Copying Machine Supply - A brief history of XEROX

Xerox came into existence in the year 1906. During that time it was referred as "The Haloid Company" which was into manufacturing of photographic paper and related equipment. But it was in 1959 when the company became popular with the introduction of its first plain paper photocopier. The technology used was xerography which is also called electro-photography was developed by Chester Carlson, the Xerox 914. The popularity of 914 increased leaps and bounds and by the end of the year 1961, the revenue of Xerox was lifted to $60 million. In the following years the rise in revenue was humungous and by the end of 1965 Xerox was richer by $500 million.

Throughout the 1960s the company continued to expand at a fast pace. Investors who served the company in through its rough phase of slow research and development turned millionaires. In 1960, a research institute for xerography came into existence named "Wilson Center for Research and Technology" in Webster, New York. In the following year the company changes its name to "Xerox Corporation" which was also listed in NYSE.

In 1963, Xerox announced its first desktop plain paper copier. Ten years later in 1973, a color copier was introduced. In 1971, Gary Starkweather a researcher tried to modify a Xerox copier which resulted in the evolution of the first laser printer in 1977.

Xerox was revived in the 1980s and 1990s with better quality in design and enhanced product line. It was in the 1980s that Apple considered purchasing Xerox. However, not able to strike a deal, Apple copied the GUI idea of Xerox for its own personal computers. Xerox's case was dismissed as it had passed the three year statute limitation and was too late to file the suit. The 1990s saw a complete new look to its product line. High quality printers, scanners, etc made Xerox a market leader.

In the year 2000, Xerox bought Tektronix color printing and imaging division for US$925 million. Four years later in September 2004, Xerox proudly celebrated the 45th anniversary of Xerox 914. After selling over 200,000 units across the globe from 1959 to 1976, the production was finally called off by the end of 1976. Today, Xerox 914 is a part of American History as an aircraft in Smithsonian Institution.