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 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 w