Xerox's first successful copier burst into flame so often it came with a fire-extinguisher

By at 3:50 am Thursday, Apr 21


Behold, 1959's groundbreaking Xerox 914, the first successful plain-paper photocopier, weighing in at 648 lbs, making a whopping 136 copies/hour. Much beloved for its propensity to burst into flame while operating, an occasion considered so normal by the manufacturer that they shipped it with a small fire-extinguisher, euphemistically called a "scorch guard."

Xerox 914 (Thanks, Fipi Lele!)

(Image: Xerox_914, Wikimedia Commons/Xerox)

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Cory Doctorow

Jun 1, Sydney Vivid
Jul 14, London EFF Speakeasy
Jun 18, Dublin Internet Freedom		Context (essays)
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