The Fax Machine Was Invented Before the Telephone

Scottish inventor Alexander Bain patented the first fax machine in 1843, calling it an 'electric printing telegraph.' It could transmit images over telegraph wires using a primitive scanning system. Bell's telephone wasn't invented until 1876, making the fax machine older by more than three decades. The technology was refined over the years, but commercial fax machines didn't become popular until the 1980s, ironically becoming mainstream long after the telephone.