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The first company to use a zoom lens to create copies of documents is Rectigraph Co. The "zoom" lens is included in the focusing elements of the camera system and could effectively be used to create larger or smaller prints.

Camera-Based Photocopying Machines

The Rectigraph Co. introduced camera-based photocopying machines in 1906 or 1907, and the Photostat Corp. (an affiliate of Eastman Kodak) did so at some point during 1907-11. Rectigraph and Photostat machines (Plates 40-42) combined a large camera and a developing machine and used sensitized paper furnished in 350-foot rolls. "The prints are made direct on sensitized paper, no negative, plate or film intervening. The usual exposure is ten seconds. After the exposure has been made the paper is cut off and carried underneath the exposure chamber to the developing bath, where it remains for 35 seconds, and is then drawn into a fixing bath. While one print is being developed or fixed, another exposure can be made. When the copies are removed from the fixing bath, they are allowed to dry by exposure to the air, or may be run through a drying machine. The first print taken from the original is a 'black' print; the whites in the original are black and the blacks, white. (Plate 43) A white 'positive' print of the original is made by rephotographing the black print. As many positives as required may be made by continuing to photograph the black print." (The American Digest of Business Machines, 1924.) Du Pont Co. files include black prints of graphs dating from 1909, and the company acquired a Photostat machine in 1912. (Yates, p. 248, n. 81) A System, Sept. 1913 ad stated "20 Photostats used by the U.S. Government."

A 1914 Rectigraph ad stated that the U.S. government had been using Rectigraphs for four years and stated that the machines were being used by insurance companies and abstract and title companies. (Image coming S-3-14) The Rectigraph Co. was acquired by the Haloid Co. in 1935. Haloid still sold Rectigraph machines in the early 1960s.

In 1911, a Photostat machine was $500. (Yates, p. 54.) In 1924, Photostat machines were $650 to $1,050, depending on maximum print size and attachments. The cost of materials per print was $.06 for an 11.5" x 14" print. Similar Rectigraph machines were $500 to $850.

[Large_Photocopying_Machine_Press_Museum_Istanbul_OM.jpg (114378 bytes)]<https://www.officemuseum.com/L...seum_Istanbul_OM.jpg> [Photocopying_Machine_Press_Museum_Istanbul_OM.jpg (112527 bytes)] <https://www.officemuseum.com/P...seum_Istanbul_OM.jpg> [Photocopying_Machine_2_Press_Museum_Istanbul_OM.jpg (87380 bytes)] <https://www.officemuseum.com/P...seum_Istanbul_OM.jpg> [Agfa_Repromaster_1600_Press_Museum_Istanbul_OM.jpg (127532 bytes)] <https://www.officemuseum.com/A...seum_Istanbul_OM.jpg>
<https://www.officemuseum.com/P...seum_Istanbul_OM.jpg>Plates 43A, B, C & D, Large Photocopying Machines, including Agfa Repromaster 1600 on right. Press Museum, Istanbul, Turkey


William Jang

UX Project Lead
Global Development Group | Experience Design Group

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