History of the fax machine

The fax machine has a surprisingly long history, dating back to the 19th century. Here’s a brief timeline of its development:

1843 – The First Fax Patent

Scottish inventor Alexander Bain received a patent for an early fax-like device. It used synchronized pendulums to scan and transmit images, making it the first concept of a facsimile transmission system.

1865 – First Practical Fax System

Italian physicist Giovanni Caselli developed the pantelegraph, which could transmit handwritten messages and simple drawings over telegraph lines. It was used in France for banking and government communication.

1924 – Radio Fax (Wireless Transmission)

Richard H. Ranger of RCA developed a wireless fax system, which later played a role in transmitting news photos across continents.

1948 – Modern Fax Principles

The Bell Labs improved fax technology by developing the telephone facsimile, which used phone lines for transmission.

1964 – Xerox Introduces the First Commercial Fax Machine

Xerox introduced the Long Distance Xerography (LDX) machine, which became the foundation for modern fax technology.

1970s–1980s – Fax Becomes Mainstream

Japanese companies, including Canon, Ricoh, and Sharp, developed compact, reliable, and affordable fax machines, making them widespread in offices worldwide.

1990s – Fax Peaks with Digital Enhancements

With Group 3 fax machines, compression technologies reduced transmission time to seconds, making faxing an essential business tool.

2000s–Present – Decline with the Internet

The rise of email, PDFs, and digital signatures led to a sharp decline in fax use. However, certain industries, like healthcare and legal sectors, still rely on fax due to privacy laws and security concerns.

Despite being considered obsolete by many, fax technology persists in niche applications.