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difficulty by working at his trade； for his comparative ignorance
of the English language stood in his way。 But to work manually
at the printer's 〃case；〃 was not Koenig's object in coming to
England。 His idea of a printing machine was always uppermost in
his mind； and he lost no opportunity of bringing the subject
under the notice of master printers likely to take it up。 He
worked for a time in the printing office of Richard Taylor； Shoe
Lane； Fleet Street； and mentioned the matter to him。 Taylor
would not undertake the invention himself； but he furnished
Koenig with an introduction to Thomas Bensley； the well…known
printer of Bolt Court； Fleet Street。 On the 11th of March； 1807；
Bensley invited Koenig to meet him on the subject of their recent
conversation about 〃the discovery；〃 and on the 31st of the same
month； the following agreement was entered into between Koenig
and Bensley：…
〃Mr。 Koenig； having discovered an entire new Method of Printing
by Machinery； agrees to communicate the same to Mr。 Bensley under
the following conditions：
that； if Mr。 Bensley shall be satisfied the Invention will answer
all the purposes Mr。 Koenig has stated in the Particulars he has
delivered to Mr。 Bensley； signed with his name； he shall enter
into a legal Engagement to purchase the Secret from Mr。 Koenig；
or enter into such other agreement as may be deemed mutually
beneficial to both parties； or； should Mr。 Bensley wish to
decline having any concern with the said Invention； then he
engages not to make any use of the Machinery； or to communicate
the Secret to any person whatsoever； until it is proved that the
Invention is made use of by any one without restriction of
Patent； or other particular agreement on the part of Mr。 Koenig；
under the penalty of Six Thousand Pounds。
〃（Signed） T。 Bensley；
〃Friederich Konig。
〃WitnessJ。 Hunneman。〃
Koenig now proceeded to put his idea in execution。 He prepared
his plans of the new printing machine。 It seems； however； that
the progress made by him was very slow。 Indeed； three years
passed before a working model could be got ready； to show his
idea in actual practice。 In the meantime； Mr。 Walter of The
Times had been seen by Bensley； and consulted on the subject of
the invention。 On the 9th of August； 1809； more than two years
after the date of the above agreement； Bensley writes to Koenig：
〃I made a point of calling upon Mr。 Walter yesterday； who； I am
sorry to say； declines our proposition altogether； having （as he
says） so many engagements as to prevent him entering into more。〃
It may be mentioned that Koenig's original plan was confined to
an improved press； in which the operation of laying the ink on
the types was to be performed by an apparatus connected with the
motions of the coffin； in such a manner as that one hand could be
saved。 As little could be gained in expedition by this plan； the
idea soon suggested itself of moving the press by machinery； or
to reduce the several operations to one rotary motion； to which
the first mover might be applied。 Whilst Koenig was in the
throes of his invention； he was joined by his friend Andrew F。
Bauer； a native of Stuttgart； who possessed considerable
mechanical power； in which the inventor himself was probably
somewhat deficient。 At all events； these two together proceeded
to work out the idea； and to construct the first actual working
printing machine。
A patent was taken out； dated the 29th of March； 1810； which
describes the details of the invention。 The arrangement was
somewhat similar to that known as the platen machine； the
printing being produced by two flat plates； as in the common
hand…press。 It also embodied an ingenious arrangement for inking
the type。 Instead of the old…fashioned inking balls； which were
beaten on the type by hand labour； several cylinders covered with
felt and leather were used； and formed part of the machine
itself。 Two of the cylinders revolved in opposite directions； so
as to spread the ink； which was then transferred by two other
inking cylinders alternately applied to the 〃forme〃 by the action
of spiral springs。 The movement of all the parts of the machine
were to be derived from a steam…engine； or other first mover。
〃After many obstructions and delays；〃 says Koenig himself； in
describing the history of his invention； 〃the first printing
machine was completed exactly upon the plan which I have
described in the specification of my first patent。 It was set to
Work in April； 1811。 The sheet （H） of the new Annual Register
for 1810； 'Principal Occurrences；' 3000 copies； was printed with
it； and is； I have no doubt； the first part of a book ever
printed with a machine。 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。 The idea
which now occurred to Koenig was； to employ a cylinder instead of
a flat Platen machine； for taking the impressions off the type；
and to place the sheet round the cylinder； thereby making it； as
it were； part of the periphery。 As early as the year 1790； one
William Nicholson had taken out a patent for a machine for
printing 〃on paper； linen； cotton； woollen； and other articles；〃
by means of 〃blocks； forms； types； plates； and originals；〃 which
were to be 〃firmly imposed upon a cylindrical surface in the same
manner as common letter is imposed upon a flat stone。〃＇3＇ From
the mention of 〃colouring cylinder；〃 and 〃paper…hangings；
floor…cloths； cottons； linens； woollens； leather； skin； and every
other flexible material；〃 mentioned in the specification； it
would appear as if Nicholson's invention were adapted f