Dry Mounting Press in Europe

[arigram]

Is there a mail-order store in Europe I could get a dry mounting press from? It has to be new, so no Ebay would do.

 

[edz]

Is there a mail-order store in Europe I could get a dry mounting press from? It has to be new, so no Ebay would do.

Yes I think you'd have to go to Athens to get one so could, just as well, go to mailorder.. You might want to get one directly from Hunt Corp (Seal/Hunt-Bienfang) or whoever own's the unit doing the mechanical dry mount presses at this time--- these days called "Masterpiece" (and not just the big model but also the commercial 210). Seal used to have an office in Germany but I have little idea of its current fate--- especially since the Seal brand is now limited to a different class and series of products (its all in transition).
Going retail... I know of serveral sources in Europe but given that even the 210M is not the lightest I think the issues of importance are: warranty and shipping costs. From Greece I suspect that Germany might be the best option but it also depends upon the model as if you want the 500 series model shipping might be quite problematic.
So which series? Seal or Ademco? Which model/size?

 

[arigram]

Thank you Edward.
Yes, I considered the shipping costs and that's why I didn't think of ordering from the US where I know the stores that carry the presses. I am not sure of the brand or model, but I would like one that could do photographs up to 50x60cm which means the press should be larger to accommodate the larger board.
I have already email three companies (One in UK, two in Germany) to see if they got anything not listed in their catalogs.

 

[richard littlewood]

Personally I would look out for a second hand mounter, there is little that can go wrong with them, and new ones are hideously expensive yet used ones can be dead cheap. I bought one from a technical college wanting to get rid of a lot of under used stuff for a fraction of the cost of a new one, and having been used by students it has had a bit of stick, new in the 1970's it looks well used but it's good. I've seen 2016 sized presses go for well under £100 on e-bay, and with one of them and a paper covered piece of sheet steel it's possible to mount 40x30 sized prints with no errors.

 

[edz]

Thank you Edward.
Yes, I considered the shipping costs and that's why I didn't think of ordering from the US where I know the stores that carry the presses.

Forget the US.. Most probably they'd send you a 110v version. Worse still there are differences between the US and European versions--- and some like Ademco are European products.

I am not sure of the brand or model, but I would like one that could do photographs up to 50x60cm which means the press should be larger to accommodate the larger board.

This is where things get tricky to decide. Do you want a vacuum press or a mechanical press? In a vacuum press you must get a press at least as large as the largest print that you want to mount. With a suitable mechanical press you can work, should the need arise, in bites. My Seal 220M can only handle 18 1/2x23" in one piece but can work 36" in sections by any length (so one can do 91cm by XXX).
If you decide upon a mechanical then its probably between the Seal or the Ademco system. Each have their advantages. Since I'm not big into textures I find the Seal 210 ideal but the Ademco presses are also very nice.

I have already email three companies (One in UK, two in Germany) to see if they got anything not listed in their catalogs.

The starting point is to decide which press one wants.. from there I can suggest sources..

 

[arigram]

Edward, that Seal 210 you mention seems to be perfect.

 

[blackmelas]

I'd be interested to know what you come up with Ari. I've been thinking of getting a press myself but money and the ever-present problem in Greece of ordering and shipping have stopped me til now. I was thinking of trying the hot granite slab described in this thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists) . There is plenty of marble here in Greece...
Let me know what you come up with,
James

 

[NikoSperi]

www.prophot.com in France have the Seal 210 M
www.fotomatica.it has a 50x65cm hot press (Hermes) that's much more affordable

Keep us posted on anything else you find.