ch 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