The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-27

Morning Post was but 50O copies, ana ITS
progress had been rapid; yet that of the
Times was even more marvellous during the
ten following years. From having the
smallest circulation of any London contem-
porary, the circulation of the Times became
so much larger than that of any of them
that the ordinary printing appliances proved
inadequate to provide the copies for which
there was demand. When the number
bought was 900 it was easy enough to
supply them with press which turned out
between 300 and 400 copies an hour; but
when many thousands were called for such
a press proved wholly inadequate. Mr.. Wal
ter had made several attempts to effect i'm
in the printing press. He con-
suited Marc Isambard Brunei, one of the
great mechanics of his day, who gave his
best attention to the matter, and then init
mated his inability to execute what was re-
quired. Mr. Walter advanced money to
Thomas Martyr, who thought he had made
an important discovery; but the ideas of
Martyr were not realized in practice.
While engaged in seeking for person who
could give scope and effect to his wishes,
Frederick Koenig, a German, who was born
at Eisleben, in Saxony, in IVA, was laboring
to effect improvements in the printing press,
was confident of substituting steam for
manual labor in his new press, and was
anxiously waiting for an opportunity to give
scope to his views, and for patron to
countenance and advance them. He had
visited England in the hope of finding
there the opening and the support which
he could not obtain in his native country.
He found sympathizer in Thos. Bensley,
with whom he entered into an agreement
in 1907. Two years after, when work
ing model of Koenigs improved press had
been completed, Bensley brought the mat
ter before Mr.. Walter, who, for the mo-
ment, was so fully occupied with other en-
gagements that he could not entertain
new scheme. In 1872 Koenig had finished
one of his new printing presses, and the
conductors of the principal London jour
nails were invited to see it in operation.
Mr.. Perry, of the Morning Chronicle, a
very shrewd man and the editor of most
successful newspaper, would not even ac-
cept the invitation, declaring that, in his
opinion, no newspaper was worth so many
years purchase as would equal the cost of
the new machine. Mr.. Walter accepted the
invitation, carefully examining Koenigs
improved press, and at once ordered two
double presses on the same model. Two
years elapsed before these presses were
constructed and at work Rumors of the
new invention were circulated, despite the
secrecy to which all concerned had been
pledged, and the Times pressmen, who be-
lieyed that their means of livelihood would
be. at an end when steam was applied to
printing, vowed vengeance upon the in
ventor. The new presses were erected in
rooms adjoining those wherein the old
presses were in operation. At six O'Clock
in the morning of the 18th of November
1914, Mr.. Walter entered the Office with
several damp printed sheets in his hand
and informed the startled pressmen at work
there that the Times was already printed
by steam. That if they attempted violence
there was force ready to suppress it, but
that if they were peaceable their wages
should be continued to every one Of them
till similar employment could be procured
In proof of his statement he handed to
them copies of the first newspaper which
had issued from a steam press. The reader
of that days Times were informed of the
revolution of which it was visible token
TriAing though the speed may now seem
it was then thought astounding that pres
could throw off, as Koenig's did, 1,l0C
copies an hour, and this beginning is mem
orable as the first step in a series of i'm
provements still more remarkable than tina
which was pronounced at the time to b
the greatest that had been effected in thu
art of printing since the discovery of thu
art itself,
1t is believed, and no doubt true, tina
November 18th, 1814is the memorable day
in the history of typography. Upon tina
day the first newspaper was printed b.
steam upon a power press-a sufficient.
rude affair, and incomplete in all its con
trivances, yet containing in itself the germ
and potentiality of the progress that ha
rendered possible the mechanical triumph
of to-day, in which is attained the acme o
speed, and with it the perfection of work
manship. The power press of Koenig, o
1914, had the whole fraternity'of printer
combined against it, with the notable excep
ton of the managers of the London Times
With this paper, fortunately for Koenig
his press was a necessity, He began t.
construct the press on the continent o
Europe, but failing utterly to interest prin
ters in it, he went to England, arriving il
London about 1906, and succeeding il
getting press running in 1910 or 1911
The proprietors of the Times, after examin
ing Koenig's book press, ordered two one
sided presses, and furnished the means t,
build them. Even with this endorsement
and demonstration of the capabilities of tn
new press, it was the subject of long AM
bitter contest between skill and stupidity
and so late as 1924 we find articles frou
leading printers, decrying the power pres
and asserting that so useless were they tina
they could be had for the price of old iron
1t Is singular, hut lineal descendants of tn
same SET OI mcu nc6p1 W VA4oV ~ 4tS" 1 "a
to-day, while it is yet undoubtedly true tina
many Of the s'fasth and "lightning' presse
of hitherto celebrated makers are now 70
sale at so much per pound.
In 1912 Mr.. Andrew Campbell, the
working as coach-maker in st. Louis
Mo-, became interested in the printing press
Having access to the press-room of the 8
Louis Republican through the pressman, h
soon became liberal press critic, and dun
ing the next five years made good man
defects aud shortcomings of the press h
had studied. In 1851 he accidently be
came aware of the great want of cheai
and efficient country press, and determine
to supply it. He opened corresponding
with Messrs. r. Hoe & Co., of New York
in which he asked material and room to d
the work, proposing to do all the latte
himself upon the press. They told him il
answer that it was impossible to make sucl
a press, aud if he did not believe it, he ha
better try himself.
In 1853 Mr.. Campbell went to Nev
York, hoping to do something with hi
press, but failed to interest in it either tn
Messrs. Hoe or Taylor & Co. He ais
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