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Papermaking Machine
As with many inventions during the Industrial Revolution, the papermaking machine was something of a collaborative affair. This model is of one of the early machines developed by the Frenchman Nicholas Louis Robert (1761-1828) in 1799. The machine was further developed by John Gamble in England, who then collaborated with Henry (1766-1854) and Sealy Fourdrinier (1773-1847). This trio commissioned the engineer John Hall to build an improved papermaking machine, who, in turn, enlisted the help of his brother-in-law, Bryan Donkin (1768-1855).
By 1803, the end result of the collaboration was a machine that greatly speeded up paper production, a task previously done by hand, and, by saving on labour costs, it reduced the costs of books to make them more affordable to more people. The machine took a diluted pulp of linen pieces and water and spread them upon a mesh barrel. Water drained off and then the mash was placed between two layers of felt and pressed firmly between two rollers.
Frogmore Paper Mill, Apsley, Hertfordshire, UK.
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