Archives - Chromes d'Antan

Cimbali Eleva, care and photo essay…

Cimbali Eleva,

Arrived complete but with an incredible patina, a state of dirt never seen on any of the machines I’ve been able to buy so far.

I was inspired by this vision, beyond the scrap metal I had the feeling that there was a soul that told me a story. Prisoner too long captive of a wet and dark cellar she begged me to give her back heat and light.

It had become gray like the concrete of the walls of its prison, its frame was oozing a whitish dust like saltpetre. It had become impossible to recognize the materials of which it is made. Brass, aluminum, steels, stainless steel all had the same earthy appearance as if it were decomposing.

I had to look after her, I reassure her … This is her proud again looking at herself in the mirror …

Faema Velox, surprise puzzle…

Velox, wall mounted Faema

Arrival disassembled and in a carton damaged by GLS, not reassuring to start the work, not sure that there is nothing missing …

The owner had warned me he missed the hot water tap. I have in stock a tap from Faemina that could make an honorable replacement. The safety valve should be removed, which would be useless. Validated choice I will do this like this:

All parts to be rechromed are now ready to go to the chrome person:

The tamper was broken during transport, the bakelite works happily very well:

The heating element has a very bad aspect and lacks the insulators and contacts … A verification is necessary:

Electrically the values are good I can mount the tips:

The chrome revenues I begin the reassembly, missing the thermal joint between the boiler and the frame.

Check and clean the warming light:

Main switch:

The thermostat is fully set to control and clean, it is the only way to ensure that it will work for many years to come.

Reassembly of the safety valve, return to water is very close

The boiler plus group is reassembled, one can go there. First cold water supply:

Waterproof and warm I leave it running a week to make sure everything is fine. I love the coffee that this machine produces!

Finally this restoration went very well, it is the fourth Faema Velox that passes my hands but I still have not remade mine …

Faemina, service or rescue ?…

Faemina Faema

“Pascal my Faemina no longer works, I gave it to repair at Faema but they have not arrived to disassemble and can not repair it. Can you do a maintenance ?”

What initially was only maintenance will become a rescue, wearing a recognized brand does not guarantee the necessary know-how to work on these old models. Faema today no longer knows how the old models were designed. When I saw the condition of the group the first time I understood that they had wanted to disassemble but had only arrived to break everything …

Never seen such an eagerness to do wrong …

Fortunately I have a little stock of Faemina spare parts …

A maintenance at Chromes d’Antan includes a thorough cleaning:

Faema Faemina service by chromesdantan

Descaling the boiler:

Faema Faemina refurbish by chromesdantan

Piston and heating elements:

The machine has been completely rewired with high temperature silicone wire.

In addition to the revision I have to try to restore a bit of smartness to the base that was tightened in a vise during the aborted attempt to pull out the group’s sleeve …

The traces are so deep that I will not be able to erase them all, it would force me to remove too much material. She will keep some stigmata of her passage at Faema …

Even the group has been marked, but it can remain like that is not too visible when shiny.

Cleaning of the filter holder and after reassembly the beautiful is ready to resume service

Conti Princess, restoration by Pascal Bourret

Conti Princess

It was in January 2016, picked up from a roaster who had restored for him and who separated from it. The work done was of a good level but my client wanted a restoration “like chromesdantan” so I would redo it completely.

Some details are really not good…

Painted bodywork to repair is quite easy, straighten a bad shot like that on a sheet that will be chromed again is quite of another level.

With time and experience I have acquired good skills in straightening. Today I am able to completely remove most of the defects. At Chromesdantan I do prepare the pieces to be chromed myself, one does not rechrome on parts damaged. Nothing worse in my eyes than a brilliant brand new chrome on a damaged piece …

All the technical part had been treated with care, stainless steel screws, high temperature wire, professional pressure switch, anti-rust paint on the frame. Not in my standards of work but good work anyway.

When disassembling the lid one thing shocks me, the screws that hold the resistance are through. So the risk of leakage is important and I do not like it. I plugged with solder, then drilled and tapped without exceeding inside.

Stainless steel dowels and bolts and here is a montage in the rules!

sand blasting of boiler and all copper and brass

Conti Princess restored taps

Then I can reassemble

First tests, I had big problems of leaks to the solder of the bride holding the lid, small porosities that I had to treat by completely removing the old braze and making it again.

Conti Princess restored

No more leak

So after a week of non-stop operation without worry I can finally remount it completely

We often see these Conti Princess in original condition and they are not very pretty. But once restored finally I prefer it to the Empress! …

One espresso ?!

Faema Mercurio

Last images of the beautiful Italian:

Nice boiler !

Nice chrome works !

Some screws can’t be find anywhere anymore nowadays. We custom made them when necessary.

What a fucking splendid machine !!!

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Roma Italian steam machine for sale

Any questions and contact by there

Conti Prestina

This is the end,

As often, nothing particular to say, so pictures :

Still one for sale, don’t hesitate to contact me there

Pascal

Two groups Faema Marte, a dream machine for sale

This Faema Marte is for sale, it will be fully restored as always.

For all your questions click there

Conti Prestina

Hello

Nothing particular to say so, pictures !

The beauty of this machine isn’t in his chrome sure. But I find it so beautiful… When espresso produced is so great what would you like more ?!

Nice weekend

Conti Prestina

Definitely not easy posting through here now, here are some details of ongoing work. Today the machine makes coffee, It only remains me to polish the stainless steel skins, reassemble the body, and it will be over. But you understand, I’m late here.

During reassembly of the water inlet tap I made some pictures. I really love this assembly. It is as firmly and intelligently designed as a tap at Unic. Except that in addition ergonomics for assembler has been very well thought out. No need to pick a hidden O-ring in a small hidden deep throat of a well … Here everything has been designed to be very accessible.

Here is the main button controlling the opening of the valve :

The O-ring guiding the piston of the tappet is first placed in a groove cut into the body. Once placed the copper washer maintain it. Just over, the v-seal makes the sealing of the piston, and everything is maintained by the cover. So obvious!

As often with the manufacturers, a gasket is used for many purposes. The valve O-ring above is the same as that necessary to seal the two bases of the water level tube. Fortunately I had ordered several.

The heating element comes from the catalog La Spaziale, “Professional” model. Big advantage for all since Conti doesn’t produce it any more. And big advantage for our American friends, as it also comes in 110v. Details of the seals I used and hot water draw-off.

Not easy to fit a false steam/vacuum breaker valve with the OPV, not too much space…

Awesome this group, love it.

Nice Sunday, I try to come back very soon to talk about the end of this restoration.

Pascal