For something completely different, we’re going to have a fun look at the history of fax – which dates back further than you’d expect! From its conception in 1843 to today’s online fax service, the story of the fax is both interesting and surprising. Enjoy Part 1 and stay tuned for Part 2.

1. A Short
History of
FAX
The first fax machine was
invented by the Scottish
legend and watchmaker
Alexander Bain.
The machine used
synchronised pendulums
and electrolytic paper to
scan and send.
Synchronisation was a
major problem.
Then the Englishman
Frederick Bakewell
improved upon the design
by replacing the
pendulums with rotating
cylinders.
Synchronisation was still
an issue with this machine
though.
The next step in fax evolution was the telediagraph.
Invented by Minnesota watchmaker Ernest Hummel. It
was used for the first time in January, 1898, in the New
York "Herald" office, when a picture of Mayor Van Wyck
was sent over a 6-mile circuit.
1843
1851
Then the Italian inventor Giovanni Caselli
solved the synchronisation issues by using
a regulating clock. His Pantelegraph
allowed the first ‘commercial’ use of the
fax transmitting banking transaction
signatures between French cities.
1898
https://twitter.com/ClickSendSMS
1906
Then, in steps German inventor
Arthur Korn and just quitely transmits
a photograph electronically over a
distance of 1800 km
using his game changing
Bildetelegraph.
#GameChanger
Next up, the French get invovled.
Edouard Belin created the humbly
named, Belinograph. It converted
light to electrical transmissions
using photoelectric cells. This tool
was the first to be able to encrypt
messages. #GettingSerious
STAY TUNED…we’ll
continue with the
development of fax to the
modern day and fax
online...
C'est Magnifique!
1914
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