Hi all
New to this group, I have one of these 2grp it is in a few pieces and I would have to look thru a few boxes for all the bits I in the past managed to purchase some of the piston ring/seals from a guy in Sydney and then time got the better of the project, I have since acquired a single and a dual group Boema so I have some more toys to play with and see what transpires.
till the next exciting episode
see ya
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La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Hi Simon
Just came across pics of your 3 group Dorio. Looks great. I have one the same in the shed along with a number of other old machines. It has one original group handle otherwise seems to be complete. Hope to get in and take some pics soon. I would love to do some restoration work on them but time is beating me. Is yours working? John
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Yes, its the one on Ebay, probably paid too much
, but just had to have it.
I havent dismantled the boiler yet, but I will certainly take your advice and soak it in WD40 before I tackle it.
It does have the lead weight, in fact it all looks very original, I will keep the pics coming and hopefully inspire you to return to the shed.
David
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Hi David
was that the recent one one the "bay of evil"
i contemplated buying it if it was.... yours is nice looking
the nuts and studs on my boiler are very rusty, if yours are i suggest lots of soaking with something like WD40 and maybe wire brushing etc off any rust before you attempt removing the nuts... a few of my test turns snapped the studs like butter
sadly i have been spending little time in the shed and wont be in there in the near future much to work on it
my last pics is about the same progress....
if you make a photo log post it up, it will inspire me to hook in and do some more
does yours still have the big lead weight for a over pressure valve ?
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Hi,
I am a newbee but I have been following your build with interest as I have similar machine. Its an Atlas lever model built in 1959. I had the same asbestos problem, and it is currently totally dismantled, the plan being to fully restore it to its former glory. Fortunately it is pretty much complete, but the whole thing is a learning curve for me. I will be attacking the boiler first so I look forward to seeing how yours progresses. The pic. is just before I took it apart.
regards
David
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
maybe i can just add a ball valve on the water piston line and have full pressure profiling ?
although i understand your idea i thnk i will keep her standard to start with
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
As pneumatic compressors are so cheap now, why not convert it to pneumatic. I dont think it would be really difficult or expensive to do.
All the top machine manufacturers are bringing out variable pressure coffee machines now ( La Marzocco, Synesso, Slayer etc ) and if you did this you would have a machine with all the benefits of its age with cutting edge pressure control.
John
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
If I was a magpie I would tempted to look at those shiny objects
KK
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
little update on the Automatica
been polishing a few bits and starting to look at seals and new nuts and bolts etc.
these are getting packed safely then going to try to spend some time on the boiler very soon....
brass end plates, copper boiler and mild steel studs and nuts...
what were they thinking.... rusty studs & nuts....

apart from the boiler its now mostly stripped apart
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
;D
Yep, I thought mine was the only one around so it will be great to compare the two !
Its all chrome - yes its just the light as I turned the flash off for that shot which makes it look gold. It is a gorgeous machine, and a big bugger too, 20 litres and 3400w.
Ill need to get another lever made as well. Ill be hopefully having a tinker in Jan with it.
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
cheeky bugger !!!! lol ;D
great to know of another and a CSr to boot. A bit of shared info is always good
is that gold chrome or just the light in the room ? very nice machine 8-) and i like the backing plate to your upper La Dorio badge
i just realized i have one top lever, it was with it i just did not put 2 + 2 together.... but one missing
I have been doing a bit of polishing on the panels and its coming up pretty good, a little pitted but very serviceable
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Hi Leeham
I hope the following photos will help and inspire you.




This is my machine, which is being looked after by a friend, while I complete the restoration of my La San Marco and build up my restoration skills. Ive been keeping this quiet as I have promised the previous owner he would be the first to see it when its running!
But now I have a duty to help a fellow Coffeesnob, so Im happy to provide you with all the info I can to help get yours running.
You can see the design of the top levers, and also the perspex hood. I dont have the original group handles. Everything else appears to be original and complete.
My machine is around 1964 I believe and still has the serial number plate as well as the Australian importer plate. According to the previous owner it came from a cafe in Ascot Vale, Melb and has not been running for quite some time.
As you can see the drip tray, sides, top and top front trim have been re-chromed. All the rest is untouched. I plan to conserve as much or the original patina as possible and will most likely leave the existing boiler insulation in place as well.
Please let me know what other pics youd like.
Cheers
Simon
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
@ Frabel, yes seals might be an issue but i have a local mob that cut seals on site with a laser thing (thinking teflon) so the boiler / flat seals should be ok. it has oring style in the gheads as well but i was thinking large machinery places should be the place to go.
@ Mal I agree, it has simplicty and complexity as well, I like it in a so ugly its beutiful kind of way and the design ideas amaze me.
@ TCM dont worry TCM QLD dams are full... i reckon i might use about 1L of water making my 2 coffees at 7am every day now.
I was wondering if it was water or steam driving the piston. Water does make more sense I need to follow the pipes back to look at where they go properly. I also was wondering how it expelled it out after the shot to get the piston to rise again? It also needs to fill the extraction water area under the piston. If it (or I) reverses the flow to raise the piston I can see how it would use heaps of water. Is it water into extraction zone pushes piston up and loads water for shot, water into piston pushes out extraction. Then repeat for next shot.
More info would be great and appreciated. Get some pics of your GranLuce up if you can. We all love pics
Hoping to spend some time on it this weekend
Leeham
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
hey Maheel
this is an hydraulic group dorio, they are very cool and a bit of fun only they waste an incredible amount of water ive been told? instead of a spring to push the piston down as in a traditional lever piston these machines used water pressure, then after expelled the used water to waste. i am told that some of these machines used roughly 1.5 litres on water to espress 30ml. anyhow, i just bought the La Cimbali GranLuce hydraulic auto as i wanted to know if this was true. what i do know is the La Cimbali was banned in Australia as it wasted far to much water and this maybe the case with your dorio as well. there are a few of these foatng around sydney, and i heard of somebody undertaking a resto a few years back. will try to find his details for you
cheers
tcm
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Re: La Dorio Atlas Automatica 1960 (ish)
Beautiful engineering though, youve got to say..... 8-)
I think youve got a real beaut there mate
Mal.
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