Friedrich Gottlob Koenig (17 April 1774 – 17 January 1833) was a

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

inventor An invention is a unique or novel device, method, composition, idea or process. An invention may be an improvement upon a machine, product, or process for increasing efficiency or lowering cost. It may also be an entirely new concept. If an i ...

best known for his high-speed steam-powered printing press, which he built together with watchmaker Andreas Friedrich Bauer. This new style of printing press could print up to 1,100 sheets per hour,Lyons, M. (2011). ''Books : a living history''. Los Angeles : J. Paul Getty Museum, c2011. printing on both sides of the paper at the same time. He moved to London in 1804 and in 1810 was granted a patent on his press, which produced its first trial run in April 1812.Meggs, Philip B. A History of Graphic Design. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 1998. (pp 130–133) The machine was set up in their workshop, and invitations sent out to potential customers, notably John Walter of '' The Times''. Amidst much secrecy, for fear of upsetting the existing pressmen, trials were carried out with great success. The first issue of ''The Times'' printed with the new presses was published on 29 November 1814. In August 1817 Koenig returned to Germany because of a disagreement with Thomas Bensley, a London book printer partner, who Koenig believed sought sole rights to the new machine. After consideration he chose an abandoned monastery in

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for the premises of the factory. The firm was called Koenig & Bauer.

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Koenig's press
{{DEFAULTSORT:Koenig, Friedrich 1774 births 1833 deaths 19th-century German inventors German printers People from Eisleben