@Espresso Junkie: Wow! What a gift! It is pretty easy to use, but everything is manual (boiler fill etc...)....I would take it appart and replace all gaskets and stuff.....will be your favorite machine, i promise!

Can you make a picture of the inside?


And to contribute something to the gallery. I just got my new spring and my President is finally working! Some things left to do, but the coffee is already great! The machine sits temporarely in my kitchen, i haven't decided where the final place will be!



Cheers,
Stefan

Espresso Junkie wrote:This machine was given to me by an old friend. He told me that it was never used and that he had it brought over to Canada from Italy in 1956. He was thinking of opening a coffee shop, but never did, so the machine was sitting in his basement for all these years. I have no idea how to use it or if it even works. Unfortunately he had no documentation or manuals for it any more. Does anyone have any idea where I could find instructions for it or what the value of this machine would be?
Ulli
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This is just unfair. A 2 group that hasn't been used? There are no manuals for machines like these. If you understand how the machine works and what is does, it is self explanatory.

I don't quite get the yellow tinge at the lower half of the sightglass.
Also, replace everything that switches the element. Pstat, overtemp thermostat and pressure release. The wires are probably not in a too good shape either.

La Cimbali M-15 two group and single both now sold.

Thank you for the information Stefan & Roeland. I would love to use my machine, but I really don't know where I could find all the parts for it that you recommended to replace. Can I find them on line? As you've probably noticed, the other machine we own and use regularly is a fully automatic Saeco, so I'm not sure if my husband or I can figure out how this one works. If I was going to sell it, would you know how much I could ask for? The shipping charges on this machine would probably be enormous since it weighs literally a ton.

As far as i know, it works like a big Ponte Vecchio Lusso. I'd disassemble it and give every part a good cleaning. Doug and Barb from www.orphanespresso.com can help you with parts. Every part that can break can be replaced.
Paul Wilmott-Dalton is also very knowledgeable on old levers.
Take your time.
There are a multitude of restoration threads on this website. I'd give them a good read.

After you get it up and running, get some good fresh beans and a good grinder, you'll wonder how you ever could be happy with the Saeco.

Restored old levers are much more valuable, but two groups will never be as valuable as 1 groups because they are simply too large for most people.
Here are some pics how your machine could turn out when you've cleaned and polished it.
Lever Lust - 1956 Faema Urania

Thanks for the contact information. I'll check it out and hopefully I can convince my husband to take this baby apart to check on the different parts that need to be replaced. I don't think it'll be soon though. It's sitting on our basement floor right now and we need some strong friends to help us lift it onto a counter.

hello
after the two group UNIC gloria 1952 : Lever Espresso Machine Gallery
i finish my colection to UNIC (1952/1974/, one group UNIC gloria 1952 :








i have the level's brown Bakelite, the two machine is complete.
andrea

That is hands down the baddest retro machine I have seen in my life!
Bien fait!

The way you shot it outside with all the greenery reflecting just gave it a rainbow of colors.

Nice shoot.

-C

That sure is a beauty Andrea, nice work.Here's my brugnetti, and a Pavoni P67 i'm restoring