Understanding where the photocopier machine (an integral component of your everyday business arsenal) originated from enables you to experience a new appreciation for it and how far it has come over the decades!

Necessity is the mother of invention

History-of-the-Photocopier-Machine-common-sense-business-solutions-CAMost great inventions are inspired by a need to accomplish a goal. The photocopier is no different. The copier was originally invented by an arthritic patent attorney and part-time researcher/inventor named Chester Carlton. Back in 1938, Carlton decided he was tired of the pain and tedium involved with making handwritten copies of important documents at the New York Patent Office. He began experimenting in his own kitchen using plates made of zinc and covered with sulfur. He wrote the words “10-22-38 Astoria” on a microscope slide, placed it on top of the sulfur, and shined a bright light over the slide. Afterwards, the words remained on the plate in mirror image.

Research and Development

As with most inventions, society was not immediately onboard with Carlton’s copying process and companies such as IBM and General Electric rejected proposals to develop the technology. The Battelle Memorial Institute finally agreed to assist Carlton in further research and development. Several years later, The Haloid Company of New York obtained the license to market the technology, marking an important turning point for the development of modern photocopiers. Haloid made the decision to change the name of Carlton’s process from electrophotography to xerography and later changed its own name to Xerox Corporation.

A photocopier (and an industry) is born

From Carlton’s humble beginnings in his kitchen, it took over 20 years to develop the first photocopier machine. In 1958, the Xerox 914 hit the market as the first commercially-available photocopier. The introduction of this device was phenomenally successful and Xerox saw revenues jump by millions of dollars in just a few short years. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, many other companies observed Xerox’s success and surged to produce their own photocopiers. Brands like Ricoh, Cannon, Minolta, Sharp, and Konica all began to vie for a piece of the market.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Throughout the history of the photocopier, companies have worked to provide the most state-of-the-art technology. During the early days of commercial copy machines, this meant offering the ability to make copies in color. The Color-In-Copier was the first photocopier to offer full-color copies and was released by 3M in 1968. In more recent years, there has been a big shift towards digital copiers that can act as a hub for businesses. Digital collation has been a major improvement over analog copiers because it allows photocopiers to store images and quickly produce multiple copies of multi-page documents. Better image quality, networking capability, and handy finishers have all been added to modern copiers, making them indispensable equipment.

Konica Minolta- A history of innovation

Japanese company Konica Minolta was officially created by a 2003 merger between two separate companies (Konica and Minolta). However, ingenuity and inventiveness started long before the merger. The company began selling photocopying materials in the late 1800s and developed their first camera by 1900. Konica Minolta’s first photocopier hit U.S. markets in 1971. Since then, advancement in photocopier technology has been a mainstay for the company. Modern devices like the Bizhub C364 Color Copier Printer Scanner demonstrate how great photocopiers can improve the operations of any business.

Photocopiers have come a long way over the last couple of decades. From the early days of Chester Carlton’s kitchen experiments to the rise of Xerox, followed by the subsequent explosion of new technology, it’s clear that the modern photocopier has become a vital piece of office equipment. Contact us at Common Sense Business Solutions to explore the various Konica Minolta models available today.