Seal 210 press

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

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

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.

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

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!

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!