The 1889 Dream of Instantaneous Picture Transmission
A Seattle man claims to have invented an electrical device capable of sending handwritten notes and drawings over telegraph wires at the speed of a pen, promising to revolutionize newspaper journalism.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
A marvelous invention has been suggested by Mr. J. C. Kuntz, an electrical expert and engineer of this city. In his laboratory on West 24th Street, surrounded by coils of wire and battery cells, Mr. Kuntz demonstrated a machine he claims will revolutionize newspaper art. 'This is the machine that will revolutionize newspaper art,' explained Mr. Kuntz. 'It is operated by a current from the other end of the line. You can write a note or a letter, and it will transmit either with the identical characters formed by your pen. While autotelegraphy has been known for ten years, this will carry the idea to the fullest extent. You can write as much as you like, and this machine will transmit it as fast as you write.' The paper used is coated with a weak solution of chloride of calcium, which makes it a conductor. The ink used is a non-conductor. When the device is in operation, a grinding noise—like the running down of a clock—is heard. With a few touches at the hands of a competent draftsman, the pictures are ready for the engraver. Mr. Kuntz, an Italian by birth, hopes that his invention will soon allow our newspapers to produce fine, excellent pictures of events in the city immediately following their occurrence, instead of waiting a day or two for the artist.
“This is the machine that will revolutionize newspaper art. You can write a note or a letter, and it will transmit either with the identical characters formed by your pen.”
This 1889 report captures the early, analog obsession with 'instant' news transmission that predates the fax machine, the scanner, and the internet. It is a striking reminder that Seattle’s identity as a hub for rapid, tech-driven communication and media disruption has roots stretching back well into the 19th century.
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