Lever project - Urania 1 group

borat123

Call me crazy :o , but I just talked myself into buying a nice old lever, to be my next project. I think it may be late 50's or 60's.

Arrives from Europe in a couple of weeks. After the Cimbali 2 group I did a couple of years back, I can't wait to get stuck into a decent resto again.

Restoration pictures to follow. Here's a teaser:

Muscles

Congrats!! Do you know if it's operational?

Koffee_Kosmo

At least it looks complete I actually like the colour & its a thumbs up from me If you lived in Brisbane id be around lending a hand KK

borat123

Muscles wrote:

Congrats!! Do you know if it's operational?

Nope - I wouldn't even try.... Will require a full tear down and restoration, but for it's age the internal pics look pretty good. Most mechanical parts and even the boiler lid / element / group - piston seals etc are all available new. Compared to the Cimbali it looks somewhat simpler. At least there's no electronic parts to worry about... It's still got the mercury switches - I'm thinking of fitting a sirai pstat & anti-vac. From what I read, the biggest hassle is the cupola (glass around the warming tray), and the glass panel at the back. Both are expensive and hard to find if missing or broken.

borat123

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

At least it looks complete I actually like the colour & its a thumbs up from me If you lived in Brisbane id be around lending a hand KK

Thanks KK. Come on over - it's just a quick drive down the road to Adelaide 😉

RichardM

That really is a stylish machine. It's kind of got a sturdy retro/industrial look about it that I love, that is quite imposing. Once refurbed, I think it'll be a beauty. The whole '70's look (even though I know it's older) where things are colourful, mismatched etc is just wonderful, and that machine has multiple textures, shapes etc, which is really nice.

Koffee_Kosmo

I think I have spotted a crack or 2 in the corners in the perspex Its going to be a job and a half, but if done right it will be stunning KK

Brett_H

Oh wow, functional art potentially. Lots of photos please!!!

borat123

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

I think I have spotted a crack or 2 in the corners in the perspex Its going to be a job and a half, but if done right it will be stunning KK

Yes the perspex is cactus unfortunately, but I don't think it's original anyway... I think the original ones have a kind of bubble shape with waves in it. They're about EUR400 if you can find them. Apparently the new E61 glass will fit ok - I might just go with one of those.

beanflying

Nice toy 8) Shame about the Perspex top, just keep scouring evilbay Germany and Italy I guess.

borat123

Here's some more 'warts & all' before pics....

Muscles

Oh, I remember seeing that machine and a few others from the same seller. This one will come up a treat. I wish I had the knowledge and space to work on something like this - congrats once again!

Koffee_Kosmo

Is it yours yet or are you waiting confirmation KK

borat123

Koffee Kosmo wrote:

Is it yours yet or are you waiting confirmation KK

KK, want to put an offer in? 😉 The deal is already done.

beanflying

Time to find a good chrome plater for a start 😉 Depending on the tops originality you could make a composite mold from it and pull a new one if you were really keen. There would be a small market for a few of them which would offset the costs a little.

borat123

AngerManagement wrote:

Love the insulators on the power wires :-) If you want custom handles, be it in a Black Ebony timber (very nice but would cost a few $$$) let me know. Would love to be part of the restoration. You should move to Brisbane :-) Lathes and electrical and other stuff. We could have some real fun.

Thanks AM. Yep I'm kind of out in the middle of no mans land here in the backwater that is Adelaide... I'll put up plenty more pics during the resto so everyone can watch along.. Beanflying: I've got a very good plater / polisher a few minutes down the road from me. I used them last time. They were a bit expensive, but the result, particularly the polishing is unbelievable.

Mr._Atomic

awesome machine- I have a Faema Lambro- virtually identical internally. Looks rough but the machines polish up wonderfully- the internals are so solidly built. I will watch the thread with interest... The other day I heard that there was a lever expert living in adelaide- a tech that does it all. So far it is jjst a romour but I will let you know if I can find any more info. There is a company in Melbourne that will restore this machine for around 2K- they completely re-chrome- all new screws, etc. In the end it looks like it just came off the factory line.

borat123

Mr. Atomic wrote:

awesome machine- I have a Faema Lambro- virtually identical internally. Looks rough but the machines polish up wonderfully- the internals are so solidly built. I will watch the thread with interest... The other day I heard that there was a lever expert living in adelaide- a tech that does it all. So far it is jjst a romour but I will let you know if I can find any more info. There is a company in Melbourne that will restore this machine for around 2K- they completely re-chrome- all new screws, etc. In the end it looks like it just came off the factory line.

Oh, I didn't know that. Lever expert would be good, as I'm a certified lever noob.... ;D I'll be doing all the resto myself - that's the best part. It would be good though to have someone local who'se been there and done it before. There is a guy in Melb who is a good source for some of the parts - I think that's the same one you're thinking of.

Ronin

Thats awesome Borat123 I just purchased a project myself. I can't resize the photo's as yet so I'll have to wait for it to arrive before photo's uploaded Good luck with the resto

Ronin

AngerManagement wrote:

Ronin that is not fair ??? ??? ??? ??? ??? But I guess you just up the road so I guess I may get a change to touch and feel first hand 😉 I want a project to 😢

What's that, you want a project. Well have I got a wiring job for you ;D