Posted Wed Aug 13, 2008, 3:50pm Subject: vintage mazzer restoration
Hi, apparently here in Italy, where i am at the moment, a prosumer espresso machine or a grinder are more expensive than overseas, but since there isn't much market for used commercial gear, it is not rare to find some very old pieces of equipment at decent prices (except original E61s, which are sold at premium rates)
Since time and inactivity take their toll on mechanical equipment, and since grinders are no exception to this rule, i was wondering if i buy a vintage mazzer at a decent price, will i find the spare parts for it? I think burrs haven't changed much over the last 40 years, so is there a chance i will find replacement parts for this beauty? can anyone help me identify the model?
Posted Sun Aug 17, 2008, 2:50pm Subject: Re: vintage mazzer restoration
In the picture you posted the label says "Mazzer Mestre". I did a google search and came up with a HB post that says that grinder is a mazzer major. Click Here (www.home-barista.com) That might be something to look into.
Posted Sun Aug 17, 2008, 4:06pm Subject: Re: vintage mazzer restoration
Thanks for your precious contribution Philosogeek, unfortunately Mestre is the city where Mazzer production plant was based (now is Gardigiano di Scorze', Venice province, not too far from Mestre, though)
The link on HB you pointed me to clearly shows how forums are populated by self proclaimed experts who can mislead people looking for info, that guy is a good example
Is like asking someone advice about a car which you would like to identify, and the only info you can provide is the car you saw had a tag on the engine saying "Ford - Detroit" and he suddenly says: "It's a Mustang!" without even asking the car's features. I could have understood if he made the diagnosis based on a picture.. at least
I keep looking around, i remember having seen a similar grinder on a german forum... lemme check again..
while writing this one i found another restoration project on HB (thanks for inspiration) based on a super jolly, and at stage, in the thread, someone, much better informed than the above mentioned "expert" says what i already wrote here (actually he wrote that long before i did, but i didn't know the existence of that thread) and that confirms my already solid suspects about that guy
Which indicates that it is wired for three-phase 220V. What are the chances that you're going to want to use this machine in a three-phase environment? Usually fairly industrial areas are the only ones to get three-phase, and most residential areas, here in the US, get only one phase per neighborhood.
Posted Sun Aug 17, 2008, 5:53pm Subject: Re: vintage mazzer restoration
I read the label but i also read that converting a 3 phase 220v to a single phase on the same voltage is not a big drama, and no inverter is needed
Different situation would be that of a 380v three phase wired mazzer Major to use on a 220V mains . Not the case, though
I of course will inquire about that phases thing better before buying.
Even better Psyd, if you know more and can contribute to expand my knowledge on the electrical phases subject i would be very grateful. I'm pretty sure there are other people who could be interested in reading it. Restoring old grinders or grinders wired for industrial use is apparently a not so beaten path (but well wort it in my opinion)
Output is 220V 3p. You can vary the frequency to change the rpm if you wish. Cost for the 004E21A is around $185 in the US. Hookup takes less than 10 min. Get larger capacity units if the wattage requirement is higher.
I read around that is just matter of putting a condenser of the right capacity (or condensator?) between two of the phases and then connect to mains. Just a few bucks i guess
It is just a low power machine running for just a few seconds at a time a very few times a day, i think an inverter would be necessary for a more powerful and heavily used motor, not my case
Did you buy the old Mazzer in the end? I've just picked up something very similar today in London. There doesn't seem to be a great deal of info on these old ones. Maybe they were built before Mazzer really kicked off with the exports. Mine is red and in desperate need of a good tidy. I've already stripped it back and given it a quick paint. Probably the main concern is the perspex doser insert is a bit out of shape (must have got hot at some point) and gets in the way of the mechanism, but hopefully I can straighten it out without wrecking it, as I doubt a spare is going to be easy to come by.
It is wired up with a UK plug for 220V, which is also what the blue label says on the bottom, along with 50Hz and 1400 Giro...the HP and all other fields are empty - but given yours is in handwriting, they may have worn away over the decades. Interestingly, the black switch surround says Bremas, 380V, 15Amp, but I guess this is just to indicate the capacity of the switch, for whatever reason. There is some modern wiring and a resistor or condenser of some sort inside, so maybe this one has been converted from 3 phase?
I can see from your photo that the tamper arm is metal (aluminum I guess). Mine is plastic, so I assume it is a bit newer. The other visible difference is that part of the doser lid on yours recessed on one side. Mine is the same shape all round - like more recent ones - although this may have been changed at some point. I can't tell from the photo but is your doser aluminum or stainless/chromed steel?
Oh, I measured the burrs...62mm...Jolly's are 64 aren't they? I guess I'll cross that hurdle at a later date.
I think it is going to tidy up pretty well and look quite funky in the kitchen...fingers crossed the wife agrees ;-)
Here is the picture the last owner put on eBay...not the best, but I'll post some others once I'm done.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
![IlWoggo: orangemazzer.JPG](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/40099/orangemazzer.JPG", 299, 400, "IlWoggo: orangemazzer.JPG");)
![IlWoggo: orangemazzersticker.JPG](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/40100/orangemazzersticker.JPG", 400, 299, "IlWoggo: orangemazzersticker.JPG");)
![CaffeineFree: 4d5e_1.JPG](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/40884/4d5e_1.JPG", 300, 400, "CaffeineFree: 4d5e_1.JPG");)
= No New Posts since last visit 