In 1785, Jefferson was using both stationary and portable presses made by James Watt & Co.

During the 19th century, a host of competing technologies were introduced to meet office copying needs.The technologies that were most commonly used in 1895 are identified in an 1895 description of the New York Business College's course program: "All important letters or documents are copied in a letter-book or carbon copies [are] made, and instruction is also given