12/41 It was set to Work in April, 1811. The actual use of it, however, soon suggested new ideas, and led to the rendering it less complicated and more powerful"[2] Of course! No great invention was ever completed at one effort. It would have been strange if Koenig had been satisfied with his first attempt. It was only a beginning, and he naturally proceeded with the improvement of his machine. It took Watt more than twenty years to elaborate his condensing steam-engine; and since his day, owing to the perfection of self-acting tools, it has been greatly improved. |