Strietman CT-1

Amberale

I couldn’t help myself, the Studmistress rolled her eyes and said just do it or you will miss out on it.

A Daggy looking Strietman CT-1 had just popped up on the CSnobs site for a silly cheap price.

I quickly claimed dibbs and got into touch with the seller, along the way informing him that he was seriously under valuing his machine.

I upped his price by about 30% and sweetened the deal with a very nice box of vintage wine and ended up with this for around half the price of a new CT-2.

This is after a couple of hours of polishing, lubing etc and I will spend tomorrow morning dialling in some shots.

The SM’s comments so far have been:

So that’s what it looks like.

It looks a lot shinier now.

So long as you are happy.

I am very happy and looking forward to some CT-1 v Argos shootouts later in the year.

DavecUK

Amberale It’s looking very clean now….how old is it?

tompoland

Congrats amberale great to see the deal was done.

Amberale

DavecUK

Wouter got back to me yesterday.

It was built in 2017.

Amberale

I’m not sure Dave.

I am about to reach out to Wouter to find out and organise a couple of service kits.

I prefer to be looking at them rather than for them.

There is a bit of verdigris still behind the shrouds but I’ll wait until I have all the seals to do a full pull down and clean/polish.

It still has a Euro plug so I will change that too at the same time as I can’t see it coming North of the Equator again.

It is a cracker of a machine, I think. Might be a bit over caffeinated on the morrow. :)

Amberale

Oh, the Studmistress came out of the library this arvo and said “I found something cheaper than your new coffee machine.”

“Buy two” I said.

https://thefarmersmailbox.cmail19.com/t/r-l-trkdjikt-oxurtiidj-u/

-Mac

It’s a thing of beauty :)

DavecUK

Amberale You wouldn’t really know it…a good find.

Pompeyexile

Some coffee paraphernalia does look incredible. The design and materials it is made from makes me think it would be something Isambard Kingdom Brunel would have gotten his daily caffiene fix from.

Amberale

It was a lot rougher when it arrived.

It took a couple of hours of polishing and a bit of work straightening the lever that the previous owner had had modified for some reason.

There was also a thick ring of lube/coffee/gunk in the cylinder where the seal in the piston sits in the raised position.

I think the fact that it was relatively easy to bring back the lustrous finish is a testament to the high quality of the original construction.

There is still some verdigris peeking out from behind the shrouds that I will check and clean when my refurbish kit of seals arrives.

I particularly want to make sure that the heat elements aren’t corroded in place.

I have a feeling she has lived near the beach/salt water.

DavecUK

tompoland

Heads up @Amberale I’m finding that temperature stability requires the boiler to be full or near to it. I get wild fluctuations when it’s half empty (or is that half full?).

Amberale

Interesting, I keep mine topped up but I don’t constantly monitor the temp.

I think the important place to measure temp is down in the piston but making sure that you don’t touch any metal part.

Have you asked Wouter?

tompoland

I’ve been monitoring by leaving a probe in. Provided you keep it topped up it’s fairly stable. I typically only leave it on for a couple a hours at a time. Haven’t asked Wouter, It just makes sense that a small body of water will heat faster and give the thermostat less time to react, hence a wider fluctuation then with a larger body of water. It doesnt concern me at all, just something I’m aware of.

tompoland

I’m testing a paper filter system for it too. Watch this space.

Amberale

That makes sense.
I have been cutting Aeropress filters to fit but only use them about half the time.
I’m pretty sure that Lyrebird mentioned a couple of on-line lab suppliers for 50mm filter papers
I might want some 48mm ones for the Caravel. :)
I’m not sure that there is a lot of difference filter or not.
Likewise I turn mine on while I eat breakfast, make a coffee to drink while doing the cryptic and then turn it off.
I will end up buying one Gabor’s naked pressure gauge and double/stirrup handles when I can convince him to make me one.
I will probably drill that lid to take a lollipop thermometer.

Amberale

I just checked.
On my CT1 the brass section holds 125ml.
The copper “tank” holds about 240ml so a significant heat sink I suppose.
LB could give us the full science work up. ;)