Seal 210 press

[Melvin J Bramley]

Are there any differences, other than cosmetic, between the many years production of the Seal 210 Jumbo dry mount press?

 

[DREW WILEY]

The thermostats probably changed, as well as the cushioning material.

 

[Hilo]

I asked a friend who knows:

Regarding the 210 & 210M machines, many of the parts are the same, as far as heaters and sponge pads go. The really old 210 models had a different type of thermostat, however the current will fit them. However, the really old units had larger lights and a different switch that aren’t available anymore. There may be a few minor mechanical differences in the very old versus the more current models, such as in the lever arms and toggle plates, which aren’t available for the very old. However, I don’t see too many of the really old relics anymore, and there hasn’t been a whole lot of changes in the machines over the last 30+ years. So just depends on how old the unit is.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Some 210s had digital thermostats. I had one that went bad and replaced it with the older-style, but still available analog thermostat. The people at Seal (or whoever the successor is) were quite helpful.

Best,

Doremus

 

[Hilo]

In the early eighties, I bought my first press: a Büscher 50X60cm (20X24). Nice press but taking long to heat up and no automatic switch-off at a set temperature. This press was very rare and I was always afraid it would break down. Because I used it very much, also for smaller prints.
So, I got the Seal 210 next to it for smaller prints. Wonderful press and in fact we can also press 20X24in. prints with it. That takes pressing in 3 parts (first very short like 3 seconds, the next two like normal).

Same here as Doremus, I have nothing but good words for the people doing the Seal presses!

 

[MarkS]

I doubt that there have been many changes in the design, over the years I've used several that looked slightly different but worked just the same. A few years back I was given an old 210, which eventually turned out to have a bad thermostat. Those are still available from Seal's successor company (there have been several in the last 20 years), but at around $200.
Then I was offered a smaller, older Seal press for $10 in working condition. I'm using that now while the 210 rests in the garage. One more thing to get fixed!