History
Xerox was founded in 1906 in Rochester as The Haloid Photographic Company, which originally manufactured photographic paper and equipment. In 1938 Chester Carlson, a physicist working independently, invented a process for printing images using an electrically charged drum and dry powder "toner".
Joseph C. Wilson, credited as the "founder of Xerox", took over Haloid from his father. He saw the promise of Carlson's invention and, in 1946, signed an agreement to develop it as a commercial product. Wilson remained as President/CEO of Xerox until 1967 and served as Chairman until his death in 1971.
Looking for a term to differentiate its new system, Haloid coined the term Xerography from two Greek roots meaning "dry writing". Haloid subsequently changed its name to Haloid Xerox in 1958 and then Xerox Corporation in 1961.
Xerox had several manufacturing plants all over the world. In this section of the website, we will focus on some of them. According to Rank Xerox International Review 1980, the company had manufacturing sites at Mitcheldean (UK), Welwyn Garden City (UK), Lille (France), Venray (The Netherlands) and Coslada (Spain).
For the market in US, the manufacturing site was at Webster campus in Rochester.
A look back at the birth of xerography and the impact the invention has made on the business world over the past 75 years.
Started working on Xerox machine at 1997 as a client of Xerox, and join the company it self at 2010 to 2021. It allowed me to change my life and build my own project.! Thanks Xerox.
I started there in 1973 was originally trained on 4000 and 4500 machines as a Tech. Went to Management training and became a Field Service Manager in Chicago. Then went on to XES and left in 2001. 28 Years. This was a great company before the accountants ran it into the ground. What a shame.
Hello, good time, Xerox machine model 7835 The device turns on, but the screen does not come up. Thank you for your help
Xerox has changed producer for the paper called “xerox business” since 2017. The new version does not work for my use (sketching paper for my art). Im trying to track down the previous producer to see if they still have some left. Any suggestions?
Here are some of my works : https://www.flickr.com/photos/andreas-tellefsen/?fbclid=IwAR3F9OQQEw1EliwV6c2Aue7Hyffr0X0EjE994. rq7oXhn5ZTbANJPobgWbGw. Kind regards Andreas Tellefsen
Does anyone know anything about the Standard No. 4 machine? It had a plate that was charged, then exposed to the image and light, then “dusted” with toner before applying paper to the image on the plate and carefully peeling off and placing in the fused (either heat or liquid).
Kay. Yes I operated one of these Haloid Xerox machines in 1963-64 at TWA in Kansas City. Making offset printing plates used to print aircraft overhaul manuals. I have found this website while researching the Flat-plate 1385 probably the same or similar machine you are asking about. It operated exactly as you describe. Would love to chat about your experience. I am writing my life story and this job was a stepping stone to my graphics hobby. You can reach me at ernestoverstreet@gmail.com. And look forward to a chat.
Ernie Overstreet
XEROX ASSIGNMENTS: (Houston, Texas: Customer Rep & 9200 System Rep…. (Dallas, Texas, Region 9200 System Rep Manager ( Finally ATLANTA GEORGIA)Field Sales Manager, Retail Store General Manager.) WHAT A FIGHT!! THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE PATENT BATTLE! PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD OF SELLING UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THESE COMPANIES, IN MY MIND, ARE TO THIS DAY MUST BE CONSIDERED SURVIVORS…No room for order takers, only trained sales professionals need apply.. Xerox International Center for Training in Leesburg Virginia could be considered battlefield training in all areas. What a journey!! Personally, to have emerged as one of Xerox leading SALES professionals is… Read more »
Hi ,
I worked in Xerox India from 1986 to 1991 and visited Micheldean plant in 1988 …..excellent experience and till date I had great memories of the great organization.
Vijay Joshi
510-480-2293 (USA)
I joined Rank Xerox UK in 1982 having come from the world of journalism. I was there until 1993 and I loved it. I sold all their copiers from 660 through to 10 series and beyond. Saw a lot of changes and worked with some amazing people. It was a great time. Likewise at the end of my time there, it changed drastically, there were some pretty awful managers with bullying tactics and everything was different. The fun went out of it but I still remember the good old days, the guys you worked with became your friends. Shame they… Read more »
Were you the same Diana Shepherd who ran the telesales team in Camberley?
Hi I am a student at RIT working on a project on Xerox’s history. Can I talk to someone to get some details and images. Educational purpose only. The history is going to include my father’s oral history. I’m looking to confirm some details he will give me.
