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  • Gaggia Classica 1 Group

    So, coming off of the Internazionale I bought last month, I actually ran into another machine last week that I just confirmed the purchase and shipping. A (I believe) 1953 Gaggia Classica 1 group.

    This one has a slightly interesting story as to how I found this machine in the first place that took place in May of 2019, and it involved a purchase of some vintage wall mounted lamps.

    There is a large antique market that is every Sunday in Agnano at the Hippodrome from 3am-noon (yes 3am) that sells anything from paintings to caffettiere. I usually went with my mom and she bought a pair of wall lamps from one of the many vendors named Luciano. Luciano was interested in Americans who speak pretty decent Italian and we talked for bit. We eventually wandered into coffee and he saw some of my machines I had at the time. He told me he knew a guy who owned some espresso machines and set up a meeting with him a week later. We drove Luciano to and from his pick up place near where he lives in Casoria (north of Naples but south of where I lived at the time) to this man. Just note that up until we picked him up we did not know who he was, and here we are ferrying this man in our car directing us to a place in the province of Salerno after seeing him for the second time ever. We were chatting about everything and I had a fun time practicing my Italian, which has opened up horizons I did not expect. Being interested in coffee is also a plus in Italy (who knew!).

    We arrived and the man showed up soon after, and his name is Franco. Showing us inside we found out what he did: he was an appliance distributor, including two espresso machine companies (Faema and Gaggia). It was started by his father in the early 1970's and he took over after him. He owned various machines, including an the Gaggia Classica and a 1908 machine called a Torino Express. He took in machines for maintenance and sold various spare parts for Gaggia and Faema. At the time I was beginning my first project, the Gaggia LL 2 group. Franco supplied me with some parts for a good price.

    He showed me the Classica, some grinders, and the Torino Express machines he had at the time. Prior to meeting he had a 3 group Classica and 2 group Spagna but unfortunately those were already sold (I would have seriously tried buying them though if he still had them!). I was unable to afford his price and had to sadly leave the machine with him and said bye to both Franco and Luciano.

    Fast forward to last week. We exchanged telephone numbers at the time but I lost track of Franco's number when it changed. Therefore it was unknown what he was doing during the 2+ years but I finally figured out his number when I realized the number switches over on WhatsApp automically to his new one, and he responded to me! He still had the Classica and I was able to negotiate a very reasonable price for the machine. It is now being prepped for shipment and should arrive to me in a week or two hopefully. I had a friend nearby ready to pick it up for me if Franco was not able to ship it, and they did talk but it was determined not to be necessary.

    He is adorable! He sent me videos describing how he was taking parts off in prep for shipment (like the lever) and asked when I would be visiting again. I certainly will try at some point, perhaps next year.

    These four pics are ones I took in 2019. I am guessing 1953 for the age as it's sort of written on the manometer but smudged. These are not the original size pics so it may be hard to read them. The serial number is SC 1734. Things I note as missing is the sight glass metal cover, which I believe is the same length as the Faema Mercurio. The original plexi is very slightly chipped in one corner but nothing serious.
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    One of the pics Franco sent me last week.
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  • #2
    Included in the purchase was a Gaggia blender and two coffee grinders. I've never seen the blender before so I am going to document that one when it gets here especially.
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    • #3
      Originally posted by IamOiman View Post
      So, coming off of the Internazionale I bought last month, I actually ran into another machine last week that I just confirmed the purchase and shipping. A (I believe) 1953 Gaggia Classica 1 group.

      This one has a slightly interesting story as to how I found this machine in the first place that took place in May of 2019 ...]
      Good read.. It makes you wonder how many untapped sources of vintage coffee machines still exist in Italy and other parts of Europe.

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      • IamOiman
        IamOiman commented
        Editing a comment
        oh definitely, he never listed anything on resale sites like subito and he is certainly not the only one out there that does that.

    • #4
      Well, the Classica and other bits arrived at 11am today while I was on a work call so it was a little frantic juggling the crates into the garage as I was talking to my work colleagues.

      The good news: everything arrived at a convenient time since the original arrival date was earlier this week when I was in Arizona and Utah checking out some national parks and monuments + attending a cousin's wedding. A delay in shipment worked in my favor for once!

      The bad news: the wood crates did not have the pallet legs on the bottom so it was not easy to tell which way was the top. The Classica arrived upside down!! The plexi and the sight glass broke and thankfully that appears to be the only damage I identified so far. It sucks that this happened but I hope to do something about the plexi, or at least hold onto it for the time being. I was quickly reassured with the body panels as taking off the top cover that holds the cuts and plexi I realized it is HEFTY. It seriously must weigh almost if not more than 5 pounds. A seriously thick gauge of metal.

      I do in fact have the wobbler weight + plunger, I just took them off (well, fished the plunger from the bottom of the machine) before taking pics.
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      • kofekitt
        kofekitt commented
        Editing a comment
        I never understand the use of those packing peanuts with anything heavy. As soon as it moves, they either compress or move out of the way... The best way to ensure no damage when shipping is making sure it is secured to the base of the case, and can't move . Arrows or 'this way up' labels are commonly ignored by most couriers i see...

