Vintage Faema/Elektra? Microcasa a Leva from eBay

A haven dedicated to manual espresso machine aficionados.
User avatar
farmroast
Posts: 1623
Joined: 17 years ago

#1: Post by farmroast »

I was wandering on ebay and ran into a just listed "Italian FAEMA Espresso Machine" "Buy It Now", very reasonable. The picture looked like an Elektra MCaL brass and copper with the word Italia on the front of the base instead of Elektra. My finger slipped and next thing I knew I had bought it :roll: I did some searching on this site and found most of what I'll need to know. But am wondering the relationship between Faema and Elektra on these machines over their history? They didn't show the back plate to see a year but I think it's an early one(the top part of the group looks slightly taller than the new ones) that looks in decent shape with expected tarnish. The seller listed that it heated up and I'll have to hope the spring (being the early model) is ok. Seems the gasket rebuild is even easier than my Cremina so when it arrives hopefully I can play with it a bit and judge what it needs for new rubber and cleaning/descaling/pstat. I got the "Mothers"(great stuff) cleaner ready to make it shine again.
LMWDP #167 "with coffee we create with wine we celebrate"

User avatar
michaelbenis
Posts: 1517
Joined: 15 years ago

#2: Post by michaelbenis »

Well done!

The Elektras are brilliant and of course quite beautiful machines, but they are also a wonderful taste contrast and complement to the Cremina. You are in for a lot of fun.

And yes, the piston seals are a breeze to replace.... well compared to some :-)

Enjoy!

Mike
LMWDP No. 237

User avatar
Bluecold
Posts: 1774
Joined: 16 years ago

#3: Post by Bluecold »

The Italians have a habit of putting "FAEMA" in the listing of espresso machines, especially levers.
Check it out:
http://shop.ebay.it/?_nkw=Faema&_nd1=See-All-Categories
Of the 21 espresso machines listed, 10 aren't Faema.
LMWDP #232
"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death I Shall Fear No Evil For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."

User avatar
Bushrod
Posts: 288
Joined: 17 years ago

#4: Post by Bushrod »

Got a link? I'm lazy!
Rich A

LMWDP #131

User avatar
stefano65
Sponsor
Posts: 1405
Joined: 17 years ago

#5: Post by stefano65 »

answering your question
no relation between faema and elektra
Stefano Cremonesi
Stefano's Espresso Care
Repairs & sales from Oregon.

User avatar
farmroast (original poster)
Posts: 1623
Joined: 17 years ago

#6: Post by farmroast (original poster) »

The leva arrived. It's a 1981. It has the old style pressurestat.


LMWDP #167 "with coffee we create with wine we celebrate"

User avatar
espressme
Posts: 1406
Joined: 18 years ago

#7: Post by espressme »

Congratulations! Nice Find.
Many Happy Pulls!
-Richard
richard penney LMWDP #090,

ziobeege_72
Posts: 308
Joined: 15 years ago

#8: Post by ziobeege_72 »

I love the Italia tri colours proudly stamped on the front, leaving you in no doubt of its pedigree!

User avatar
Bluecold
Posts: 1774
Joined: 16 years ago

#9: Post by Bluecold »

Kinda like this one
LMWDP #232
"Though I Fly Through the Valley of Death I Shall Fear No Evil For I am at 80,000 Feet and Climbing."

User avatar
mhoy
Posts: 1138
Joined: 16 years ago

#10: Post by mhoy »

That p-stat looks exactly like the one from my Microcasa. Congratulations, nice machine.



If your pstat is working, don't take it apart. :shock: Mine wasn't working, so I attempted to rebuild mine with help from OE. I'd not recommend trying to repair it (if it's broken) since the lack of re-enforcing fibers in the replacement material allows it to 'drift' after a couple of months use. Probably best just to put a new pstat in place if you need one. There is a thread (somewhere or other on HB) that shows the rebuild, but once again, I'd not recommend it.

Mark

Post Reply