Six long years passed in this pursuit
of the possible. At length the clear light dawned. In 1868 Mr.
Walter ventured to order the construction of three machines on
the pattern of the first complete one which had been made. By
the end of 1869 these were finished and placed in a room by
themselves; and a fourth was afterwards added. There the
printing of The Times is now done, in less than half the time it
previously occupied, and with one-fifth the number of hands.
The most remarkable feature in the Walter Press is its wonderful
simplicity of construction. Simplicity of arrangement is always
the beau ideal of the mechanical engineer. This printing press
is not only simple, but accurate, compact, rapid, and economical.
While each of the ten-feeder Hoe Machines occupies a large and
lofty room, and requires eighteen men to feed and work it, the
new Walter Machine occupies a space of only about l4 feet by 5,
or less than any newspaper machine yet introduced; and it
requires only three lads to take away, with half the attention of
an overseer, who easily superintends two of the machines while at
work. The Hoe Machine turns out 7000 impressions printed on both
sides in the hour, whereas the Walter Machine turns out 12,000
impressions completed in the same time.
The new Walter Press does not in the least resemble any existing
printing machine, unless it be the calendering machine which
furnished its type.
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