help with old hobart berkel grinder...

saskia

I have inherited an old hobart berkel coffee grinder (see link for pic http://www.flickr.com/photos/fishboy/119708019/).  It's massive and works but definately needs servicing.  Can anyone tell me of a suitable place to take it for repairs/servicing/replacement of parts and so on.  Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

askthecoffeeguy

Depends upon where you're located.  Coffex Coffee, off Sydney Road in Brunswick, has got an 80yr old dude who just comes in one day per week to service old machines - I'm sure he'd either be able to fix it, or to tell you who could. I suggets you call your local coffee supplier, and start from there. ACG

FreshCoffee2

Hmmmm,     you're making me feel as though my company is not offering the VERY best service now because the fellow that still works for us in service full time and has a wealth of experience (from the 60's) .....is only 76 years old.!   Apparently we are atleast 4 years short of the mark in terms of his experience!     OK this is a fine old piece of equipment and I am very interested Saskia in your comment that it "definitely needs servicing".     I can imagine that it may look pretty tired on the outside, but it is basically not much more than an electric motor on a stand, with a small chamber tacked on to the end of the motor, that holds a set of grinding burrs. There isnt anything to service. You could pull the front of the thing off and clean inside where the burrs are, and put it back tpoegther. That's about all that can be done. Someone a little "handy" can do that for you.   Whether the burrs are worn, and whether even if they are, you could get replacement burrs...is another story altogether I am afraid.     Again, it may look tired on the outside, but this doesnt mean much in terms of the inside and it is a very simple apparatus. Lovely to see such pieces of equipment still around, going, and able to be operated! If you get sick of it, please give me a hoy and I'll arrange to pick it up  ;D       Regardz,   FC.

saskia

Thanks for the advice guys, FC you are right actually, it does seem to be working fine.  It has been used pretty much every day as long as it's been in my family, however according to my dad who used to own it, it's missing a spring between the burs (I think that's what he said) and no one has looked at it for at least 15 years.  I'd hate for there to be a crucial part missing and my subsequent using it causing damage, however you've laid my mind at ease about the simplicity of the motor etc, no need to go with out coffee for now    

saskia

Oh and I'm located in Sydney by the way. S.