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Jensen 25

Posted on March 30, 2008 
Filed Under Steam Toys!!, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

This is the only “Stationary” steam engine I own. I bought it from a member of the Steam fourm “The Un-official Mamod Steam Forum” , run by an ambitious young “lad” named James Chantry. James runs one of the most active steam forums in the world. Now I know that is not a huge cross-section of the population, but it is a fun and generous bunch.

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A member named redryder sold this to me and is a great example of American engineering from Pennsylvania!! from just after World War II, it has a heavy cast iron base to the engine, a heavy machined flywheel and a nickel plated boiler that features a throttle control for engine speed. The engine itself also has a forward and reverse lever . Just in case you thing these little engines put-put along- they can produce almost 3k-4K RPM!! (yes it even has a toy steam whistle you can see in the center of the boiler!!) This one is 110v and can just be plugged in to start the whole process. Many are heated by solid fuel or liquid denatured alcohol.

I just found that stationary engines are tooooo “stationary”. That is how I spread my love towards the boats. I have now acquired 5 of these.. : >)

Here is what I am un-unceremoniously calling Boat 1- she is about 4″ wide X 24″ long-She has endured much “surgery” - waiting for a suitable sized boiler- The engine is ready!!

boat-1.JPG

Boat Number 2 was a boat made by some Coast Guard member while stationed on the Block Island Coast Guard Station Rhode Island around 1984. She is 35″ long by about 8″ wide. Most of the superstructure( top stuff) was damaged before I bought it- No worries- It was destined to be jettisoned!! She is becoming an English style steam launch too!!

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Next came Boat #3 (Which you have seen already) She is still on her way from England!! About 26″ long- and ready to run- she will need some minor touch up and cleaning - but a real Pre-war( WWII) beauty!!

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Next was Boat # 4

A Kit boat made to resemble a Bowman / Luton Sea Jay- She is about 31″ long

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Last is the little Peggy( Sue) She also is a kit boat - with a nice natural finish..She is in hand and will be ready to sail soon. There is some work to do , but she has “good bones”. She also is 24″ long X 4.5″ - !!!!!

peggy-1.JPG

Thanks for tolerating my side step towards steam and not “All things espresso” .What can I say- taste buds??!! Empty wallet!!

I also have purchased quite a few boilers an toy sized steam engines to run these boats- Lets not talk about the Hobby shop and tools - Gulp!! So that is why maybe I have realized that after test driving so many lever espresso machines I can to the realization that the Cremina is the machine for me-and my shop needed some new projetcs to work on for a while. I hope you find what works for you and your space and life..

I will be back on track after some time in the shop whipping these boats into shape..I still love straight espresso- I still have a Livietta and a Astra Gourmet to finish up! -

Got a question or need help - drop me a line!!

Ciao

greg

Maxamatic is going up for sale soon…

Posted on March 20, 2008 
Filed Under For Sale or Trade, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

Yep- cleaning house- It is Spring!!

So if you are in the market the Maximatic and the Livietta are almost twins sisters, at least as far as heritage!! Great bargain HX machines—and a small footprint!!

I should have one of each ready to make espresso somewhere in the world…soon- It could be your kitchen…! Let me know if you are interested.

Updated…. now sold and gone to live in Illinois- Will BillR from HB…

A new Hobby.. like I need another

Posted on March 20, 2008 
Filed Under Steam Toys!! | Leave a Comment

For those of you that know me in the espresso world.. I have been a little preoccupied lately…

While doing my usual web searches for boiler ands such.. I ran across some search results that included items about little toy sized steam engines. You may or may not remember these from some science teacher in your past or some crumpled old Uncle or next door neighbor. They are little scale models that run heat from a burner under a small boiler that powers a small piston steam engine…

OK, This may all be sooo completely NOT your thing, but I took a mental trip back to about 1966 and saw myself in elementary school watching this little machine puff along in a class room.

So fast forward to my immersion in the world of toy steam and I am now quite absorbed with OLD ( 1940 or so) steam powered “speed boats from England…Yep- I am now the commander of my own personal Navy. I have or am waiting on the remainder of 5 boats!!
These boats are mostly based on a design produced by a company Called “BOWMAN /Hobbies”. Although there are others.

Here is an old advertisement featuring these little toys ( many are about 24″ and up to 34″ long!!)

BOwman boats

So you get the “OLD ” idea..All with names like , SNIPE, SWALLOW, SEAHAWK, SEAJAY, PEGGY , PIONEER etc!! I love it.. All referred to as Speed boats..

So here are some shots of my recent acquisitions :

snipe-1.JPG

Sorry- not a great photo, but they also have nice handmade wooden boxes that they originally came as well.

