James Watt copier

This is an old copying system, the James Watt letter copy press, in mahogany with corners and handles in brass. It was invented in 1780 by James Watt, the inventor who refined also the steam engine.

It has been the first reliable copying machine, and its operating principle was used in copying machines till the beginning of 1900s.

James Watt patented both a screw press, like this, and a portable version, like the model I am presenting in the video.
It is said that James Watt invented this machine because he had a lot of correspondence with his partner Matthew Boulton while traveling between London and Cornwall. James Watt was often frustrated when he received Boulton's answers to his own written questions after several weeks as he had no copy of the original correspondence.

It had a lot of success. Many notable people, such as George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, used these devices.

This technology remained in use for more than 100 years after James Watt invented it.
It also had many clones, and different formulas of ink.

Then this technology was substituted by flat stencil mimeographs, then drum mimeographs, always more efficient, till alcohol duplicator after the war, and in the end the photocopier.

When you see this device you can see how long has been the road of 250 years from this first model in 1780 to the current digital copiers in 2024.

If you want to know in detail how it was used, you can see this video.