Who invented the fax machine and when?

Scottish inventor Alexander Bain invented the first fax machine concept in 1843, receiving British Patent No. 9745 for his "Electric Printing Telegraph." The first commercial fax service followed in 1865, operated by Giovanni Caselli's pantelegraph between Paris and Lyon — 11 years before the telephone was invented.

How old is fax technology?

Fax technology is over 180 years old. Alexander Bain's foundational patent was granted on May 27, 1843. The first working commercial service launched in 1865. This makes fax older than the telephone (1876), the light bulb (1879), and the automobile (1885).

Is fax still used today?

Yes — fax remains widely used in healthcare, legal, and government sectors. Over 17 billion fax documents are sent globally each year, and more than 70% of US hospitals still rely on fax for patient record sharing. The global fax services market is valued at $3.31 billion and growing at ~5% per year. Modern users send faxes via apps and online services like [mFax.to](https://mfax.to) — no fax machine required.

When did fax machines become popular in offices?

Fax machines became mainstream office equipment in the 1980s, driven by the ITU Group 3 international standard (1980) that allowed all fax machines to communicate with each other. By the early 1990s, virtually every business office worldwide had at least one fax machine. US sales of standalone fax machines peaked in 1997.

Why do hospitals still use fax in 2026?

Hospitals use fax because it is accepted as HIPAA-compliant for transmitting Protected Health Information (PHI). Fax transmissions are point-to-point — they are not stored on email servers or cloud platforms that could be breached. Over 70% of US healthcare facilities still rely on fax for inter-organizational record sharing as of 2023.

History of Fax Machine: A Complete History

The fax machine is older than the telephone — it was invented in 1843, more than 30 years before Alexander Graham Bell filed his patent. This complete history traces fax from its clockwork origins through the 1980s boom to its resilient presence in modern healthcare, law, and government.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who invented the fax machine and when?: Scottish inventor Alexander Bain invented the first fax machine concept in 1843, receiving British Patent No. 9745 for his "Electric Printing Telegraph." The first commercial fax service followed in 1865, operated by Giovanni Caselli's pantelegraph between Paris and Lyon — 11 years before the telephone was invented.
How old is fax technology?: Fax technology is over 180 years old. Alexander Bain's foundational patent was granted on May 27, 1843. The first working commercial service launched in 1865. This makes fax older than the telephone (1876), the light bulb (1879), and the automobile (1885).
Is fax still used today?: Yes — fax remains widely used in healthcare, legal, and government sectors. Over 17 billion fax documents are sent globally each year, and more than 70% of US hospitals still rely on fax for patient record sharing. The global fax services market is valued at $3.31 billion and growing at ~5% per year. Modern users send faxes via apps and online services like [mFax.to](https://mfax.to) — no fax machine required.
When did fax machines become popular in offices?: Fax machines became mainstream office equipment in the 1980s, driven by the ITU Group 3 international standard (1980) that allowed all fax machines to communicate with each other. By the early 1990s, virtually every business office worldwide had at least one fax machine. US sales of standalone fax machines peaked in 1997.
Why do hospitals still use fax in 2026?: Hospitals use fax because it is accepted as HIPAA-compliant for transmitting Protected Health Information (PHI). Fax transmissions are point-to-point — they are not stored on email servers or cloud platforms that could be breached. Over 70% of US healthcare facilities still rely on fax for inter-organizational record sharing as of 2023.