Incomplete list of Gravity-fed lever machines - Page 6

[HB]

Nice, thanks! Unfortunately I cannot edit the list anymore because this new forum software only allows 3 pics per post...

Sorry, I didn't realize it was so low. I've bumped up the max photos per post to 100.

[donn]

Actually a spring lever.

I guess that also goes for Bruni "Brunella", while we're at it. Not that I've ever seen one, but Orphan Espresso mentions a spring and the lever looks like it.

The Zerowatt can be a little awkward, if you can't lean over it a bit to use your weight while operating the lever. Need both hands - the other hand goes on the little grip on the back, to keep it from tipping over.

Others I know of:

• Bambina - Spanish machine, saw it in a local flea market. Months later it dawned on me what a great design it was, but of course too late for la Bambina.
• La San Marco - vaguely remember from a picture. Probably a spring lever, more or less symmetrical cone or dome shape with a slot in the top for the lever.

[hbuchtel]

Sorry, I didn't realize it was so low. I've bumped up the max photos per post to 100.

Nice, thanks Dan. First I gotta upload all those off-site photos to the HB server!

[missionhb]

I guess that also goes for Bruni "Brunella", while we're at it. Not that I've ever seen one, but Orphan Espresso mentions a spring and the lever looks like it.

The Zerowatt can be a little awkward, if you can't lean over it a bit to use your weight while operating the lever. Need both hands - the other hand goes on the little grip on the back, to keep it from tipping over.

Others I know of:

• Bambina - Spanish machine, saw it in a local flea market. Months later it dawned on me what a great design it was, but of course too late for la Bambina.
• La San Marco - vaguely remember from a picture. Probably a spring lever, more or less symmetrical cone or dome shape with a slot in the top for the lever.

Hi,
Here is a picture of a blue bambina.

Cheers,
F

[missionhb]

Hi All,

I found this intriguing spanish machine:CAMPEONA model "22". It is a spring operated gravity-fed machine, the outer casing is 100% bakelite covered with a painted "marble" decor. The boiler is an inox cylinder communicating with a secondary rear reservoir than can be filled after lid opening. Temperature in the boiler can be read with a thermometer, like in a Gaggia Gilda first generation (the one with a single arm). The lever can be folded like in a Gaggia Gilda second generation (the one with two arms and a spring). I suspect this machine was buit in the very early 50's as well.

Cheers,
François

[hbuchtel]

Nice one... clearly a lot of thought went into its design!

Two questions, can you explain how the reservoir is connected to the boiler, and what is the diameter of the basket?

Regards, Henry

[missionhb]

Hi Henry,

The bottom of the rear bakelite reservoir is connected to the bottom of the boiler through a semicircular rubber pipe (I'll try to add a few more pictures next week end).
The PF is 60 mm OD.

Best,
F

[missionhb]

Hi all,

Here are the few additional shots of the Campeona "22":

One more front view with the lever folded backwards this time:



A bottom view with a mirror (without PF): note tubing connecting the boiler and the bakelite reservoir. Note also that there is no dispersion screen: the front of the piston is visible. I cannot see clear signs indicating that this part is missing: it seems designers got rid of it. Note also the terrible electric wiring: no ground, and the contacts are 1 cm far from the portafilter, ideal to create a short circuit!


A back view with the lid of the rear reservoir in open position:



A side view showing the portafilter: the particular double spout design is probably the ancescor of the one seen in the mini Gaggia:







Best,
François

[missionhb]

Hi All,

Just a single picture of another spanish machine: a JATA "Piccolo Bar". It is probably the ancestor of the spring-operated "classical" zerowatt & JATA found in other posts (all produced in Barcelona, Spain, irrespective of the tag).This one is a manual lever, and has no switch, no thermostat, and no function lamp. However, it is bicolor and has a front badge that make it aesthetically pleasant.



Best,
Francois

[missionhb]

Hi all,

A more thorough presentation of the Campeona "Bambina". A spanish machine much reminiscent of the Bruni "Brunella". I have no idea on which came first.

Best,
François

[hbuchtel]

That one is in great condition!

Do you have an idea about how the water fills the piston-chamber? Is there a valve in the piston like in later Caravel models?

Thanks, Henry

[missionhb]

Hi Henry,

This machine is spring-operated, and water enters the piston chamber through 4 holes that are drilled at the basis of the sleeve, a pair of millimeters above the bottom of the boiler. No holes in the piston.
A funny feature: as you see, the attachment of the lever to the piston rod and to the fulcrum is fixed. In fact it is the attacment of the rod to the piston that is mobile and that accomodates for the changes in angle during lever movement.

Cheers,
François

[orphanespresso]

Your Campeona looks like it is 2 rings short of the Olympic model....so keep looking, its big sister is out there somewhere.

[hbuchtel]

This machine is spring-operated, and water enters the piston chamber through 4 holes that are drilled at the basis of the sleeve, a pair of millimeters above the bottom of the boiler. No holes in the piston.

Hello François, have you had a chance to use this machine yet? I'm wondering if coffee grounds are able to find their way through the holes into the boiler, like in my Zerowatt CA370. I can see that the Bambina's boiler is relatively clean (besides the usual hard water stain), so maybe it doesn't have this issue?

I really like the design of these old gravity levers... simply a spring lever group surrounded by a boiler!

Doug, do you think Spain won third place in gymnastics that year?

Regards, Henry

[missionhb]

Hi Henry,

Currently, the Campeona bambina is leaky: the piston gasket(s) need to be replaced. In this machine, the piston has to be removed from the portafilter side: however, it seems that to remove the dispersion screen the PF gasket has first to be extracted....Thus, I postponed the maintenance, and cannot yet answer your question on an experimental basis.
However, I agree with you: I suspect this machine behaves the same as your zerowatt (as well as the other gravity-fed machines without an anti-backflow gasket): it certainly sucks coffee back into the boiler during "fellini moves" or multiple pulls....
Fortunately, the open boiler configuration allows to pour and refill with clear water easily.
Cheers,
F

PS: It appears Spain got a silver medal for "artistic gymnastics" last summer