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From the Observer archive, 24 April 1960: Eyewitness to a scientific office revolution

John Davy, the Observer's science correspondent, describes the new technique of photocopying that he predicts will become popular in future workplaces

An early advert for Xerox photocopier
An early advert for a Xerox photocopier, a scientific revolution in office working. Photograph: Xerox Historical Archives

A new office copying machine was demonstrated in London last week, the first to embody "xerography" – the "dry photography" process that is giving rise to many novel printing and copying devices.

The machine, made by Rank Precision Industries, will be demonstrated at the Hanover Fair which opens today, and at the Business Efficiency Exhibition at Olympia in October. Customers will get the first machines in November.

The demand is likely to be considerable, for the xerographic process offers many advantages. The new machine will copy virtually any document, including drawings and sketches, and is not deterred by coloured typing or green and red ink.

No special sensitised paper is needed and the present machine produces six copies a minute. It is built into a desk-size steel cabinet, with push-button control.

The operator places the document to be copied face down on a glass plate let into the desk and sets a knob to select the number of copies required. When the "print" button is pressed, the machine starts delivering copies into a tray on the desk top until the selected number is reached, when it switches itself off.

The machine works by projecting an image of the document to be copied on to a light-sensitive drum coated with selenium and this forms a pattern of electric charges. When a special powder is dusted on the drum, it sticks to the charged parts. The drum is then rolled off on to a positively charged sheet of copy paper, thus reproducing the original image on the paper. The powder is then fused on to the paper by passing it under a heater. The result is a permanent copy.

The machine is necessarily quite elaborate and is not intended to compete with "small desk top copiers", the Rank firm says. The plan is to rent the machines to users for £30 per week, as is already done for many of the more elaborate office machines today. If 100 copies are made per day, the cost per copy will work out at just under 4½d. If 250 copies are produced, this drops to 4d per copy.

The dedicated office efficiency expert may be dismayed at a machine that makes it still easier to circulate copies of documents all round an office. But where copying is essential, xerography offers one of the most up-to-date and convenient ways of doing it.

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