat from below the waterline as the legs are made from 'cold tube'. The bulk of the filament will be wound.

I have a excel calc for espresso elements. I think yours is 2400w @110v and draws ~22a (and should take 7.3 mins to heat!)

cheers
Paul

[bill]

Hi Latte Jed,
I just returned from a trip and have been reading your post. The Empress looks great! The pressurestat looks like the SOPAC that was on my Prestina. I can confirm that tonight and let you know. It may be original.

[mogogear]

After the weekend (I'm headed to Monument Valley for a John Wayne Festival) you might be able to talk me into taking the head off,
if it would give us a better idea what the elements are like. I was told I had a 110 v setup,
but who knows, they might be 220. Is there a way to test externally? Or could Conti tell me? The p-stat is 220.

Ok,
I just caught back up on this thread- So you are the one that got this girl!! That heat shield was hard to resist!! Congratulations!! You got her for a good price too. I was tempted, but prudence took over. Good luck!!

[Latte Jed]

I have a few more questions on my Conti restoration:

The two Conti Empresses that I've seen on this site have both been gas fired. Mine is electric.
Is there an example of an electric among our members?
My unit has no on/off scwitch, although there is a half inch hole on the upper right side panel (circled in blue).
What isthe purpose of the hole center (also circled in blue)? Is that something to do with the gas flame?
Has anyone had luck getting gaskets for the Conti Empress? Is there another machine with the same dimensions?
I've written to Edith at Conti and have yet to hear back, it may still be August Vacation time.
The piston appears to be 59 mm and the gasket grooves are 38mm.
I haven't used these lever-type valves before. There are three. Hot Water, Steam and, I assume, water fill. The valves appear
to be adjustable via knurled rings. The steam lever is beveled, perhaps so it lock in open position?
The boiler appears to have insulation, a crumbling gray sheet of matter. Asbestos? Should I remove and replace?
With What material?

Thanks for any help

[happytamper]

Hi

My Urania also has a hole in the same place at the bottom. I am pretty sure this is to light the gas when it is being used as a gas unit. Or to check if the flame is on. As for the other hole I do not know what it is for.

[bill]

I think Edith may still be on holiday. The last email I sent her was reponded to by someone else. Sorry, but I don't know anything to help you with the Empress. It appears to be a different animal then my Prestina.

[Paul]

Many of my machines were never fitted with on/off switches. My guess is that they were hard wired into the bar and the wall switch was used.

The hole is to check that the pilot light is on.

Edith couldn't supply me gaskets but thought she might be able to help with piston seals. I had 2x sets of gaskets made locally using the old asbestos ones as templates.

The knurled rings on my empress do not function as adjusters. They hold the valve assembly together.

I don't know if your insulation is asbestos. Wouldn't be surprised if it was. It it were me, I'd remove it and stuff the cavity with fibreglass insulation (just like the ones in your drywall). I do this with big machines and it works quite well.

I'll post some pics of my progress later today.

cheers
Paul

[Latte Jed]

Thanks. The brotherhood responds!

I have a connection in a machine shop. With your and their best advice I may have the rubber turned or an aluminum die made
for casting rubber.
Since I only have one worn piston seal as an example, I wonder how much over the metal piston diameter should I go with the rubber?

By the way, Paul, did you come up with a standard size and thread for the screws for the outer sheetmetal? 4mm I think, but I'm
not sure of the thread. .70 doesn't go.

[Paul]

For anyone who is interested. . .

Since beginning this project, I have:

Powder coated frame
Caustic dip strip to clean up paint on pipework
Acid dip strip to clean up the scale
New gaskets made from heat resistant nitrile
New s/s bolts and fittings throughout
Fitted 2x s/s swagelok ferrules in the boiler endplate to mount an element
Sent out all bodywork for rechroming

To do:

Make bracket to mount sirai pstat
Make up some pipes to plumb in the pstat
Wire up, fitting switch where the gas regulator use to go
Rebuild and fit group

Whilst I am not particularly happy about the finish of the nickel plated copper parts (boiler and pipes), I am not replating them.

