Machine date: between 1950 and 1960 (?)
Country of origin : France
Country where purchased:France
Serial Number: 266
Power: Electrical, 1200 w (?)
Closed boiler
Spring lever
Tamper diameter: 58mm
One double and one single portafilter.
Translated by Pascal from Seattle

 épisode 1
épisode 2




Saturday the seventh of December is shaping up well. I've just unexpectedly acquired an new machine, the AE, which fills me with happiness.

 Then, around noon, I receive a text from my son which consists of two images.Two images of a Gica. That's it. I've been looking for one of these for years!



 

 I get on the phone with my son, to try to find out more. It's in a corner of a second-hand store a kilometer away from my place.

He tells me he knows the dealer well and will call him around 2 pm. And oh yes, the photos are from yesterday, he tells me, he thought the text message had been sent..
By 2:15, my finger nails are about gone and I get a call from my son that the machine was sold last evening...

 Ah, if one could just have everything it would be a bore. That's the lot of collectors everywhere.


 So many setbacks,disappointments, deals falling through from bad timing or rotten luck. 

But still, this machine was on my ultra short list - Crap, I disinherited the lad on the spot.
Then along comes Christmas, with all its surprises.  And I hear a whisper "Hey, did you see that big box under the tree?"

That's when I saw the lever sticking out - No way!!


And yet, I'd helped put the presents under the tree while the kids were kept busy in the next room, but I hadn't seen a thing!
 What a surprise! I was truly speechless.

The first photos showed a very dirty machine, but my son had not wanted to give me a present in that state, so he's already cleaned it up.
And so I was able to reveal the splendour of the machine in fairly short order.









I open the cover- the wiring is typical of the period. I do not know what voltage it uses.
The casing, all the edges are stretched out, long, sharply angular. Reaching for a unique beauty.
Nevertheless, I can see a lightbulb fixture and that it is 220v. I disconect all but the light and give it a test - nice. not very bright, but nice.