Thomas Edison receives a patent for his mimeograph.

A mimeograph is a duplicating machine that was commonly used before the advent of modern photocopiers. It works by forcing ink through a stencil onto paper, producing copies of the original document.

Operation: A stencil is created by typing or drawing on a special paper that has a waxy coating. The stencil is then wrapped around an ink-filled drum. As the drum rotates, ink is pushed through the cut-out areas of the stencil onto sheets of paper.

History: The mimeograph was invented by Thomas Edison in 1876 and became widely used in schools, churches, and offices throughout the 20th century.

Advantages: It was valued for its ability to produce a large number of copies quickly and inexpensively.

Decline: The use of mimeographs declined in the 1980s with the rise of photocopy machines and later digital printers, which offered better quality and ease of use.