The actual use of it, however, soon
suggested new ideas, and led to the rendering it less complicated
and more powerful"[2]
Of course! No great invention was ever completed at one effort.
It would have been strange if Koenig had been satisfied with his
first attempt. It was only a beginning, and he naturally
proceeded with the improvement of his machine. It took Watt more
than twenty years to elaborate his condensing steam-engine; and
since his day, owing to the perfection of self-acting tools, it
has been greatly improved. The power of the Steamboat and the
Locomotive also, as well as of all other inventions, have been
developed by the constantly succeeding improvements of a nation
of mechanical engineers.
Koenig's experiment was only a beginning, and he naturally
proceeded with the improvement of his machine. Although the
platen machine of Koenig's has since been taken up a new, and
perfected, it was not considered by him sufficiently simple in
its arrangements as to be adapted for common use; and he had
scarcely completed it, when he was already revolving in his mind
a plan of a second machine on a new principle, with the object of
ensuring greater speed, economy, and simplicity.
By this time, other well-known London printers, Messrs. Taylor
and Woodfall, had joined Koenig and Bensley in their partnership
for the manufacture and sale of printing machines.
Pages:
194
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
206
207
208
209
210
211
212
213
214
215
216
217
218