DSF

What is the relationship between the Heat Press Brands Insta Press, Adkins and Magic Touch?

As far as I was aware Adkins were a manufacturer and sold presses under their own name, aswell as making for Magic Touch to sell under their brand. Then there is a USA/Californian company called InstaPress selling the same model press.

Adkins Beta Maxi Press ...
http://www.aadkins.com/beta_popups/maxi_popup_pic.htm

Magic Touch Manual Heat Transfer Press
http://www.themagictouch.co.uk/images/hardware/manual.jpg

Insta Press
http://www.instagraph.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/Instagraph_204_03.jpg

So, who actually makes them?

Adkins manufacture and re-badge for Magic Touch and Xpres. The Instapress you have seen is different, doesn't look like Adkins to me.

Not the best example for the InstaPress, but they do have some that look the same, will try and find better example.

This one
http://www.instagraph.com/mm5/graphics/00000001/216.jpg
is closer to the Adkins, apart from the dials instead of digital controls
But in terms of body design, they are VERY similar, and to me seem to close to be coincidence

It is incredibly similar in terms of the frame, maybe they share this component, I'm not sure. I've seen Chinese presses that also look very similar but they simply copy and market them as UK presses!

Are you looking at buying?

We buy and sell lots of presses, usually looking out for good deals on Jarins and Adkins.
Got an InstaPress for £52 today
And a Jarin for £90 last week

... some we keep, some we sell on. Depending on what our work load and needs are at the time. It's always good to have some spares lying around, or ones to lend to friends. Got a couple of tiny Adkins ones (Beta Swifts) for £30 each IIRC - one works, the other doesn't. Plan to use the working one to work out how to fix the broken one. A friend is currently borrowing the working one though!

pisquee, if you ever get a cap press in, let me know,

I've been told (whether rightly or wrongly) that Adkins actually 'borrowed' the design from Insta... how true this is, I really couldn't tell you. Just something I heard on the rumour mill many years ago.

I will have been using Adkins beta maxi presses for 20 years in December this year,I don't know on the pedigree of the design but they are brilliant.
We have at least one switched on all day from 9 to 5 & often more than one, my oldest is about 15 years old, they might need a fifty pounds fix once every five years, but they are brilliant.
I have used others, and never taken too them, but I know you can get used to anything.......
Each time I test calibrate them the temperature is never more than +/- 2X and I get a today even temperature spurred across the bed. What more can you ask of a press?............ Except that umbrellas are a pita on them!