Passion Espresso
Hello
 I usually love to keep original aspect of a beautiful old beauty. But when it’s too damaged it makes no sens. This will be entirely re chromed.
Really too pleasant to make pictures with a so beautiful subject… one could think he’s the best photographer đ
A different type of collection, a different collector
An email requesting a machine restoration followed up by a quick phone call was enough to get my attention and make me drive to the Luberon, a beautiful region of Provence located an hour away from Marseille. It turned out to be an exciting and enjoyable meeting where I had the opportunity to discover an incredible collection owned by a very unique collector.
David L is used to deal and collect unusual industrial objects, including radios, lamps, big projectors and, most recently, stoves. His massive and impressive stove collection rendered him a few articles in trendy decoration magazines and even a 5 minutes TV spot in the very popular French morning news program Telematin. IÂŽm not a professional in this field, but I will try to tell you what I had discovered that day.
I was not equiped to do a photo shoot in his warehouse where he stores more than 200 old wood and coal stoves. Each of them is more beautiful than the other. For me, it was like a revelation, as a door that opens to a world that I didnŽt know that existed before. Therefore, my excitement to discover an industry with plenty of imagination. Every creation is finely crafted and richly decorated that might take the form of a US building U.S., an English mansion, a radio, the front part of an American car.
One of my favorites is this splendid Salamander.
A few other
 
The collector’s favorite
 
It should be a shame not to bring a few shots of the splendid radio.
Nothing to see with my usual Zenith, but he saw I was falling in love for this other splendid one. He will make gift, many thanks again David.
And as if necessary, a link with our passion, man loving beautiful things, this object found at a flea market đ
To extend the visit I highly recommend a walk on his website: http://vintagefrenchstoves.com/index.html
Pascal
Hi all
Still to finish the small touches of paint on the plastic badge “Faema” but I can’t resist the urge to show you the last few pictures. This restoration was a good experience, I learned a few basics of some of the work of brass sheet.
I’ll let you judge the result.
Hi all
 Very difficult to post since a while, but work continues. Here are some new of the Velox. Body came back from chrome, beautiful, a great job, forgotten the anxiety of unpacking, no longer any trace.
 A friend sent me a second incomplete machine to retrieve the last pieces that were damaged, the water inlet valve and the body of the safety valve.
I still wait a few joints but the preparation of the various parts of the machine is complete, the end of the restoration should now move quite quickly.
 Pascal
Hello
Day today with a little time to take care of the Velox. I used an old marble as surface to remove all the defects.
Sanding and partial polishing to check the result, that’s fine I’m glad.
 Soon the vacations, and this concern resolved. This end of the year sounds nice for me đ
Wish you all happy holidays !
Pascal
Hello
For a while now I’m looking for a solution to repair the body of the Velox. But it is really not easy to find someone to straighten sheet metal, nowadays nobody knows how anymore. I would have to look at vintage car restorers, but I have no time search. So I decided that once again I’ll manage by myself. After all, often it is fear of failure that hinders initiative. Fear does not take away danger so let’s go!
On this picture we see various problems, there are these wide curves like waves. And there is this fold just above the water inlet valve on the right. Curves taken by the sheet at the moment of impact will be very simple to fix. Clamps, wooden blocks, anything that comes to hand and will perform the necessary effort to restore its original shape. It only took about thirty minutes, it was impressive but finally was nothing. The real challenge will start immediately after. The small fold in the corner and various small defects in material will be much more complicated to fix. It is brass that will have re chrome, so impossible to use putty as you might do on a painted surface.
Â
One can’t see really well on pictures but the defect in angle is still important. Really not easy to restore its original shape to this fold. I modified a little tool I shaped into rounded at its end. Then gradually hitting from inside I got to remove quite all traces.
 
First try to fill the remaining impacts by welding. This is not a good solution because the metal works hard due to high temp and finally it tends to exacerbate the problem.
Â
Â
Finally I removed almost everything. Second try, this time with solder. Plumber’s tin, it melts at a lower temperature. This is more efficient but it is still not ideal.
Â
Â
Finally there won’t be no quick fix, it will take time but it will be better I think, gradually completely fix all remaining small defects. Pushing from the rear bodywork with a hammer while resting on a flat and hard surface. That’s all for now. To follow after Christmas days. For now this view of the Velox enjoy me better than what I found opening the package the first time.
Wish you all merry Christmas days, and great year’s end.
Pascal
Â
Pascal
Hello
Not very present in the moment, I still have a restoration to start I’ll tell you. The story begins with sad images. The packaging was very well done, but the carrier decided that it was not a good day to send a sensitive item …
It should have been a simple restoration…
 
Pascal
Hello
The most difficult with this little beauty was to find his name.
His owner knew it :
“La Tarvisium”
Once you know what to look for it is easier to find information. And even if the internet is not very verbose on this machine I will not repeat the history of brand Tarvisium became Elektra. I leave care to do to historians collectors, my thing to me is rather the technical side of the object. I’ll place some links of the result of my research at the end of article.
Machine with lever and spring, we have to do with an espresso machine which deserves the name “CaffĂ© Crema”
The marble plate is an integral part of the machine, it carries the whole around three screws. A screw into the front portion by the bottom of the drip tray, and the other two hold the two rear legs. Suffice to say that this machine is to handle with a certain softness. The front panel is sandwiched by the boiler and group. It is connected to the rear body by 6 screws.
Horizontal boiler of a good capacity, I’d say about 1.5 liters. The group, level, steam wand and the manometer are directly on the front face thereof. The heating element is horizontally placed on a copper plate. This one is maintained by a steel flange beautifully crafted. The heater is controlled by an adjustable pressure-stat whom contact should be easily replaced without any other change. I did not all removed because the machine is not mine, borrowed from a friend for our pleasure, but I feel that everything can be replaced for cheaper.
A question is always about these lever machines, the piston size and so the size of the gaskets for when will have to replace them. Three photos to give an idea. On one I put a cap from a wine bottle. And other situations with a Faema’s piston gasket to compare.
Finally, as to give an idea of the size I take some pictures with Arrarex Caravel.
A real pleasure to discover this machine, I still thank its owner for this loan.
Pascal
Différents liens :
Sur le forum Américain Home Barista
Sur un autre forum, Coffeegeek
Hello
Some pics of the machine.
Not a lot to tell about it, there are already a lot all over the web so i have nothing more to say.
Â
Hello
Here is a restoration which is nearing its end, a really great machine that Mercurio.
I placed the pressostat under the drip tray order to set the heating without opening the machine.
Â
Electrical wiring and approved safety valve.
Â
Mounting of the v seal of the piston rod, and piston seals.
On this group the water inlet holes are placed above the seal when piston is down, and below the lower seal when the piston is up. Not thought to take more pictures but some holes too are drilled at the bottom of the piston for the bottom joint. And also at the top to improve passage of water under pressure inside of the lip and pushing it on the group’s shirt. After the photo I finally decided to put a w seal at the top, this way there is two lips oriented to the descent of the piston and I hope it is better for durability.
Â
Â
Â
 All the pictures of this post are of a friend. Arstistic vision of my work and the machine.
Thank you Fred
Â
Â
Â
Â
.