344 



MEMOIR OF DANIEL TIJEADWELL. 



from the cam, d or /'. The movements of the bed are arrested by means of a 

 lever, which removes the groove lever from the groove m the wheel t. 



They were usually arranged in pairs, as in Fig. 7, driven by one wheel between 

 them, and giving the impression on each alternately. 



Fig. 7. Dodble acting Power Press. 



The specification accompanying the patent fills twenty-six pages. It is dated 

 March 2, 1826. 



This press was constructed under considerable difficulties. The mechanic arts 

 in Boston were far from flourishing. New England had been engao-ed in navigation 

 till the war of 1812. Messrs. Francis C. Lowell, Patrick T. Jackson, and Nathan 

 Appleton had purchased the water power at Waltham in 1813. The power loom 

 was then being introduced into England, but its construction was a secret. Mr. 

 Lowell had a loom made, and put in operation in Broad Street, a man turning the 

 crank. In 1814 power looms were put in operation at Waltham, and this settled the 

 question of the success of the cotton manufacture in New England, — the transition 

 period was passed. But the waters of the Merrimac were still running to waste ; it 

 was not till some years later that Ezra Worthen built the mills at Lowell. 



"There was not at that time," 1821, says Mr. Trcadwoll, "I believe, a single steam-engine 

 at work in any shop or manufactory in the old peninsula of Boston, and but a single one at 

 the foundry at South Boston. There was not a lathe to be procured large enough to turn the 

 face of an iron bed or of a platen, and I was obliged to construct these as in the Ramage press, 

 tlic former of stone and the hatter of wood. Tlic inking rollers were of the English composition 

 of ghie and trciiclc, formed in a block-tin mould. They were tlie first rollers of the kind ever 

 made in this countiw, and no other person obtained possession of the art of making them for 

 eight or ten years. Tlie first press was operated by a horse, in 1821. 



" After satisfying myself of the quality of the work, and that an important saving in 

 price would be made over hand printing, but not finding the printers prepared to adopt it, I 

 determined to begin the business of printing, and continue it until the printers should be 

 satisfied that it would be for their advantage to adopt my press and purchase the right to use it. 

 I built a second machine in 1822, to be operated by the same horse that carried the first. In 

 this the bed and platen were of cast-iron, I having succeeded in adapting an old lathe to turn 



