MikelSan Senior Member Joined: 3 Sep 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Chapel Hill Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Mon Sep 3, 2012, 6:55pm Subject: La Pavoni Europiccola pre Millennium advice sought
I've been a lurker here for a while and I am in awe of the knowledge and advice available here. I'll launch into my dilemma: I bought a Europiccola about 20 years ago (Flea Market $50) when I got it it was disassembled, so I reassembled it & have been pulling shots ever since. All along, the boiler has been prone to loosening because the threads were cross threaded & have stripped some (thank you previous owner). I've been hobbling along lo these many years, and the boiler let go again this morning. Here's the thing, should I try to hunt down a replacement boiler and revive the machine, or is it time to sell it for parts and invest in a pump machine- something my wife may not be intimidated to use, but something that would satisfy me too. I will admit, the finicky/ temperamental nature of the machine is something Im not fond of sometimes.... I just don't know, so if you don't mind, help me think this through.
Posted Mon Sep 3, 2012, 10:26pm Subject: Re: La Pavoni Europiccola pre Millennium advice sought
i have an extra Pro boiler in my LP parts box. It may or may not be compatible with your EP's element (I can't remember what type it is, fine thread I think...). I can email you if you like.
I can tell you from experience that selling an LP for parts can be a lot of fun. I wound up scrapping one for parts because I sold the PF separately and the base was a mess. LP owners do love to find the parts they need for less, and there are always some people rebuilding. It was nice to see bits of my old machine out there making other old machines work. Your vintage heating element will make someone very happy. It does take time and everything might not get sold (those sight glass assemblies are in very low demand).
I sometimes dream of some sort of Vintage Lever Parts Clearing House where people could send their old machines to be parted, and those rebuilding could go to find the parts they need at a cost more in line with what they paid for their rebuild project. I know OE has a junkyard, but I'm imagining something different I think, not a business, just some sort of centralized exchange.
MikelSan Senior Member Joined: 3 Sep 2012 Posts: 2 Location: Chapel Hill Expertise: I love coffee
Posted Tue Sep 4, 2012, 7:49pm Subject: Re: La Pavoni Europiccola pre Millennium advice sought
I'm with you on the clearing house idea. It does strike a chord to resurrect a machine from parts and viola it works...
If I were to abandon ship I'd sell the machine in one shot as is. Still not sure about the direction to take. I was tracking a parts machine on eBay but it's a newer model and it seems like it'll price out close to an already functioning machine. I 'm wondering now if I can have the boiler rethreaded and a new collar fashioned....just thinking out loud here
Russel, how would I be able to tell of your pro boiler would work with my element?
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