A New Telephotograph System*

Abstract

Transmission of photographs over telephone wires was begun commercially several years ago, but recent improvements have increased to 11 by 17 inches the size of photograph that could be transmitted and have made it possible for the picture to give much more information. The new machines used for sending and receiving photographs are described in this paper, and the requirements and control of the wire system necessary to prevent imperfections in the picture and to permit switching of sending and receiving stations are discussed.

Facsimile

“…Two decades of experiments raised hopes for the future of point-to-point and broadcast applications, indeed, 'any application requiring the transmission of intelligence' (Goldsmith et al, 1938: 285). From professional journals such as Proceedings of the Institute of Radio Engineers and the Bell System Technical Journal, to popular magazines such as Business Week and Popular Science, by the late 1930s and early 1940s predictions about the device's future had grown widespread (Business Week, 1939;Hogan, 1941;Horton, 1929;Ives, 1925;Reynolds, 1936). The consequences of a nation of faxes, according to enthusiasts, would be increased business productivity, a better educated public, and global understanding -many of the predictions that have accompanied the introduction of other media technologies (Corn, 1986).…”