Lever project - Urania 1 group

Koffee_Kosmo

Nice progress Borat This will be a lovely machine to use when its up and working again 😉 KK

borat123

I paid a vist to the plating / polish shop today. Dropped off everything requiring chroming, and the boiler for polishing. The deep half is copper, and the top is brass. It will be acid bathed to removing the external tin coating prior to polishing. The boiler interior didn't appear to have any tin - not sure if this is how they came from the factory, or over time with descaling etc it wore off. The rechroming also involves plenty of labour as after stripping in an acid bath, they have to polish and bash out any dings before rechroming again. Then I went to the powder coating place and got some pricing on sandblasting, priming and powdercoating the frame. Quite reasonable I thought. Will wait until I get the boiler back before doing the blasting/painting, as I might do a minor bit of welding on one of the boiler mount points first. Also left the bits of aluminium trim at another place for stripping and re-annodising. After that I went to the fastener shop for stainless steel versions of all the rusty nuts / bolts & screws. I should get it all back in 4 weeks time...

Koffee_Kosmo

Dont forget a little gold plating here and there Just to set it apart at the new residence 😉 KK

borat123

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

Dont forget a little gold plating here and there Just to set it apart at the new residence 😉 KK

Yes, it will fit right in. I hear everything is gold plated over there... And here's tonight's quiz - who can identify what this little brown ball is made of? (It's on the end of a handle thats moves a sliding panel on the bottom of the cup warming tray) Perhaps its bakelight, or wood? AM, can you turn up a perfectly round 10mm wooden ball 😉

Ronin

Don't think it's wood. Wood doesn't craise like that. Plastic or bakerlite would be my guess from the photo's Awesone progress, I'm jealous (and time poor atm)

borat123

Ronin wrote:

Don't think it's wood. Wood doesn't craise like that. Plastic or bakerlite would be my guess from the photo's Awesone progress, I'm jealous (and time poor atm)

I think you're right Ronin. Wood looks a lot nicer than plastic. I broke the end off the rod as well when undoing the rusted nut on the other side. May have to find someone to knock up a new bit of threaded rod with a right angle bend in it. I can then drop it into the shop to get chromed with the other stuff.

Koffee_Kosmo

I dont think its Bakelite Its a composite material ? something with hardened rubber For a replacement I suggest a [1] wood ball [2] Glass Ball [3] Stone like pink marble ball [4] Metal / Alloy Most can be purchased off the shelf and all they need is a hole drilled to fit the shaft The thread is not important as an interference fit will do the job just as well KK

Ronin

borat123 wrote:

May have to find someone to knock up a new bit of threaded rod with a right angle bend in it.

Looks like 1/4 inch rod to me. Measure it, you might be able to get a piece of Booker rod (threaded rod) the right size. Off the shelf and easy to find nuts also.

Brett_H

What about get a lapidarist to turn up a nice stone or fossilised wood as KK suggested (pink marble). I've never drilled out anything that large as to accomodate an interference fit but I bet DB is a man in the know.

UNM

These kind of handles are used on a lot of commercial catering equipment, so a supplier of such items could probably help. I think a nice wood handle would look/feel best.

Ronin

I'll take your measurements AM and go a step further. Since these were probably made in imperial not metric My guess is 1/2 inch or 12.7mm (and prob was round when new) for the ball and 1/8inch for the rod. I could take it to work and use the laser scanner if you want it accurate to 0.0001mm ;D

borat123

AngerManagement wrote:

Looks like a bit bigger than 10mm to me, say 12mm 😉 And does not look perfectly round ;D ;D What is the rod dia 4mm or ? This is the time you go and buy a cheep set of digital verniers 😉

Geez guys, I come back in from the shed for a break, and I see the party's started here without me... 😃 😉 I might just go and buy a set AM. Who sells cheap ones? My list of tools I never knew I needed is growing every day 😉 [the C spanner yesterday cost me $59..... :🙂 ] Re size, I would guess it is almost certainly metric as it was made in Italy, and I think they've always been metric right - even in the 50-60's? The expert coffee man in Europe replied overnight and said it's a type of rubber - so KK was right! I think wood though would still be in keeping with a heritage listed coffee machine be an allowable improvement.... 😉 Here's a bakelite version: http://www.fabritec.ch/de/kugelkopf-schwarzes-bakelit_deM302956.html

Lacehim

I bought a set of digital ones Borat, at your favorite store! Bunnings! They weren't too expensive from memory. I had the same problem, I was always looking for a tool that I didn't own! 🙂 Still it's a good excuse to shop for hardware! 🙂

UNM

Lacehim wrote:

I bought a set of digital ones Borat, at your favorite store! Bunnings! They weren't too expensive from memory. I had the same problem, I was always looking for a tool that I didn't own! 🙂 Still it's a good excuse to shop for hardware! 🙂

Got my digital calipers at aldi either S25 or $29 from memory. Well worth it.

borat123

Who else want's a single group Urania?? Here's one in the Netherlands... Looks like a similar vintage and the same style as my one. This one may be in better nick but hard to tell without any interior pics. Reading the text with google translate, I think it's had a similar boiler mod too. http://witgoed-apparatuur.marktplaats.nl/koffiemachines-en-espresso-apparaten/478862770-faema-urania-lever-espresso-machine-uit-de-jaren-50.html 1600 Euros..

borat123

No takers on that Urania....? 😉 He's got more pics here too: https://picasaweb.google.com/108705898623473679164/14September2011

AngerManagement wrote:

Looks like a bit bigger than 10mm to me, say 12mm 😉 And does not look perfectly round ;D ;D What is the rod dia 4mm or ? This is the time you go and buy a cheep set of digital verniers 😉

Hi AM, I paid a visit to Coventry fasteners, got them to size everything then ordered bulk replacements for all the nuts and bolts, in stainless. The thread on that rod fits an M4 nut .... 🙂 cheers, Stuart.

borat123

AngerManagement wrote:

OH... Another correct call 😉 So let me get this straight... Your now chasing a 12mm wooden ball (Say Black Ebony or WHAT if any colour) that will fit onto a 4mm thread about 5mm long ;D

Thanks AM, yes your figures are spot on.... Actually a darkish reddy brown would be nice please, as its probably a bit closer to the original colour. Think I've still got some Waghi AA that would look good in your Halogen KKTO.... 😉 cheers, Stuart.

UNM

I suspect swamp kauri would be a good colour match

borat123

AngerManagement wrote:

That I do not have... Just have some odd bits or every thing and nothing about. The issue is, that if other items might be required.... Then consistence will be an issue.....

AM, I would be happy with whatever you come up with. The other handles etc are all black which I'm thinking to leave original at this stage. Re the rod, to end up with a thread that will fit an M4 nut, do you start out with 4mm rod, or something a bit larger? I'm thinking of buying a small section of 4mm 304 stainless rod, then getting it bent into a right angle and tapped with a thread. One side would be 25mm and the other 35mm. Do think the SS would be ok for tapping by hand? thanks.

Koffee_Kosmo

If I get naming rights ? you can have a #8 pool ball :🙂 I will go in the garage and have a look at what strange things I put away for a rainy day So I may find something Another idea is to purchase at a supermarket some Cedar or similar wood balls that are used as moth repellents in wardrobes KK

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