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Faema "Lambro" Restoration

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  • Faema "Lambro" Restoration

    Hi Yall
    Well im new to coffee snobs and this is my first post, so here gos, but i must say i feel at home.
    I have been in to coffee machines for a a few years now, and have had a few little fixer uper projects, but this Faema Lambro has been the best project i have undertaken, so i thought i would share it with you guys.

    I imported two machines from Italy (the other is a La Pavoni "BRASILIA") and started the restoration about a year ago, the restoration went pretty much to plan. Complete strip down, descale every thing in sight. You will notice i have had the boiler nickel plated, this is not original, some will like this, some may not, my reason is the prevention of copper oxidization.  Only the parts that needed re-chroming have been done, likewise the side panels were in very good condition and have been left in original paint, with a buff and polish.  The frame has been sand-blasted and repainted, stainless panels and aluminum parts polished. The Perspex panel behind the cup warmer is also original, its a bit hard to see in these photos but it has this lovely blue color to it, it was quite badly scratched but polished up ok.
    As for modifications I have added a thermal cut out switch, tucked away in the drain plug, an anti-vac valve in the tee piece at the top and Sirai pressurestat & on/off switch & as well as two indicator lamps (green power on, red element on).
    All the seals /o-rings all the stuff you would expect to be replaced has been done.
    The Lambro is still to have the final wiring done, but i have had some test runs with temporary wiring and work great, and pulled a few  shots, and it did not disappoint.

    Well hope you like, if i can be of help to anyone, with info about the project or people that helped (sand-blasting, chrome plating, polishing that sort of thing) drop me an email.






  • #2
    Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

    Originally posted by 4D7C6F676951596F7C6A0E0 link=1286166653/0#0 date=1286166653
    ...if i can be of help to anyone, with info about the project or people that helped (sand-blasting, chrome plating, polishing that sort of thing)...
    Craigo,
    Where are you located? Im curious about the boiler nickel plating.

    Greg

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    • #3
      Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

      Hey Greg,
      Im located in the upper Blue Mountains, Katoomba.
      The people i had do the plating work is a company called ENWARE Australia Pty Ltd, they are at 64-66 Woodfield Boulevard, Caringbah NSW 2229. Ph 8543 4800.
      The fellow to speak to is Ned the manager of the chrome factory, the price seemed very good to me, and they didnt mind at all doing one-off jobs.
      Cheers Craig

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      • #4
        Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

        beautiful

        Comment


        • #5
          Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

          Originally posted by 50746E7E757C1D0 link=1286166653/3#3 date=1286177471
          beautiful
          Yep...

          BF will post when he sees this... He likes these types of machines... He has a problem that electrolytes can not fix.

          Italy My daughter is off to Itialy and Cicely shortly for 2 or 3 months..

          Might see if she can keep her eye open.

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          • #6
            Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

            Great Rebuild and another lever too 8-)

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

              Originally posted by 705F5654437C505F5056545C545F45310 link=1286166653/4#4 date=1286178940
              Bf will post when he sees... He likes these types of machines...
              Who me :

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              • #8
                Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                Lovely job Criago, and welcome to Coffeesnobs !

                Cheers
                Simon

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                • #9
                  Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                  Hi Yall
                  Last time i posted some pics of this Feama "Lambro" It was yet to have the final wiring done, well its all complete now. (as a side note the Lambro is named after the Lambro river outside Milano, Italy...anyhow)

                  You will see a few after market modifications: the over-temp switch in the drain plug in the bottom of the machine, the Sirai pressurestat, anti-vac valve (in the tee piece top of the boiler) and an on/off switch with two indicator lights (green = power on, red= element on).
                  If anybody is thinking about doing a restoration project like this i can highly recommend it, its alot of fun and very rewarding pulling shots from a machine brought back to showroom condition.

                  Can anyone help with a cover for the element, to guard against getting an electric shock. Coffeeparts.com did sell a little plastic cover but it has now been discontinued. Any body know where i can buy one?

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                  • #10
                    Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                    wiring

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                      Hi Craig, great job, it looks fantastic.I havent seen one yet with an element cover, so may be hard to find.Good to know the lambro name history as id often wondered.
                      As a side note - dont vac breakers have to mounted vertically to operate properly? Does your one still pop open when boiler cools?

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                      • #12
                        Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                        I have one of these I am about to restore- though it is already in fine shape- all original and working. I am considering replacing the original mercury pressure stat- and adding some of the modern components that you have.

                        Did you restore the group head? and was that difficult?

                        would love to see some shots? any pics?

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                        • #13
                          Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                          Hey kofekitt
                          mounting the anti-vac valve the way you see wasnt my first choice, purely necessity to shoe-horn it in to tight space between the cabinet, but it does work fine.
                          This was my reasoning for the way its mounted.
                          If a anti-vac were mounted vertically it would remain in an open state until pressure from inside the boiler is greater than the outside pressure and it will close (and vice-versa). Mounted upside down, it remains in a closed state, and only opening when the pressure is greater outside the boiler than inside, thus still working as an anti-vacuum valve. the only draw back i thought there might be condensation (water) release when it opens. but i havent used the machine enough yet to see any evidence of this.
                          Hey have you had much of a chance to adjust the thermo-syphon system (the capped adjuster under the grouphead and behind the portafilter) i figure screwing in or out adjust the flow of water through the grouphead, but havent had the need to play with it yet.
                          Cheers. Craig

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                          • #14
                            Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                            Ive mounted my vac breaker on a tee from the safety valve outlet, with safety valve mounted horizontally, and vac breaker on top.Used a 3/8 tee, so youd need a 3/8 vac breaker too.Just fits under lid.
                            Ive had a play around with the thermosyphon adjuster, mainly to see if it affected group heat-up times as i use it a heatup and use machine, not left on all day.I have it set about 3/4 open at the moment.

                            Sorrentina coffee - faema lever groups very easy to re-build (unlike Gaggias!)

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                            • #15
                              Re: Faema "Lambro" Restoration

                              Hi SorrentinaCoffee

                              The choice to add a new pressurestat was pretty easy for me as the machine didnt have any pressurestat mercury or otherwise when i bought it, just a really old safety valve. as you can see here.
                              http://s1102.photobucket.com/albums/...ardie4k/<br />
                              I could have got a smaller pressurestat but i liked the build quality and accuracy of the Sirai.
                              I am happy for people to argue robustly for or against adding modern features to an antique machine. its a personal thing, good to have an opinion though. For me feeling confident in the safety of the machine was important. I would argue against doing any modifications that are visible from the outside of the machine or change the character of a vintage machine.

                              The grouphead was a tough one, i spoke to a fellow Frank at Euroespresso, Parramatta Rd Sydney. who has restored more machines than i have seen. I wanted to strip the grouphead and re-plate it, but Franks option was the grouphead was in quite good condition and unless it was really bad you are best leaving it as is, so i went with the voice of experience and i am happy i did.

                              One thing i didnt do first off was replace the main spring, it seamed OK. but after pulling a few test shots i decided to replace it. The replacement spring was only $25 so a bit of a no brainer. The the first time i pulled the new spring it was evident the old one was a bit tired after 50 years of service. The improvement in the shots was evident as well.
                              OK hope that helps.
                              Cheers Craig

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