Latte Jed - sorry, I cant help about the screws. My powder coated stuffed up and forgot to block off threads before coating. As a consequence I am going to drill out and retap.

cheers
Paul

[averian]

Hello everyone, I think you might find this item of interest given the current discussion:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/hsh/199224199.html

I actually got to check it out today in person, and as much as I wanted to become a lever owner, I made the mistake of falling in love with a low res picture... I just couldn't justify the time and money this machine would need to be brought back to shape to match what I had in my mind's eye. I am sure whoever picks it up will be very happy, and in case they don't ever post here (although I bet they will!) I can add at least a little to the discussion.

The machine was electric (was told it was 110), but it had obviously been modified in terms of heating element setup. It did have a SOPAC pressurestat, and the two elements were drilled into the boiler in an equals sign pattern versus the upside down L pattern in the picture I saw on the first page here. The SOPAC's third electrical connection was simply taped off. It appeared that someone had modified the elements with an external switch, and the owner was pretty certain the switch was to manually choose between one element or two. The main lever had a great solid feel and the auxilary levers (steam, etc.) were even better. The machine had a visceral quality I much liked compared to my auto one group, but ultimately was just in need of more attention than I could give it. If you guys have any questions for comparison's sake, I can try and answer from memory. Cheers.

[Latte Jed]

I'd be interest in taking on this Conti. I've sent the seller an email. I plan to be in the bay area in a couple of weeks.
If it works out, could I get you to pick it up until I get there"

[oakie]

I am sure whoever picks it up will be very happy, and in case they don't ever post here (although I bet they will!)

Well, I'm that one.

Ironically, with all the talk about converting from gas to electric, I want to convert to gas (and hopefully keep the 110v for flexibility). Anyone have a gas one they want to swap? I'm in Oakland Ca.

[Latte Jed]

Welcome the Conti Club!! We should work together on getting the gaskets and seals. I've sent a couple of emails to Conti in Monaco with no reply.
I think they are still enjoying their August vacation.

We should also work together on the restorations.
I could send you templates for the missing plastic parts: the tranglular piece on the back as well as the cup holder on top.

I need a template(clear photos would do) for the reflector that sits behind the sight tube. Mine is missing. And I need a spout for my portafilter.

I have one extra double basket.

You should ask paul if you can have his gas setup if he's not going to use it.

Post pictures when you can.

You should check with macgaggia, he's got a gas Conti in his collection, though I'm not sure if it's in sf. His post on LMWDP has a link to his photos.

Did you get a history of the machine. I think I heard it was in a restaurant 15 years ago.

[bill]

Edith at Conti is due back from her holiday next week, I believe. She's been very good about answering my emails.

[oakie]

An experienced rebuilder helped me take the Empress partially apart to assess its condition. He also has the same model, but in original gas operation (not rebuilt yet).



Here is a top view showing that 2 elements were added (he said they simply drilled holes in the top to accommodate the elements) and a switch that apparently allows one or both elements to be used.


He was sure that my Empress started life as a gas model (the label, under "Gaz" said "V") and that they all were manufactured that way. The area between the tank and the metal heat shield has been filled with insulation, which would normally be left open for the gas generated heat to flow up the side of the boiler.

My intent was to add back the gas functionality but keep the electric heating to give me total flexibility, but he thought that was a bad idea because of the amount of heat from the gas that would be channeled where the pressure control and wiring was located---there simply isn't enough room to locate the electric parts in such a way to operate safely. Oh well..... So my intent is to convert back to gas unless I can find someone with an original gas model that wants to swap.

I will pm our kiwi friend, Paul, to see if I can snag his gas components, and please put both of us on the list of people who want a set of piston gaskets (3) and a new head gasket. In fact, both of us will want 2 sets, and I would like a set of all the rubber for the 3 valves and a new dispersion screen also--if it's different than their current head gasket and dispersion screen design. I hope Edith at Conti can come through for us. If not, we're "in" for a fabrication order.

My lever arm is also extremely pitted and will need to be rechromed. Does anyone know how much this might cost me to have done?

Thanks

[averian]

So great to see another enthusiast picked it up! I hope you all continue with the pictures, as I am very much enjoying seeing these restorations come along. Maybe I'll learn enough to try one myself one day... Cheers,

-Mark

[Paul]

Thought its about time I posted some progress shots. I have yet to fabricate some pipework and rewire but the group, body and frame are now finished:



new element, 2kW (I got a bit carried away at the heating engineers' workshop)







nearly there, I have some bits arriving this week (fingers crossed) so should complete in the next fortnight.