世界上第一台申请专利的复印机, 出自"James Watt", 1780

On February 14th, 1780, in England, some 230 years (!) ago, James Watt, the famous inventor of the steam engine, was granted a patent for his first duplicating machine under patent no. 1244. The machine was sold by "James Watt & Company, Soho/Birmingham, England".  His invention was a result of his own business as he had permanent correspondence with his partner Matthew Boulton while travelling – mostly to his steam engine projects in Cornwall. And James Watt was too often very frustrated when he received a letter after several weeks with answers by M. Boulton to his written questions because he had no copies of his letters, of course! – So he started developing world's first portable copying press! And by the end of 1780 already 150 machines were sold, and 630 presses by the end of the first full business year! – And it is reported that in the early 1780's Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson used the James Watt copying machine! In 1785 Jefferson was using both the stationary and the portable presses by James Watt & Co. The portable case opened up on hinges, and its upper section contained a collapsible writing pad for preparing the documents. The typewriter had not yet been invented, and copies could be made only of handwritten letters, diagrams and drawings. Underneath the writing pad were compartments for pencils, pens, rulers and paper, as well as a special compartment (the "damping box") which served for treating the copying paper. The metal-coated box was filled with clear well water (3/4 of an ounce) into which 24 sheets of copying paper were placed. A metal-coated lid was placed on top to keep the paper flat. After 12 hours, the sheets were thoroughly moist, and thus treated and ready to be used for copying. The number of sheets required for immediate use could be removed, and the remainder could be left in the box for up to two weeks, ready to be used at any time. The actual copying apparatus, consisting of two brass platens which were turned via the side handle, also located in the bottom section of the case. The original document was placed in the copying plate between the felt-covered, swing-up cover plate; the moist copying paper was placed on top of it, and this was then covered by oilpaper. The pressure by slow turning of the plate between the two platens caused the special copying ink of the original to be taken over, and thus transferred, onto the moist sheet (mirror inverted). The copy was ready for use following 24 hours in a drying book of absorbent paper (as for postage stamps). Because the of absorbent paper (as for postage stamps). Because the ink was passed through in this manner, the printing on the copy could, of course, be read only on what was actually the reverse side of the page. The basis for good copies was the special copying ink in which the original was written. A great deal of practice was also necessary to prepare sheets for use as copying paper, as they had to be absolutely uniformly moistened. The bottom part of the case also contained inkwells as well as containers of dry ink powder for making ink when travelling.