Just won an '81 Olympia Cremina

[IMAWriter]

Hi...somehow, I won an '81 Olympia Cremina.
Mind you, I was just tossing my name in there...the winning bid was $657 and change. My high cutoff bid was only a few bucks more, and I wasn't watching. Figuring with the current frenzy, I'd be way under.
I had intended to purchase Charles Taylor's ("Karl Schneider") awesome restored machine...but was having a problem selling my 4 week old La Pavoni Millennium Europiccola (for less than $400 BTW)...so I threw in a bid. The rest is history...at least till I actually see what I purchased. When I opened my computer,and to my astonishment saw I had won it, I emailed Charles. I felt the honorable thing was to tell him what had transpired. In a return email, he quickly assuaged any guilt I was feeling for all the time he'd given me. A great guy, for sure.
Now to the point. One member here who I trust said it might be prudent to send it to someone like Home Espresso Repair for a thorough going over. Another has said I should first check the gasket(or seal...can't remember which) in the boiler cap to see how pliable it might still be. He said that would be a clue as to whether all the gaskets might be OK, or need replacing.
The seller has no history, as he says it was an anonymous donation to the charity that sold the Cremina (makes it totally tax deductible)
I'm going back and forth on this. There are wonderful posts here (I've read many) concerning how to replace the gaskets, flush/descale the boiler, etc.
I'm not sure I'd feel confident being the first to mess with it.
Any and all opinions GREATLY appreciated.

[caeffe]

Congrats on getting one!
Not only that, you got one with all the trimmings

From my experience buying a used Europiccola- (I know, not the same as a Cremina but...)
1. After doing a flush and descale, try it out. Who knows, it may work just fine. Like any instrument, you might have to strum/blow/play it for some time before you are one with it. Give it some time before you send it out. After having some time with my manual lever, I now view it as an instrument, not a machine - how well it performs depends a lot on the person playing. My Oscar on the other hand is an machine.
2. Order extra gasket set now. It may not need one now but you'll have a set handy when the time comes.
3. Order extra basket(s). I read here that the Elektra Mcal basket will fit the Cremina also.

One of these days... I'll luck into one like you.

[IMAWriter]

Congrats on getting one!
Not only that, you got one with all the trimmings

From my experience buying a used Europiccola- (I know, not the same as a Cremina but...)
1. After doing a flush and descale, try it out. Who knows, it may work just fine. Like any instrument, you might have to strum/blow/play it for some time before you are one with it. Give it some time before you send it out. After having some time with my manual lever, I now view it as an instrument, not a machine - how well it performs depends a lot on the person playing. My Oscar on the other hand is an machine.
2. Order extra gasket set now. It may not need one now but you'll have a set handy when the time comes.
3. Order extra basket(s). I read here that the Elektra Mcal basket will fit the Cremina also.

One of these days... I'll luck into one like you.

You make sense...as a musical person I connect with the analogy...
Of course, someone else will post "send it to a pro to make sure you haven't got a lemon", etc...and THEY'LL make sense, as well
Thanks for taking the time for me....
BTW, you might want to speak with Charles Taylor...his machine is ready to go...I just couln't swing it all now...he's a no pressure person, in fact, he isn't even pushing to sell...he just knew I was amped=, and wanted to help.

[IMAWriter]

As if to mock me, upon pulling my last shot (#24) with the Europiccola, I was rewarded with an awesome shot...nicely detailed crema....but more importantly, full bodied and sweet (Monkey Blend)
Somehow, I think he/she/it knows...so I told he/she/it it was going to a better place.

[ccfore]

The first thing I would do is contact the seller and make sure he packs the machine the right way to avoid any damage during shipping. Wrap it in foam or heavy bubble wrap, double-boxed with styro peanuts etc. between boxes. If it costs a couple bucks more for him to do it, DO IT. I've owned 3 Creminas at one time or another and only one was slightly damaged and that was because of inadequate packing. (Not the one I now own) Your machine looks like it was barely used and probably taken care of as all the parts are still with the machine. I would wait until you can look it over and use it and then decide what if anything needs to be done with it. I know you will enjoy it, and you may even have some fleeting thoughts about getting rid of your other machines, I did but so far I have resisted them. Congrats again!

[IMAWriter]

The first thing I would do is contact the seller and make sure he packs the machine the right way to avoid any damage during shipping. Wrap it in foam or heavy bubble wrap, double-boxed with styro peanuts etc. between boxes. If it costs a couple bucks more for him to do it, DO IT. I've owned 3 Creminas at one time or another and only one was slightly damaged because of inadequate packing. (Not the one I now own) Your machine looks like it was barely used and probably taken care of as all the parts are still with the machine. I would wait until you can look it over and use it and then decide what if anything needs to be done with it. I know you will enjoy it, and you may even have some fleeting thoughts about getting rid of your other machines, I did. Congrats again!

