Hello there.

I was off the levers restorations as it's getting harder and harder to get a good deal. Considering I have to pay high taxes to machines that come from Europe, any high price goes crazy for me.

But, looking for coffee machines on local eBay affiliate, a surprise:







Not good shape and it needs a full restoration. But how could I let this gem around here like that? I think it would hard for it to find some good crazy guy who would like to restore it. Well... Here we go!

I'll disassemble it completely and send it to chrome plate again. It'll cost a little but a good shape machine costs more than 300 EUR for sure, and shipping and taxes double everything for me, so I have room to make it shine and don't find cry over the money. BTW, the machine cost less then some Faeminas I've seen around eBay Italy (and some in bad shape too).

I've started yesterday and I have some pictures already, I'll post them later.

Márcio.

Brown bakelite grips and knobs..drip tray and grate...even a portafilter! Nice! Nothing beats a complete machine even with a bit of brassing here and there. It does not have the traditional snowball in the water level glass so you may be more ahead on this one than you realize.

Yes, no scale around! It came with the knock-box too! Only missing the double filter basket and on/off switch.

Yesterday I removed the group and top boiler gasket, they were very attached to the metal... Then I've manage to remove the brass sleeve (using Doug's technique, it was easy to unscrew so no damage to the brass) - great surprise, it's a plated one. But I can't remove the shower screen - any tips?

Márcio.

Doug's spot on. A lovely, unmolested and complete early Faemina. With the knock box no less. I think you have done very well indeed. Just love the bakelite hardware. This is the metal knock box no?

Up until a few days ago I was in Brazil and, whilst there looked high and low for a vintage lever I could fit in my suite case. I would have been very happy to find this one.

Edit; the shower (dispersion ) screen is a press fit. ie to remove gently press or lever off. Did I mention gently?

Hi, Don!

Yes, the knock box is metal, but aluminum. It's in bad condition, I'll have to paint it or chrome plate.

Have you been to Sao Paulo? This kind of machine is very rare here in Brazil, afaik... I've never seen one and this Faemina is the first I found. I have seen some La Pavoni and the MCAL I have the previous owner bought in the US in 2003.

About the screen, I can remove it... Probably I'm doing something wrong!

Márcio.

Congratulations, Márcio.

Thanks for sharing your restoration journey.

It's like a Faemina pot of gold this week. Maybe I need to look around...lol. Congrats on your find Marcio. I'm dying to see the knock box.
OO

Looks like I came here at just the right time. I'm excited to see how this turns out, and will probably be following your guide as well as others in my own Faemina restoration.

Hey Marcio, Sao Paulo no. Spent all our time in Rio and stayed at Copacabana on the barra. I have to say generally the coffee was crap. We found one place that could make a reasonable coffee so ended up haunting the place.

I looked long and hard for old machines in really obscure places but as said found nothing. Now I'm home the Faemina is a priority.

My wife is from Rio. Where have you drink better coffee?

As I say, very hard to find something like that here.

Márcio.