La Splendida

This is the story of how a coffee machine purchased a few month ago turned out to be one of the first coffee machine designed by Giovanni Fontana - who was Production Chief for Faema in the 60s working along Mr. Carlo Ernesto Valente, founder of Faema.

But let's start at the beginning.

An intriguing machine.
After i bought it, there wouldn't be a day where i wouldn't go downstairs to see if it's still there.
So much respect (and happiness of owning it) that i didn't touch it for the first few months.
I knew i would have time to repair it in September, so i was not in a hurry.

It intrigued me on many levels... but foremost because there was no manufacturers sign.

Basically, i had no idea what i had bought.

A few days ago, i risked my eyes in the drip tray... and saw a mark:

I googled.

Nothing.

Well, no. That's a lie. Let's say nothing substantial.

But then, i landed on Francesco Ceccarelli's website (here).
(I wrote to him... something i wanted to do anyway because i felt honoured to see my name under his on this publication)

And it looked like there was something for me to chew on.

I used the link to browse ISOMAC and my brain got overflown with all sorts of neurotransmitters.

The reason: my drip tray EXACTLY looked like the one on the Giada model:

I used the contact form to write an email.

In the meantime, i do "the usual stuff" and check my databases.

What Francesco assumed was totally right:
(Please keep the date in mind)

I even succeeded to find a patent of Giovanni Fontana relating to a coffee machine:

I was not even finished that i received an answer from the ISOMAC business.
I was so pleasantly surprised!

And not written by anyone.

No.

Roberto Fontana - the son of Giovanni - & current manager of ISOMAC took of his time to answer my questions. Here is what he told me:

SPLENDID

That was more than i had expected...

Of course, i always feel a pinch in my heart when i hear that there isn't no documentation left or no photos of that time.

Saying that.

Saying that it isn't that bad after all... because i have a picture of the ISOMAC SPLENDIDA!!!!.

Here it is:

(Thank you Franco!!!)

And here a diagram of the machine:

(Thank you Kim!!!)

And the leaflet here!!!!

Mine was sold by the son of Giordano Robbiati - Alfredo in his business S.T.E.M.A.C. (1983-1989)  under the name "Atomic automatic model".

You can see some pictures here, here and here.

Watch the ITALSOMAC SPLENDIDA with its original marks:

(Hope you can appreciate the fun i am having here, do you?)