as 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 125 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