    • #5
      Glad that it arrived safely for you, though a pity about the damage. You seem to freight a few machines, next time it may be worthwhile to ask them to write an arrow on all four sides. Universally understood ( though not necessarily obeyed) but gives the carton a chance of arriving right way up

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      • IamOiman
        IamOiman commented
        Editing a comment
        It happens, there was in fact a label indicating the top after inspecting it but it was not obvious. I am fortunate so far in terms of shipment damages. This is the first obvious time something broke in shipment for me, which is a little lucky considering how many machines I've shipped!

    • #6
      Oh I forgot the other pics!

      Initial first impressions shows chrome that is not in pristine condition but not in terrible shape (mostly). This is going into a realm of deciding if I want to rechrome stuff or keep it original. The grouphead, valves, and portafilter have little speckles from wear, and the drip tray is decently worn too. I was concerned as well with the chrome because tape was used to secure the lever and portafilter but nothing peeled off with the tape thankfully. Since the machine has no asbestos insulation I am bringing it inside for now.

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      • #7

        I checked the Classica out more closely today. I cannot understate how tall this machine is. The pavoni is so tiny! I also want to emphasize how heavy duty this machine is. I thought the cup tray weighed 5 pounds. In fact it's closer to 5kg 😲
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        Now the thing I was most curious about is how good condition the chrome actually was. Some pieces like the drip tray and a few valves are really worn, but I suspected other pieces were just covered in grime.

        I was proven correct. A wash and a quick wipe down in Sidol revealed the shiny chrome underneat, and I am not done yet with the cleaning which I will finish when I have everything apart. Note the blue lamps in the background are the ones that were purchased from the man that introduced me to Franco!
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        • #8
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          And finally here are the other three goodies that arrived undamaged in the other crate, the two grinders and the domestic blender.
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          • #9
            I got tempted and had to take apart the Classica as I wanted to see the innards.

            The valves connecting to the boiler were actually not too tight. In fact the glass sight broke because the lower sight turned in place and thus snapped the glass. I will note this is probably the biggest valve assembly I've seen so far! I had to take off the manometer and elbow fitting because the turning arc was fouled with them in place by the lever group. There is a slotted nut on top that I got off with an offset screwdriver. Surprisingly unlike the Internazionale I had wrenches that fit the hex parts of the valves very nicely. It's 28mm for all but the water inlet which is 30mm.
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            • #10
              I loosened the four slotted screws on the front to take off a body panel bracket. I was expecting the rear body panel piece to come off but I was surprised to see the bracket assembly not integrated with the former. I thought I was ready to take off the body panel but I realized there are three threaded rods that are welded to the bottom of the body piece and have a nut and washer to secure the body panel to the lower skirt. After taking those nuts off I thought I could finally take off the body piece (again). But in fact the rear threaded rod was dented, probably during shipment, that would not allow me to take off the body piece. I had to manipulate the threaded rod with a screwdriver to fit it through its hole in the skirt. Eventually I could get the piece off. You can see the two bolts securing the foot to the frame now.
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              • #11
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                At this point I moved the much lighter Classica out to the garage for more aggressive methods of disassembly. The water inlet valve needed a little convincing to loosen but eventually it yielded. I heated the six M8 boiler bolts with a MAP Pro torch, waited for them to cool off, and then worked my way with each bolt. All of them came out, but the lid would not come off. I realized the dipper tube in the group was interfering with the element coils, so I added my spring tool in prep for disassembly of the group and then took off the group from the boiler. Note this grouphead uses the newer dipper design where it can be unscrewed with a 25mm wrench. This allowed me to take out the lid and the crusty heating elements. The group looked a little slanted but I believe that is because of this interference by the heating element. The boiler itself is in fact straight. I am very impressed with how big they are! The boiler gasket will not come off cleanly due to its thinness so I will keep it outside until I descale the boiler since red gasket usually equals asbestos.
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                • #12
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                  • #13
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                    The foot popped off with the two M8 bolts coming out and I could also take off the backsplash. The boiler to group studs I heated up, doused in penetrating oil, waited for them to cool down, and loosened them/took them off with vise grips. In the end the only snapped thread was one rusted slotted boiler to frame screw! There is a plug on the bottom of the boiler. It would not yield to my impact driver so I will descale the boiler first before further attempts are made.
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                    • #14
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                      And thus the Classica is now mostly in pieces. The lower skirt attaches to the frame directly via two slotted screws. The valve pieces are mostly loosened up, with just a few bits needing descaling to unclog the threads. I am not sure what wattage the elements are but perhaps I could resuse them if they are still working.
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                      • #15
                        The group came apart with the spring tool. I had a helper hold the group as I tapped out the pinion so I could decompress the spring. I am happy to see the spring holder is made of brass this time! The spring is rusty, presumably from a failed gasket stack.
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