mysterie-lever-machine

by **michel** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:23 pm

Found this item on the Dutch auction-site www.marktplaats.nl
Any reasonable bid will be excepted... but what's reasonable and what brand is this..?

by **alans** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 4:42 pm

My guess is it's an old Elektra, somewhere between a ELEKTRA "Micro Casa Leva" Copper & Brass and a ELEKTRA "Micro Casa Semiautomatica". I'll see if I can find any more....

by **phil** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 6:06 pm

Looks more like a fondue set to me ..... :lol:

Sorry, it's been a hard day here in the multinational oil trading biz .... :oops:

by **michel** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 7:17 pm

Alans,
My first impression was an Elektra too, but I can't find any other example (also not on www.elektrasrl.com, the history page...)
In Mark's review of the Elektra Micro Casa a Leva he show's an Elektra a Leva of the first generation (around 1960) and the machine doesn't really look like this 'fondue-set'...
http://www.coffeegeek.com/proreviews/de ... va/history

Although I agree with you that it's probably an Elektra (as the Gaggia site is very interesting but doesn't come close...) I will mail the seller and then we know more (I hope...)
gaggia museum site:
http://www.gaggia.it/uk/museo.html

by **michel** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:01 pm

I've mailed the seller:

---------------------------
(L.S.,
> Kunt u mij ook zeggen welk merk het is, gaat het om een Elektra of om een
> Gaggia..?
> En weet u ongeveer een datum van fabrikaat..?
--------------------------------
translated:
L.S.,
Can you please tell me which brand it is, is it an elektra or an Gaggia, and do you happen to know a date of fabrication..?

She replied:

--------------------------------------------
Beste mijnheer Michel,

De namen die u noemt komen niet voor op het apparaat.
Het gaat hierbij om een apparaat van de Italiaanse ontwerper "Stefano
Ugolini"
Het apparaat heeft geen thermostaten en is voorzien van twee
verwarmingselementen die worden geschakeld middels twee afzonderlijke
bakeliten schakelaars. Dit duidt op een leeftijd van ongeveer 50 jaar.
Precies weet ik het ook niet.
Het apparaat is van massief koper (rood en geel) vervaardigd. De handels
zijn van palm hout gemaakt. Er zijn drie afstapkranen: te weten 1 voor de
schuimpijp, 1 voor theewateraftap en 1 voor het hete stoom water dat in de
grote ketel terecht komt.
--------------------------------------------------

translated:

Michel
The names you mention are not visible on the machine.
What we are dealing with is a machine designed by designer: Stefano Ugolini.
The machine has no thermostats but has two heatingelements which can be operated by two independent bakelite switches. This points to an age of fabric about 50 years ago...
Exacly I don't no either...
the machine is massive copper (red and yellow). Handles are made from palm-wood. There are 3 water-taps: to know: 1 for the frothing-device, 1 for hot water and 1 for the heat steam water wich ends up in the big kettle.
----------------------------------------

I can't find info about this designer on internet... anybody else perhaps (in relation to espresso-machines preferably of course...as the only ugolini fabrication I could find is the following:)

by **michel** » Wed Jan 07, 2004 10:35 pm

I found these diagrams, and as both are Elektra Micro casa a leva... (only the second one is the 'new' model...) the old one looks a lot like the offered machine...

by **alans** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 12:37 pm

I found it and it's a beauty!!!! From http://www.ugoliniarreda.it/ "Italian furnishings manufacturers and designers since 1960" go to Find then Art. 407883 M.ESP 407883 COFFEE MACHINE EX 557 and there she is!!!

What a machine! I'm sure if you email them for more info they'll give you production dates, numbers made etc. but working out what is a reasonable price is going to be a lot harder. I'd assume all the seals are gone and you'll probably need to re-wire it so it would be a big project. I can't find it on the auction site, what price is it at the moment?

by **Danny** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 12:49 pm

Wow,... I've been looking around for an repair project and this looks awesome... But the timing is all bad. I am in between a kitchen renovation and if I spend another cent on coffee my wife will probably leave me...

Is anyone considering this seriously? Michel?

-D

by **michel** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 1:16 pm

Great work Alans... Compliments on your searching work...
I've made a bid by e-mail of 50 euro, which is much too low, as the machine is in working condition according to the seller.
If you go to www.marktplaats.nl and you type in the searchscreen right above on the page:
'espressoapparaat antiek'
you'll find the add....

by **Danny** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:03 pm

Awww man, thats just teasing.
I'd bid 55 euros if I didn't think that would be a nasty thing to do.

Let us know if you get it Michel.

by **michel** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:17 pm

Go ahead Danny...
I think the seller finds 55 also way out of range... So you have to do more... My bid was unofficially done by mail, and she/he replied that she was sorry but 50 was not in the amountarea where she/he was thinking about...

But give it a try... you'll never know (have to collect it in Limburg if you get it though...)

by **moccafaux** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:35 pm

Thank god I did not find it. Because thats what I would have bought as a project to help me over a long winter.

by **michel** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:38 pm

Huh

Just checked the www.marktplaats.nl for the add and it's gone...

by **Danny** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:39 pm

michel wrote:Go ahead Danny...
I think the seller finds 55 also way out of range... So you have to do more... My bid was unofficially done by mail, and she/he replied that she was sorry but 50 was not in the amountarea where she/he was thinking about...

But give it a try... you'll never know (have to collect it in Limburg if you get it though...)

For goodness sake don't encourage me man... I really really really dont need to be buying something like this right now.

I wonder what they really want for it? Did they tell you?

by **moccafaux** » Thu Jan 08, 2004 2:46 pm

Gone? Phew!
So I can continue to look for for a good machine, cheap because in need of a complete overhaul.
I have the time and skill to repare, but not the money to buy new

mysterie-lever-machine

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