Ok- a couple more

Blue Jay!!!:>)

and a really poor one of a natural finish home built kit ..

peggy-1.JPG

There are a couple more being rebuilt- but you get the “addiction issue” I have also fallen in with a cheeky bunch from across the pond where steam things and a passion for them is quite alive. It is alive here in the states and Australia also- but a real hot bed of enthusiasts exist in the UK - young and old alike!! Here Here!!

Cheers and drink Straight espresso when you can!!

Thanks for dropping by!!

Robins are here and a new / used Livietta ..

Posted on March 20, 2008 
Filed Under For Sale or Trade, Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

WOW - it’s trying to be Spring here in the PNW!! And with Spring comes a new project… a used Pasquini Livietta!! It will be finished up and all gaskets replaced and since I have no need for it( I am just really Sooooooo set on My Cremina) it will be in the FOR SALE area soon… pictures also

So if you are wanting one …. tune in or drop me a line…

Know a great espresso machine resource?

Posted on January 17, 2008 
Filed Under Helpful Hints | Leave a Comment

Hey! If you have a really great site that you keep bookmarked – throw it my way. I really want this to be a place for small , obscure, off the beaten path, secret, coveted worthy bits of information that can be of help to those wandering along the home espresso discovery phase of the impending obsession with caffeine.

Drop me a line and let me know. Thanks.

BTW–I am assembling machine diagrams and will have them available here for access soon.

~ Mo

Housekeeping: Links have been cleaned up!

Posted on January 17, 2008 
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

OK. I could blame it on any of you that either didn’t visit any of the handy links on my Re-Source page ( even a catchy play on Re-spresso….) or those of you that never bothered to drop me a nasty note that many links were to the same site , over and over and over … or it’s just me. OK, my bad.

All is better now that I have actually gone through them and hopefully corrected them. What good are resources if you can’t use them? Sorry. I told you I am still in the vertical part of my learning curve in blog-land.

La Pavoni Professional- Chrome- Pre-Millenium

Posted on January 16, 2008 
Filed Under For Sale or Trade | Leave a Comment

A solid La Pavoni Pro-49mm group- Fully de-scaled and rebuilt with all new seals. No rust under the drip tray or in the Chrome anywhere. There is evidence of use, but not abuse. Cleaned from head to toe!! It comes with just the double basket and PF, drip tray and grate. The element is brand new( I installed it). It has been fully tested to perform as it should. Here are the few defects I found: The site glass protector is a little heat discolored but is fully functional. The gauge does not read quite - 0- when off. I have check the setting against another gauge and it reads accurately when powered up.

There was some very light rust under the base( as is the case with most LP’s) I thoroughly wire brushed and repainted underneath the base to cover bare metal with silver Hammerite paint. Sorry, I don’t even think of that as a defect anymore. It is almost standard issue …

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Condition: 7.5 out of 10

$ 425. / swap-  pending sale

La Pavoni- EPB-8 Copper /Brass

Posted on January 16, 2008 
Filed Under For Sale or Trade | Leave a Comment

A nice little La Pavoni- It is a 2 switch model- with Hi - Lo and an on / off switch. Fully de-scaled and all seals renewed and fully tested. It comes both single and double baskets, original instructional tape and the auto frother that slides on to an alternate steam arm (the extra arm unfortunately is missing. The regular steam arm is in place though. Drip tray and grate are in perfect shape, and there is no corrosion under the drip tray nor underneath the machine.

The is some slight spotting on the front bottom of the boiler (not corrosion) I think it is in the protective clear-coat over the copper. Very slight. There is also a small band of off-coloration in the brass PF just where the handle meets the brass of the PF.It is a band about 2mm wide an goes half way around the handle. Not significant. She is in perfect working order — no pitting in the group head. Normal-use light random scuffs.

brass-copper-lp.jpg

110v

Condition-8 out of 10

$300 /or swap for ?- Has been adopted!!

Stumptown is now in Seattle

Posted on January 16, 2008 
Filed Under Beans | Leave a Comment

OK, not NEW news, but in case you didn’t know Stumptown (MY favorite roaster from here in Portland!!) has new shops and a roaster in Seattle:

1116 12th Avenue on Capitol Hill
Cafe and roaster location with coffee tastings done daily!!

and

616 East Pine ( Next to the Original Rudy’s Barber Shop!!)

So just in case you are not blown over by the other offerings there, check out the invaders from the south!!

So, go “HairBender!!” (my fav) or “Holler Mountain”

FYI: A new “small” supplier of custom seals etc

Posted on January 16, 2008 
Filed Under Helpful Hints | Leave a Comment

You might know them as “johnnyguitar / login” around the Home Barista site, but if you need gaskets for your La Peppina or Microcimbali or small amounts of DOW 111, knock box sticks and many other unique things, go check them out at: ORPHAN ESPRESSO

Tell ’em Mo at Respresso sent you!

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