6762);
and he also proposed to use continuous rolls of paper, which
Fourdrinier and Donkin had made practicable by their invention of
the paper-making machine about the year 1804; but both
Nicholson's and Hill's patents remained a dead letter.[2]
It may be easy to conceive a printing machine, or even to make a
model of one; but to construct an actual working printing press,
that must be sure and unfailing in its operations, is a matter
surrounded with difficulties. At every step fresh contrivances
have to be introduced; they have to be tried again and again;
perhaps they are eventually thrown aside to give place to new
arrangements. Thus the head of the inventor is kept in a state
of constant turmoil. Sometimes the whole machine has to be
remodelled from beginning to end. One step is gained by degrees,
then another; and at last, after years of labour, the new
invention comes before the world in the form of a practical
working machine.
In 1862 Mr. Walter began in The Times office, with tools and
machinery of his own, experiments for constructing a perfecting
press which should print the paper from rolls of paper instead of
from sheets. Like his father, Mr. Walter possessed an excellent
discrimination of character, and selected the best men to aid him
in his important undertaking. Numerous difficulties had, of
course, to be surmounted. Plans were varied from time to time;
new methods were tried, altered, and improved, simplification
being aimed at throughout.
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