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Machines that Fax

The First Fax Machines

    The "fax" in fax machine is short for facsimile, which means "a system of transmitting and reproducing graphic matter (such as printing or still pictures) by means of signals sent over telephone lines" (Merriam-Webster). So, a fax machine would be a machine that is capable of sending messages or images over telephone lines. How does something like this even start? On May 27, 1843, Alexander Bain achieved a patent that was for "improvements in producing and regulating electric currents and improvements in timepieces, and in electric printing, and signal telegraphs" (FaxAuthority).

    So this wasn't exactly the fax machine, but he was the first to be able to transmit images across a wire. However, Frederick Bakewell took Bain's design and created a telegraph that could transmit images to one another. This was not commercially available, but it was a good first step to move towards that. (FaxAuthority). 

Giovanni Caselli's Pantelegraph


    In the 1860s, Giovanni Caselli created the Pantelegraph. This invention would be widely used in France, and even by Napoleon. This creation can be described as "A combination of “pantograph” (a machine used to copy drawings and words) and “telegraph” (a system for transmitting messages over long-distance wires)" (FaxAuthority).
    


    Fast forward to the 1920s, Herbert E. Ives sent the first color fax that would pave the way for future technology; this includes television! At this point, faxing an image took almost 6 minutes! As technology advanced, that was lowered to 1 minute. (eFax). 

Ad for Xerox's First Fax Machine


    In 1964, Xerox patented the first fax machine that was able to transport images over the telephone(eFax). From here, the business started booming and all major companies began buying their own fax machines so that companies could communicate within themselves, even if they are in different buildings. The invention of the fax machine helped us to become even more technologically advanced than ever before. With this invention, we were able to share information so fast with one another. Yes, we had the telephone to describe with words what we were trying to explain. But now with the fax machine, we could actually show what we were trying to explain. When it comes to companies, the only way you would be able to communicate would be via telephone. If you wanted an image you would have to have it shipped to you. Say a company wanted to create a flyer to hand out in all cities where they had major office buildings. The issue is the company is based all over the United States. There would be no way that the company creates the exact same flyer for each city just by describing with words what the other division had made. With the fax machine, one division of the company can work on the ad, then send it to all other the divisions and everyone would end up with the same ad in less than a day. Before the fax machine, this could take up to days or even weeks depending on how to spread apart the company is. This led to companies being able to divide work better and to become more time-efficient.

    Today, fax machines are rarely used, but they do still exist. The internet allows seeing images instantly and anywhere. There is no need to go find a fax machine if a friend wants to send you a funny picture. We should still acknowledge the important that the fax machine had in history before (most of) our times. I can remember my parents having a fax machine for work when I was growing up, but I don't have any recent memories of them being required to use one like they were before. The final step in technology creation is that another technology will come and be much better than its predecessor. This is what happened with the fax machine and the internet, and this will eventually happen to the internet as well.

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