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Home > Vintage Espresso Machine Tours > 1974 Cremina...a Special Machine
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1974 Olympia Cremina Espresso Machine
This model is one of a few factory 110 volt conversions that we have seen. There is a series of Olympia Cremina machines, all around this era, that were converted from 220v to 120v at the factory and the badge (smaller than the usual tag) has the strikeover of the 2 at the voltage designator. The original color on these machines was a brown frame (slight hammer texture) and copper colored case with small art deco Olympia Express logo. The frame paint was one thin layer with no primer. We have seen factory 110v machines from the same era and before but they are generally identical to the later models but these conversions are different in many respects.....
Our theories about these machines is that they are among a small number of machines that we think of as the "first production" machines, and like many first production items, they were built just a little better than the rest....to prove the design perhaps or promote the machine as heavy duty and built to last....an indeed these models are very heavy solid, and very high quality all around. Or they may have simply been manufactured for the European market with a
different build spec, or even meant to be used as a commercial club type
machine. To list the differences between these machines and all other Creminas of this era
- The frame is made of heavier gauge metal and the height of the frame sides is a bit taller
- The steam knob does not use the plastic insert but rather a screw through knob with visible screw head (same 1/4 inch square hole)
- The group is notably heavier and the machining for the dispersion screen is deeper and more distinct
- The stainless steel face plate is a heavier gauge metal
- The feet are square plastic with embedded brass bolt.....this design was later used on the Maximatics and some Creminas but the trim was chrome....other machines from this era used a round foot with screw through hole followed by a push in round foot.
- The wiring does not use a connector block on the frame and both the boiler and the switch are directly grounded to the power cord ground
- The expanded metal bottom cover is chrome plated and not painted
- The biggest functional difference is the pstat...which uses a separate marked wheel to adjust "+ or -". This pstat has a remarkably tight deadband (.1bar) and lacks the secondary chrome horseshoe shaped spring of the later pstat....it has a much more direct connection from the moving pstat diaphragm to the brass fulcrum bar to the microswitch . Far superior pstat in my opinion.
- Lastly, when the portafilter is locked in the group the handle forms a perfect 90 degree angle in relation to the lever (a 3 o'clock position vs the 4 o' clock lock in position of the handle in later models)....a trivial point possibly but this spot on geometry reflects the high level of Swiss design inherent in this model Olympia Cremina as everything is indeed "just so" as one would expect.
We are often asked which year Cremina we would recommend over any other years and we generally recommend the mid eighty's models for the simple reason that the power switch is still available and the boiler is a bit more refined in cosmetics (post asbestos coating), but actually, these older factory 110v conversions are so well built that they almost seem like a heavy duty prototype of sorts...proof of the design and that pstat is very sweet. They do actually seem to have a superior functionality.
So if you happen to see a 110v conversion from 220 with a black solid steam knob and copper colored case, snap it up, it is likely a very good one.
The machine you see below has been restored with a silver powder coated frame and hammertone case.....an homage to the next generation of Olympia Cremina models.....the copper color on the original case is frankly a bit dated and these old finishes usually have some scratches and blemishes but once restored they are truly a special Cremina.
   
         
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