I can't see a way to insert a link to that thread. (Duh, just figured it out) Anyway, I'm finally selling the Elektra. It really is a once in a lifetime find. It's in beautiful, original (i.e unmessed with) condition, both mechanically and cosmetically. It's a stunner that comes with the original brown wood Elektra base. I'll work on getting pics up here but in the meantime, there are quite a few (of the Elektra and my Salvatore) in the Espresso Machines forum. I'd love to sell it to someone here in SoCal so that I can show it off first but as an alternative, I'll make a video of the main functions. I think the price is fair, shading to cheap. A new one with base will cost you $1000 more and will depreciate by about the same amount in the first year. This will appreciate. I've never seen one like it and the component quality is better. No annual pressurestat failures on these! If I'm not selling locally, I'll sort out packing and shipping with the buyer and charge at cost. Buyer must insure but I have a ton of packing and boxes so we can wrap her up well.
Listing Details Asking / Suggested Price: 1490 Seller Name: John Klemantaski Seller Location: Los Angeles, CA Sale Type: For Sale
Posted Wed Mar 13, 2013, 9:16pm Subject: Re: FS: Unique 1988 Elektra Semiautomatica in copper and brass with wood base
John, I enjoyed your ownership history link, and you certainly did a fine job explaining why you're making this move. I am curious as to why THIS particular Semi is different, or unique to other Semi's beside having the base. Was the year of manufacture a factor? I'm just wanting members to get all the info they can, as this machine takes, as you mentioned in your other thread a bit more TLC from a handling standpoint. I'd recommend all interested in this beauty to clink the link John has provided, as he compares this machine to the more familiar HX's, his Salvatore.
johnjacques Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Famosa / Elektra... Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Thu Mar 14, 2013, 10:02am Subject: Re: FS: Unique 1988 Elektra Semiautomatica in copper and brass with wood base
Thanks for raising that point, Rob, and for the kind words. Just to clarify, the Elektra is in many ways the more simply engineered and thus more reliable machine. My caveats are more to do with the cosmetic effects of rough handling. An idiot banging a portafilter into the Salvatore is unlikely to do any damage. The same idiot could inflict a nasty scratch on the Elektra. That's my point. To address why I think the Elektra is so unusual, you're right. It goes to the age. I've seen only a handful of MCSAs or MCALs of a comparable age and never one that didn't need to be or hadn't been restored. And the restorations have been unsatisfactory and obvious. This machine is absolutely original and in astonishingly good cosmetic condition. If it were five years old, I'd believe it had been extremely well cared for. At twenty five years old, it's quite remarkable. Functionally, it's also perfect. I had an email inquiry about history, scale build up etc. Let me reiterate my reply here. It began life and spent most of it in upper WA state and was used with only RO water. I mention WA because it has some of the softest water in the country. There are no signs of calcification anywhere. I know that I used the car analogy in my original post and it's a good one. A few years ago, in England, I was offered a 1955 Bentley with just 2500 miles on the clock. The Elektra reminds me of that.
johnjacques Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Famosa / Elektra... Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Sat Apr 6, 2013, 9:07am Subject: Re: FS: Unique 1988 Elektra Semiautomatica in copper and brass with wood base
Busy dealing with my new play and forgot about the Elektra! A stunning lack of interest. Why, people? I need feedback. I really, really don't want to go the ebay route. I want this machine somewhere it's going to be fully appreciated. Have I overpriced it. I don't think so but then, I'm the seller so I wouldn't, would I?
jwark Senior Member Joined: 29 Dec 2012 Posts: 41 Location: TX Expertise: I live coffee
Espresso: Le'Lit PL041TQE Grinder: Le'Lit PL53
Posted Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:42am Subject: Re: FS: Unique 1988 Elektra Semiautomatica in copper and brass with wood base
johnjacques Said:
Busy dealing with my new play and forgot about the Elektra! A stunning lack of interest. Why, people? I need feedback. I really, really don't want to go the ebay route. I want this machine somewhere it's going to be fully appreciated. Have I overpriced it. I don't think so but then, I'm the seller so I wouldn't, would I?
I would be scared to actually use that it looks so nice. If I bought that I would think of it more as an investment or something to decorate with. It's not the price I just would want something I would use. I'm sure you can find someone who appreciates it but it will probably be a small market. I don't know if that feedback helps but I definitely appreciate it, just don't have 1,500 to buy on something I wouldn't use.
“It takes a big man to cry, but it takes a bigger man to laugh at that man.” - Jack Handy
johnjacques Senior Member Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 26 Location: Los Angeles Expertise: I love coffee
Espresso: Salvatore Famosa / Elektra... Grinder: Baratza Vario
Posted Sat Apr 6, 2013, 2:01pm Subject: Re: FS: Unique 1988 Elektra Semiautomatica in copper and brass with wood base
Thanks for that feedback and it makes me wonder if I've overstated the need for careful handling. It's no more than ANY Elektra MCAL or MCSA. Mechanically, they're incredibly robust and the component quality is first rate. It's the finish that I'm talking about. If it's just you or you and your wife/husband/bf/gf/whatever, you're fine. You're not going to bang metal objects like portafilters into the bodywork. But if, as I do, you have other people using the machine from time to time, the fact is that the stainless steel of my Salvatore can take a lot more abuse and clumsiness.
Symbols: = New Posts since your last visit = No New Posts since last visit = Newest post
Forum Rules: No profanity, illegal acts or personal attacks will be tolerated in these discussion boards. No commercial posting of any nature will be tolerated; only private sales by private individuals, in the "Buy and Sell" forum. No cross posting allowed - do not post your topic to more than one forum, nor repost a topic to the same forum. Who Can Read The Forum? Anyone can read posts in these discussion boards. Who Can Post New Topics? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post new topics. Who Can Post Replies? Any registered CoffeeGeek member can post replies. Can Photos be posted? Anyone can post photos in their new topics or replies. Who can change or delete posts? Any CoffeeGeek member can edit their own posts. Only moderators can delete posts. Probationary Period: If you are a new signup for CoffeeGeek, you cannot promote, endorse, criticise or otherwise post an unsolicited endorsement for any company, product or service in your first five postings.
![johnjacques: IMG_0327shrink.jpg](javascript:ImagePopup("/images/60684/IMG_0327shrink.jpg", 500, 667, "johnjacques: IMG_0327shrink.jpg");)
= No New Posts since last visit 