After some promising experiments, the plans for a new machine on
the cylindrical principle were proceeded with. Koenig admitted
throughout the great benefit he derived from the assistance of
his friend Bauer. "By the judgment and precision," he said,
"with which he executed my plans, he greatly contributed to my
success." A patent was taken out on October 30th, 1811; and the
new machine was completed in December, 1812. The first sheets
ever printed with an entirely cylindrical press, were sheets G
and X of Clarkson's 'Life of Penn.' The papers of the Protestant
Union were also printed with it in February and March, 1813. Mr.
Koenig, in his account of the invention, says that "sheet M of
Acton's 'Hortus Kewensis,' vol. v., will show the progress of
improvement in the use of the invention. Altogether, there are
about 160,000 sheets now in the hands of the public, printed with
this machine, which, with the aid of two hands, takes off 800
impressions in the hour"[4]
Koenig took out a further patent on July 23rd, 1813, and a fourth
(the last) on the 14th of March, 1814. The contrivance of these
various arrangements cost the inventor many anxious days and
nights of study and labour. But he saw before him only the end
he wished to compass, and thought but little of himself and his
toils. It may be mentioned that the principal feature of the
invention was the printing cylinder in the centre of the machine,
by which the impression was taken from the types, instead of by
flat plates as in the first arrangement.
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