Yes it was great place to work.I hire in 1975. 660,2300,3100,3400,3450 mid volume copiers.They started losing accounts. They were to late modulate there copiers. Lost out to the foreign market.We were a family. But by the early 80s. Management style changed.I moved on. Ps Xerox World The Pyramid Leesburg Virginia was a wonderful place for service and management traning.
I sold FlatPlate in early 1964 until the 914s arrived. Then th 83 and 660 and 2400 and 3600. Boy, those were wonderful years! I’m very proud to have been a small part of a wonderful era. Xerox is gone now, thanks to the bean-counters and I don’t believe we’ll ever see the likes of it ever again. How very sad. Walter in Toronto 416-236-9477
Hello all, after my first 8 yrs in field I transferred to the OPD part of the company which included the 800ETS/850/860/820 PC/8000 and 8010/6085/Fax etc, and all the accessories. I know there were a whole bunch of techs like myself in metropolitan areas who specialized on these before Xerox shut it down. any chance of expanding?
I started in Chicago Loop in late ’74 just before the 9200 explosion and they started sending “senior” techs to training, so I went to 2400/3600/7000. spent majority of next 43 yrs at Mama X or one of its Global Imaging companies.
we were family back then.
at a Leesburg meeting during training, C Peter had everyone from Service stand and then introduced us to the rest sitting there to the best sales force in the company.
yes, we were family back then
Enter the great family XEROX ( XICA ) in 1973 formed by the best teachers of XMEX some QDDG, start with the model Xerox 813, 914, 720 and thereafter until today with the family Versalink, Altalink and until Jehovah so said. Blessings
I also worked as a Xerox copywriter.
I was trained and serviced the Rank Xerox 660, 720,3100, 3103, 3107, 2300, 4000, 4500, 1860, 1824, X860 copiers.
I left a copy of Rank Xerox 813 in memory.
I have a lot of service documentation for Xerox copiers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45Jic_1yeW0
Just came across this site: For a documentation I’m looking for information from an employee of Rank Xerox in Dusseldorf. Hope very much that Gerhard Rudolf reads this and would like to get in touch.
I can try to contact Gerhard Rudolf for you.
Hi
Visited plant in 1988 from India .I would like to post few pictures taken during my visit . Pl advice your mail id
Regards
Vijay Joshi
510-480-2293 (USA )
Yes, gerhard.rudolf@rtv-online.de
Yeah-boy, I worked for Xerox starting in 1984. First machine trained on was the 1045, followed next year by the1048, 1040, 1050, etc. My territory was midtown south ( 33rd to 23rd, Madison to 1st ave not including the hospitals) Eventually, I was everywhere south of 42nd. Loved it, no wait, HATED IT !
I started in Germany with 660, 3100-3107, 3400, X400, X800 and X850/X860
I was hired in 1978 and trained on the 3100f and the 813/660 copiers. Later they added the 3300 then the 1075/1090. Eventually I was schooled on the 5100/5800.
Once again, I’m looking for information on Rank Xerox in Dusseldorf. If Gerhard Rudolf reads this and likes to be interviewed, this would be great. Thanks!
In the early 70,s, I met with C. Peter McColough, CEO of Xerox . We discussed the PARC (Palo Alto Research Center) that he started. At PARC, Xerox developed the Alto personal computer, mouse, Ethernet, windows, internet protocols, and laser printing.
At that time, the company was more interested in copiers than computers, and gave the inventions away to Steve Jobs and Bill Gates.
there is an excellent book about that, came out in early 90’s. Called “Fumbling the Future, how Xerox invented then ignored the first personal computer”. I worked in that environment in the OPD from beginning to end at Xerox. Oh if only…
in the end of the 70. I was on a training i Stockholm Sweden.We was told to come to a seekret room for information.There was a rebuilt 7000 machine to a laserprinter ,a computer and a man held a funny thing dangling in a wire. Do you know what this is ? ,he said with a smile.None of uss had a clue ofcourse.It,s a mouse ! he said, and this is the future. And it was ,and no one in the company understood it ,and it was given away like the telecopier that Canon turned into the FAX succese. Xerox… Read more »
Worked for Xerox and associated companies in the UK Liberia, Nigeria and then back in the UK, had it not been for poor management and not able to focus on the innovations and technical developments made,xerox would not be where they are today, so sad to see what was a fabulous company to work for fall into such decline
I hired on to Xerox in 1970 and was trained and worked on all the machines your website shows, plus the 10 series. I also launched the 5090 and Docutech families. I trained over 1000 techs to service Xerox machines both at Xerox and as an independent training center owner after leaving Xerox .