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other flexible material；〃 mentioned in the specification； it
would appear as if Nicholson's invention were adapted for
calico…printing and paper…hangings； as well as for the printing
of books。 But it was never used for any of these purposes。 It
contained merely the register of an idea； and that was all。 It
was left for Adam Parkinson； of Manchester； to invent and make
practical use of the cylinder printing machine for calico in the
year 1805； and this was still further advanced by the invention
of James Thompson； of Clitheroe； in 1813； while it was left for
Frederick Koenig to invent and carry into practical operation the
cylinder printing press for newspapers。
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。 The forme was fixed in
a cast…iron plate which was carried to and fro on a table； being
received at either end by strong spiral springs。 A double
machine； on the same principle；the forme alternately passing
under and giving an impression at one of two cylinders at either
end of the press；was also included in the patent of 1811。
How diligently Koenig continued to elaborate the details of his
invention will be obvious from the two last patents which he took
out； in 1813 and 1814。 In the first he introduced an important
improvement in the inking arrangement； and a contrivance for
holding and carrying on the sheet； keeping it close to the
printing cylinder by means of endless tapes； while in the second；
he added the following new expedients： a feeder； consisting of an
endless web；an improved arrangement of the endless tapes by
inner as well as outer friskets；an improvement of the register
（that is； one page falling exactly on the back of another）； by
which greater accuracy of impression was also secured； and
finally； an arrangement by which the sheet was thrown out of the
machine； printed by the revolving cylinder on both sides。
The partners in Koenig's Patents had established a manufactory in
Whitecross Street for the production of the new machines。 The
workmen employed were sworn to secrecy。 They entered into an
agreement by which they were liable to forfeit 100L。 if they
communicated to others the secret of the machines； either by
drawings or description； or if they told by whom or for whom they
were constructed。 This was to avoid the hostility of the
pressmen； who； having heard of the new invention； were up in arms
against it； as likely to deprive them of their employment。 And
yet； as stated by Johnson in his 'Typographia；' the manual labour
of the men who worked at the hand press； was so severe and
exhausting； 〃that the stoutest constitutions fell a sacrifice to
it in a few years。〃 The number of sheets that could be thrown off
was also extremely limited。
With the improved press； perfected by Earl Stanhope； about 250
impressions could be taken； or l25 sheets printed on both sides
in an hour。 Although a greater number was produced in newspaper
printing offices by excessive labour； yet it was necessary to
have duplicate presses； and to set up duplicate forms of type； to
carry on such extra work； and still the production of copies was
quite inadequate to satisfy the rapidly increasing demand for
newspapers。 The time was therefore evidently ripe for the
adoption of such a machine as that of Koenig。 Attempts had been
made by many inventors； but every one of them had failed。
Printers generally regarded the steam…press as altogether
chimerical。
Such was the condition of affairs when Koenig finished his
improved printing machine in the manufactory in Whitecross
Street。 The partners in the invention were now in great hopes。
When the machine had been got ready for work； the proprietors of
several of the leading London newspapers were invited to witness
its performances。 Amongst them were Mr。 Perry of the Morning
chronicle； and Mr。 Walter of The Times。 Mr。 Perry would have
nothing to do with the machine； he would not even go to see it；
for he regarded it as a gimcrack。＇5＇ On the contrary； Mr。
Walter； though he had five years before declined to enter into
any arrangement with Bensley； now that he heard the machine was
finished； and at work； decided to go and inspect it。 It was
thoroughly characteristic of the business spirit of the man。 He
had been very anxious to apply increased mechanical power to the
printing of his newspaper。 He had consulted Isambard Brunelone
of the cleverest inventors of the dayon the subject； but
Brunel； after studying the subject； and labouring over a variety
of plans； finally gave it up。 He had next tried Thomas Martyn；
an ingenious young compositor； who had a scheme for a self…acting
machine for working the printing press。 But； although Mr。 Walter
supplied him with the necessary funds； his scheme never came to
anything。 Now； therefore； was the chance for Koenig！
After carefully examining the machine at work； Mr。 Walter was at
once satisfied as to the great value of the invention。 He saw it
turning out the impressions with unusual speed and great
regularity。 This was the very machine of which he had been in
search。 But it turned out the impressions printed on one side
only。 Koenig； however； having briefly explained the more rapid
action of a double machine on the same principle for the printing
of newspapers； Mr。 Walter； after a few minutes' consideration；
and before leaving the premises； ordered two double machines for
the printing of The Times newspaper。 Here； at la