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La Marzocco 2 Group FB70 AV

Manufacturer:                La Marzocco srl., Florence, Italy Model:                            Linea, 2 Group Semi-Automatic, 220V, Single Phase.  2300W Approx Date of Manuf:   2000 January Date acquired:               March 2005 Working condition:         Yes Notes:                             Full overhaul

Basic condition This machine was working but was looking very tired so he had to come to me for some rest and an overhaul.   There was obvious limescale and dirt build-up inside the boilers and all the steel panels and switches (all the cosmetic details) were worn.   For those of you not familiar with the FB it was introduced in 1997 to commemorate 70 years of production for the Bambi family. Internally it is identical to the Linea.  The only real difference is the top of the frame and for this reason you cannot swap a Linea and an FB70 body.  These machines only come in 2, 3 and 4 groups machines.   This machine is a 2 group and for me a 2 group FB70 is just a bit too short.  A 3 or 4 group looks better and does the curved body more justice.

Although a Linea man through and through the FB is a great design.  Actually this machine used to belong to me and was passed on to the new owners when I sold my retail business.  I can still remember to this day the excitement when we first unpacked the crate to see the FB for the first time.  You have to remember that trade shows in Asia are pretty crap and it's either fly to the US or Italy to see any new developments or machines.  So the first time I even saw an FB was when we ordered one for ourselves. The FB is really easy to clean and doesn't show up smudgy fingerprints like the steel of a Linea does.   Once I rebuild it I shall put it alongside the brass Linea and see how they compare.   As I write this the machine has already been stripped and cleaned and I am just sitting around whilst the citric works it's magic on the steam boiler and copper pipes. Paul 31/03/05

Completed machine I finished the machine around 10th April however I decided to delay the installation until I returned from Seattle.  Thi smachine was very straightforward even though I decided the get the body resprayed.  The man who did the body did an amazing job and after I sanded the body down, I left a 1cm x 1cm square so he could match to the original colour, which he did very well.

This website is created by Paul Pratt, Hong Kong 2004-5. If you would like to use any of the images or text I am sure I will say yes, but please ask first!   Email me here.