Thanks for that advice...I will contact the seller as soon as I finish this...y'all are rockin' my world!
Thanks....

[rawman]

Congrats on getting that one Rob. I had my eye on it, but I knew I would be flying in when it ended. I was glad to see your name pop up as the winner. And you weren't even watching it? cool. I know there's another thread for this, but I still don't get ebay. How can some of them go for 520 and others go for 995. Oh well I'll just keep watching.

[zin1953]

As if to mock me, upon pulling my last shot (#24) with the Europiccola, I was rewarded with an awesome shot...nicely detailed crema....but more importantly, full bodied and sweet (Monkey Blend)
Somehow, I think he/she/it knows...so I told he/she/it it was going to a better place.

Reminds me of that Woody Allen routine, when all of his appliances got together and threatened him for hitting the top of the television set . . .

Congrats, Rob! Enjoy the new one . . . and post pics.

Cheers,
Jason

[IMAWriter]

Congrats on getting that one Rob. I had my eye on it, but I knew I would be flying in when it ended. I was glad to see your name pop up as the winner. And you weren't even watching it? cool. I know there's another thread for this, but I still don't get ebay. How can some of them go for 520 and others go for 995. Oh well I'll just keep watching.

Hey...glad you missed out
Seriously, there is another one on now....I believe 2 concurrently left. I believe it is a 1991...not sure if that's good or bad, though i read somewhere...probably here that they out-sourced a bit during the early '90's

[hperry]

Now to the point. One member here who I trust said it might be prudent to send it to someone like Home Espresso Repair for a thorough going over. .

I second the Home Espresso Repair suggestion. During my (brief) ownership of a Cremina, took it there for evaluation. They've done many of them, know them backward and forward, and are priced reasonably.

If he'll take it, Joe at The Good Coffee Company in Seattle also really likes, and is a master of, lever machines. At one time long ago he sold the Olympia and he usually has the parts to repair them.

[sweaner]

As if to mock me, upon pulling my last shot (#24) with the Europiccola, I was rewarded with an awesome shot...nicely detailed crema....but more importantly, full bodied and sweet (Monkey Blend)
Somehow, I think he/she/it knows...so I told he/she/it it was going to a better place.

I think she is not happy not having a chance to fight for the starting job!!

[zin1953]

I think she is not happy not having a chance to fight for the starting job!!

Hey! Spring training is over!!!

[IMAWriter]

I think she is not happy not having a chance to fight for the starting job!!

You have that right....funny how you can feel guilt about a hunk of stainless.

[TUS172]

Expert:

Your machine looks like it was barely used and probably taken care of as all the parts are still with the machine. I would wait until you can look it over and use it and then decide what if anything needs to be done with it.

Chiming in with With ccfore... I bought a'67, 67 Cremina that had been used perhaps a few times. I unpacked it cleaned out the cobwebs from the boiler inside the case and descaled the boiler... Fired it up and have been using it since. I have not had to do much to it... (Seals) But this machine is 41 years old (Granny).
So you may be one of the lucky ones to get a deal and also have a fine running machine out of the box.
Although if I would have been you I would have kept the Pavoni for travel and as a back up...

[IMAWriter]

Expert:

Chiming in with With ccfore... I bought a'67, 67 Cremina that had been used perhaps a few times. I unpacked it cleaned out the cobwebs from the boiler inside the case and descaled the boiler... Fired it up and have been using it since. I have not had to do much to it... (Seals) But this machine is 41 years old (Granny).
So you may be one of the lucky ones to get a deal and also have a fine running machine out of the box.
Although if I would have been you I would have kept the Pavoni for travel and as a back up...

Haven't sold the Pavoni as yet..but knowing I'll have some expenditures with the Cremina...piston for tamper, possible gaskets, seals, and who knows what else, I can't afford right now to keep both. I have the Pavoni at CG for sale...under $400, I believe.

[farmroast]

Congrads Rob Hope it had a safe trip. At least it didn't have to travel too far. The Olympia Express site has manual and diagrams. Maybe one of Richads PFs is available from someone
cheers,
farm

[IMAWriter]

Farm...I spoke with Richard...what a fine gentleman...I will be ordering the "Newd" , as he calls it PF...I'll use my OEM handle, till I can swing a nice wood one.
Like to get the Elektra double as well, but all in good time....I'm just praying when it arrives (supposedly tomorrow), it does so in one piece, undamaged.
I'll be back with y'all tomorrow night, or Saturday....wish me luck!