Printing-press, the
Wonderful improvements were made in the construc-
.
tion of
printing-presses in the
United States during the nineteenth century.
The press on which
Benjamin Franklin worked as a journeyman printer in 1725, was very little improved until 1817, when
George Clymer, of
Philadelphia, invented the “Columbian” press.
It was the first important improvement.
The power was applied by a compound lever.
In 1829
Samuel Rust invented the “
Washington” press, which superseded others for a while.
The daubing-balls, before used, were succeeded by inking-rollers, and later a selfinking apparatus was used.
With that machine a good workman could turn off 2,000 sheets a day.
Daniel Treadwell, of
Boston, invented the first “power-press,” and in 1830
Samuel Adams, of the same city, invented the celebrated “
Adams” press, which was long used for fine bookwork.
It was improved by his son Isaac.
Every operation is now done automatically.
The first “rotary” press for rapid newspaper-printing was made by a German mechanic in
London, and used to print the London
Times, in 1814.
It gave 1,800 impressions in an hour.
An improved machine was made for the
Times, in 1848, which threw off 10,000 sheets an hour.
The Hoes, of New York, made many and great improvements in printing-machines, and between 1850 and 1860 they made successful attempts to print from a roll of paper, on both sides of the sheet.
Difficulties that at first appeared have
[
300]
been overcome, and now the press used for a great daily newspaper will print the paper on both sides and fold, ready for delivery, at the rate of 96,000 four-page or 48,000 eight-page sheets per hour.
Printing was introduced into the thirteen original States of the
United States by the following named persons at the time and place noted:
The first book published in
America was issued in 1536 in the city of
Mexico.
