I posted a while back as i had found an interesting lever machine on auction
Alfred Meyer mystery machine is it Ponte Vecchio Lusso?
but unfortunately i didn't win it...

However i did buy this instead...


I htink i got a deal at $150 but i have not muh idea of the state of the machine... the vendor recons its from the 1950's but i'm not sure he has any real idea.

My question is where do i start...
1. fill & turn on machine & try to make a coffee...

should i descale the machine straight away
do i start dismantling it

what do i look for to diagnose various problems...

I'll take some better photos of the machine tomorrow when it is supposed to arrive...

This is my first lever/vintage machine and any advice would be welcome

Many thanks

G

Giles,

Congrats on the find. As for what steps you should take when it arrives, it depends. First, look inside the boiler to see if it needs to be descaled. This, IMO, is the first place to look to see if you need to consider tearing it down right from the start. If it looks okay, look at the portafilter/grouphead gasket. If it's hard, there is a good chance it could benefit from an overhaul. If both of these look okay, fill the boiler 3/4 full with filtered water and turn the machine on the ensure it heats up to full operating temp (10 or so minutes). This will check the heating element and pressurestat. If they work, you are good to at least give it a shot at a few pulls to see if the seals/gaskets need replacing. If you see leaks anywhere, turn the machine off and unplug it. Find the source of the leak(s) and start shopping for replacement seals/gaskets (see link below).

Now, to prep you ahead of time for what all is involved in rebuilding the entire machine from scratch, visit OrphanEspresso's site. This is an extensively detailed page on step by step instructions for rebuilding your machine. Doug and Barb will most likely have any part you'll need to get the machine working as good as new, and they ship worldwide. If you need anything, email them by using the "Contact Us" tab on their site.

Good luck, and let us know what you find.

thanks, for first steps, will probably stay in tomorrow night and start inspection.
will post photos...
i'm excited

Looks very nice. Lady in red...

very cool. I was able to play with one of these for about a month one time. when you do get it pressurized, watch for flakes of metal in your coffee. I'm pretty sure the boiler on this thing is aluminum.

bgn wrote:I was able to play with one of these for about a month one time. when you do get it pressurized, watch for flakes of metal in your coffee

Strewth. That sounds a little ominous

I'm pretty sure the boiler on this thing is aluminum.

Oh no. That would be pity.

It looks to be complete with all the hard to find parts, so that is a very good start. As per the aluminum boiler....any real big problems are visible from the outside of the shiny aluminum boiler part....if there has been corrosion, it will show as holes actually visible from the outside, along the bottom edge where the aluminum meets the orange metal base. Don't get too carried away with descaling down to bare metal inside as the scale serves a protective function on the aluminum. If you go for the absolute zero scale look you will only expose the aluminum to attack. To pull the piston and descale the removable cylinder...all fine, but I have found that obsessive overcleaning can do more harm than good. Make sure the steam and water drain valves are working properly and if you shake it around you should be able to hear the pressure regulating marble rattling around in the chimney on top, assuring it is not plugged or frozen. The chimney is press fit and can be carefully removed to inspect the pressure bleed port to make sure there is no blockage or danger to switch it on and hope for the best.

Just received...

had some nasty sludge inside... outside looks not too bad.

Switched on, heated up pressure release valve at top works fine...

steam and water drain valves are working properly

Leaks from the group head bottom and steam comes out from top of group head so i'm guessing all the gaskets need replacing...

Will order new gaskets and install them and see how it goes...

Photos tonight for all you interested people out there

Big machine, looks too cool

Alright i've taken the machine to pieces and here are the photos of the boiler inside.

So as expected there is corrosion. the question now is what does one do about it.
As expected the corrosion is around the base of the boiler, where it meets the heating element.
On the plus side there are no holes through the casing, but a few pits are quite deep.
Let me know what you think.




I also managed to snap the damn stream rod connector off, argh! so damn stupid. Will i be able to find a replacement.





The gaskets all need changing but i got them all out cleanly and i need to change the glass.

I was going to put all the various pieces through the dishwasher to clean them, nothing wrong with that idea is there?

Thanks yall.