Inventor Name
Campbell, Andrew
Repository
Hagley Museum & Library
Manuscripts & Archives Department
P.O. Box 3630
Wilmington, DE 19807-0630
302-658-2400
https://www.hagley.org/research
Physical Description
1.8 linear ft.
Summary
Andrew Campbell (1821-1890) was an important inventor and manufacturer of printing presses and president of the Campbell Printing Press Company of Brooklyn, N.Y. Andrew Campbell invented the press-feeding machine in 1853, and was employed by A.B. Taylor & Co. of New York. He built presses for Harper & Brothers and Frank Leslie, of New York, the first ever produced with table distribution as well as the first automatics. In 1858 he engaged in business for himself; in 1861 he built the "Campbell Country Press", which became widely used throughout the country by newspaper publishers. In 1866 he created the two-revolution book press and in 1868 an art press for fine illustrations. Campbell made the first press that printed, inserted, pasted, folded, and cut in one continuous operation. He held 50 patents relating to press building. In 1880 he retired from active business. He is also credited with various labor-saving devices relating to hat manufacture, steam engineering, machinist's tools, lithographic machinery, and electrical appliances. The papers, consisting of 230 items include biographical data, correspondence, accounts, patents and records concerning Campbell's inventions. The papers include: a history of printing presses, 1886, by Campbell; his remarks on publicly exhibiting the "Jersey Rotary" to invited guests at the Campbell works in Brooklyn, 1874; an essay on improvements in printing by him, 1881; notes on the performance of several kinds of presses, undated; papers concerning inventions and patents, 1842-76, with receipts, descriptions, and drawings; copy of his apprenticeship indenture with Woodbridge N. Smith of Upper Alton, Illinois, wagon and carriage maker, 1840; correspondence with Charles Campbell, 1845, R.P. Yorkston, 1890 and undated, C.R. Brainard, 1892, and the Commissioner General of the Centennial Exhibition (Philadelphia, 1876) concerning his needs as an exhibitor. Also included are Campbell's notebook containing "The Press", "A Ghost Story", and drafts of other articles, undated; account book, 1847-51, business and personal, with inventory of shop tools; scrapbook of receipted bills for household expenditures, 1867-70; two scrapbooks, new items, broadsides, samples of Campbell printing, 1875-87; letterheads and samples of Campbell printing, 1871-91; patents and related items, originals and printed copies, 1858-89, about 125 items, including United States, British, French, and Belgian ones; proof sheets of SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN, by Campbell, 1876, being an account of a visit to the Centennial Exhibition at Philadelphia; published articles concerning Campbell from THE MIRROR OF TYPOGRAPHY, 1869, TYPOGRAPHIC MESSENGER, 1880, THE PRINTER, 1860, and PRESS NEWS, 1893 and undated; passes to the Centennial Exhibition; published notices concerning his son Andrew C. Campbell (1856-1926).
