Hoe & Co., of New York. Donkin's machine, 

 employing a square "cylinder," which provided 

 space for four flat forms of type, turned by 

 "square" gears, and printing on a conjugate or 

 complementary surface that revolved in contact 

 with his polygonal "cylinder," produced 800 to 

 1,000 impressions per hour, but it was not 

 economically successful. 152 



In 1 81 2 Donkin applied his talents to the 

 preservation of food in tinplate canisters, or 

 cans, and by 181 4 he and his old master, Hall, 

 were supplying canned soups and meats to the 

 Royal Navy. 153 Like other fine mechanicians of 

 his day, Donkin spent much time and energy in 

 attempts to approach perfection in the fashioning 

 of lead-screws for dividing engines, and the 

 present chapter suggests his preoccupation with 

 the problem. 154 



He was active in the venerable Society of Arts 

 and in the Institution of Civil Engineers, and 

 while he had not by 1832 gained the status of 

 fellow of the Royal Society — he became a fellow 

 in 1838 — it is clear that he was a man universally 

 esteemed. The evidence favors the summing-up 

 of his eulogist: "His life was one uninterrupted 

 course of usefulness and good purpose." 155 



152 The press is illustrated in British patent 3757, November 

 23, 18 1 3, which was issued to Richard M. Bacon and Donkin; 

 a perspective view is given in David Brewster's Edinburgh En- 

 cyclopaedia (1832), vol. 18, pi. 469; and a schematic sketch of 

 the arrangement is shown in A History oj Technology, (cited 

 in note 140 above), vol. 5, p. 6go. Another Donkin printing 

 press patent was no. 4202, January 17, 18 18. 



153 A History oj Technology, vol. 5, p. 39. 



154 One of Donkin's dividing engines is in Science Museum, 

 London. A description is in Chari.es HoLTZAPFFEL, Turning 

 and Mechanical Manipulation, 5 vols. (London, 1843-1884) 

 vol. 2, pp. 651-655. 



Figure 51. — Bryan Donkin (1768- 1855). 

 Portrait, 1829, courtesy of The Paper Maker, 

 James L. Anderson, editor. 



It was about midday when I left Mr. Brunei. I 

 went up the Thames to Old Wapping Stairs, the 

 nearest ferry crossing to Donkin's Bermondsey shops. 



I was so fortunate as to find Mr. Donkin in his 

 office; I presented my letters as I had been advised 

 to do by Mr. Swann. He opened the first one, 

 glanced over it, and laid it open on his desk, and 

 opened the second, treating it in the same manner. 

 I could read nothing from his calm, impassive face, 

 but on opening the third there was an evident change 

 of expression; he read it very slowly, seemingly in 

 deep thought. Before opening the letters he had 

 asked me to be seated. 



Still holding the last letter in his hand he turned to 

 me saying, "This letter is from a most worthy gentle- 

 man whose requests I am always glad to respond to. 



155 Proceedings of the Royal Society of London (cited in note 150 

 above), p. 589. 



117 



