A steam iron press employs first and second members (50,52) and a lever mechanism (54) connected to the second member (52) and when manually actuated by an operator causing the second member to be moved to any position between a position of maximum separation and a position of engagement with respect to the first member (50). The second member (52) receives water and converts the water into steam which is expelled through openings (62) therein. A pump (66) connected between the second member (52) and a water reservoir (64) feeds water to the second member. A cam mechanism (80) is connected between the lever mechanism and the pump (66) to actuate the pump only during a predetermined interval t between the instant of time T1 at which the lever mechanism has initiated movement of the second member (52) toward the first member (50) and the instant of time T2 at which an article to be pressed is squeezed between the two surfaces.