A drawing of the Ruthven press.
The Ruthven press, as illustrated in Johnson, Typographia, or the Printers' instructor....(1824)
Detail map of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

A: Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom

John Ruthven Invents the Ruthven Press

1813
Patent drawings of Ruthen's press.
Creative Commons LicenseJeremy Norman Collection of Images - Creative Commons
Patent drawings of Ruthen's press.  The mechanism was complex, but also compact.
In 1813 John Ruthven of Edinburgh received British patent specification No. 3746 for "A Machine or Press for Printing from Types, Blocks, or other Surfaces." Ruthven invented a very distinctive platen press in which the pressure came from below the platen rather than from above it. The press, which was compact quickly developed an excellent reputation.

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Law / Copyrights / Patents
Printing by Machine