“The Great Men in Telecommunications:” Giovanni Caselli and the Invention of the Pantelegraph or Fax [Historical Corner]

The Historical Corner discusses the work and life of Giovanni Caselli, who invented the facsimile (fax) machine. This paper tells about Giovanni Caselli (Siena, May 25, 1815 Florence, September 8, 1891), who might be less known than Marconi and Morse, but who is a main figure in telecommunications. He can be considered to be the inventor of the first working facsimile machine (fax) to be built. Caselli named his invention pantelegrafo (pantelegraph) or telegrafo autografo (autograph telegraph) or telegrafo universale (universal telegraph). The name of this machine derives from joining the words "pantograph" (which is a mechanical device used to copy a drawing or an image) and "telegraph" (a device sending electrical signal at a distance through a wire).