104 Wood's Inking Machine. 
_  Itis well known that the increased demands made upon the press, 
~ by the eager thirst for knowledge, and the general spirit of compe- 
tition, that characterize the times, have canst the power of steam 
to be called to its aid, to obtain dispatch and cheapness of produc- 
tion. The Steam Press, however, though a proud trophy of modern 
art, from its great size and enormous cost, could be used only in the 
greatest establishments, and by men of large capital; while, at the 
same time the general inferiority of its work, which almost necessa- 
rily resulted from its great despatch, limited its use chiefly to the 
printing of newspapers. A machine was still wanting, that should be_ 
available to the common printer, that would enable him to work at 
less cost, and to compete with his more opulent neighbor. This de- 
sideratum was attempted to be supplied by some contrivance that 
might be applied to the common hand-wrought printing press, in such 
a way as to cause it, by its own action, to ink the form of type by means 
of aroller, when worked by one man. Several attempts had been 
made for this purpose, both in this country and in Europe, but hith- 
erto without success: the different machines being either too defi- 
cient in the proper distribution of the ink necessary to good work— 
- occasioning too great an obstruction to the action of the press, to al- 
Jow « of i: being worked by a single person—or requiring too great 
an ion of its construction, to admit of general use. 
s ‘this machine, these objections have been overcome; and it is 
thought that it will be found to be well adapted to the purpose for 
_which it is intended. It is applicable to any of the hand-wrought 
presses in common use ; requires no additional motion on the part of 
the workmai; and an a slight increase of muscular power. 
The aathike being placed on the side of the press, opposite to 
that on which the workman stands, the axis of the handle of the press 
(called the rounce), is lengthened a few inches on that side, and @ 
bevel-toothed wheel placed upon it, for the purpose of giving motion 
-_ to the machine. This is the only alteration necessary to be made in 
the press; and, except a couple of fastenings attached to its frame, 
~ to hold the — firmly in apposition with it, is the only connexion 
between them. 
On the Pa side of the machine is a shaft, having at one end a 
bevel-toothed wheel, which is worked upon by that on the end of the 
rounce; in the middle, a barrel to which is attached a strap, which 
winds up a weight that propels the inking roller; and at the other 
end a spur-wheel, which gives the motion to the rollers, —_ 
for distributing the ink thereon. 
