IBM copier family

IBM Office Products Division

Company type	Division
Industry	Copier manufacturing and supplies
Founded	1970
Defunct	1988
Fate	Withdrew from copier industry
Parent	IBM

IBM's Office Products Division (OPD) was engaged in the production and distribution of copier machines and related supplies from 1970 until IBM withdrew from the copier industry in 1988. IBM's introduction marked the pioneering commercial application of an organic photoconductor, which subsequently became a standard in photocopier technology. This initiative illustrates a strategic turnaround, as IBM initially dismissed but later adopted this innovation. Despite leveraging its vast engineering and sales capabilities, IBM struggled to establish a strong foothold in the copier sector. The development process for the IBM Copier also played a role in launching IBM's inaugural laser printer, the IBM 3800.

IBM, Xerox, and the Evolution of Xerography

During the 1930s, Chester Carlson, who invented xerography—the foundational technology behind photocopiers—sought financial backing from various companies including IBM. However, IBM declined his proposal, favoring carbon paper as a more economical alternative. Carlson ultimately collaborated with the Haloid Corporation (later Xerox), which introduced the Xerox 914 model in 1959. By 1965, Xerox had achieved revenues exceeding $500 million and controlled approximately 70% of the global copier market valued at $1 billion by 1970. Although over forty competitors emerged, all relied on coated paper technology due to Xerox’s selenium drum patent protections.

In 1966, IBM researchers Meredith David Shattuck and Ulo Vahtra secured a patent for an organic photoconductor exhibiting sufficient sensitivity for copier applications, earning them prestigious inventor awards. Simultaneously, George Castro’s investigations into organic materials capable of conducting electricity under illumination led to his recruitment by IBM in 1968 to oversee Organic PhotoConductor development—crucial for both the IBM Copier I and the IBM 3800 laser printer. This breakthrough enabled IBM to circumvent infringement on Xerox’s selenium-based patents while allowing the use of plain paper in their copiers. Castro is widely recognized as the principal innovator behind the IBM Copier.

Additionally, IBM developed a dry hot roll fuser system that eliminated reliance on silicone oil, enhancing toner adhesion without leaving residue.

Upon launching its first copier in April 1970, IBM faced patent infringement litigation from Xerox despite prior licensing agreements concerning computer printers. Further legal challenges arose following the release of the Copier II in 1973. These conflicts were eventually resolved through a settlement in 1978 involving mutual patent exchanges and a $25 million payment from IBM to Xerox.

IBM’s share of the worldwide copier market expanded from 5% in 1975 to nearly 10% by 1977 but subsequently declined to 4% by 1980 and further dropped to approximately 3% by 1985.

Throughout its tenure in this market, IBM introduced three primary copier models: the IBM Copier, IBM Copier II, and IBM Series III Copier.

The IBM Copier

IBM unveiled its initial copier model, designated as Model 6800–001 or simply the IBM Copier, on April 21, 1970.

Following the debut of the Copier II, this original model was rebranded as IBM Copier I. The Copier I offered faster output than Xerox’s popular Xerox 914 (which produced seven copies per minute) but was positioned more directly against Xerox's higher-speed Xerox 660 model capable of eleven copies per minute.

Xerox conducted rigorous testing on the Copier I by operating it two shifts daily over three months and reported high reliability with monthly output reaching up to 50,000 copies.

Significantly, the Copier I was the first commercial device to incorporate an organic photoconductor within electrophotographic technology.

Its principal specifications included:

• A copying speed of ten pages per minute (equivalent to six hundred per hour)
• Toner cartridges weighing approximately 1.5 pounds that users could replace themselves; these transparent cartridges allowed easy toner level monitoring; each carton contained two cartridges sufficient for roughly 33,000 copies
• Developer mix rated for up to 160,000 copies provided and installed by authorized IBM Service Representatives
• Utilization of paper rolls supporting about 625 letter-sized copies with selectable formats between letter and legal sizes from a single roll
• An output tray capable of holding around seventy-five copies
• First copy production time of fifteen seconds followed by subsequent copies every six seconds
• A six-digit counter tracking copy volume with monthly usage reports linked to rental billing
• A curved sheet photoconductor with a lifespan of approximately four thousand copies; each machine housed forty photoconductors requiring replacement after about 160,000 copies; included monitoring displays and end-of-life indicators
• An emergency stop button enabling immediate shutdown
• Copying was limited to originals less than one inch thick; during copying, covers locked automatically to prevent interruption; copy quantity selector reset to one after each use—a limitation addressed in subsequent models like Copier II
• Three indicator lights signaling: Not Ready (photoconductor cycling), Call Key Operator (photoconductor replacement or emergency stop), and Add Paper (depletion of paper roll); paper cover automatically released when paper supply was exhausted

At launch, pricing for Copier I was set at US$19,200 outright or available for lease at US$200 per month plus a charge of 2.3 cents per copy.

The technology developed for Copier I also contributed directly to creating IBM’s first laser printer—the IBM 3800.

IBM ceased marketing the original Copier I model on June 30, 1981.

IBM Copier II

Launched in 1972 (Machine type/Model 6801–001), the IBM Copier II achieved sales between 70,000 and 80,000 units by 1977, securing approximately 10% of the worldwide copier market.

Notable attributes comprised:

• A photoconductor drum paired with a stationary document glass and mirror-scanning optical system—an innovation introduced by IBM.
• Implementation of a magnetic brush necessitating a novel developer formulation.
• Initial copy output in 6 seconds, followed by copies every 2.4 seconds, resulting in a production rate of 25 copies per minute—considerably faster than its predecessor, the Copier I.
• Semi-automatic feeding mechanism enabling users to place originals without raising the lid or manually aligning documents.
• Capability to reproduce larger bound materials due to a platen cover that did not lock, addressing a frequent customer concern related to the Copier I.
• Utilization of the same paper roll as the Copier I, yielding roughly 625 letter-sized copies per roll; an optional roll extended capacity up to 750 copies. The roll feed design prevented duplex copying.
• Expanded copy selector settings from a maximum of 10 (Copier I) to 20 without requiring resets between jobs.
• Maximum and minimum copy dimensions of and , respectively.
• Rated monthly duty cycle of 35,000 impressions.
• Priced at $15,000 upon release.

In January 1976, Norfin introduced the DASH-20 Collator compatible with this model. IBM followed with its own optional collator (IBM 6864) in 1977, featuring ten bins capable of holding twenty sheets each.

The IBM Copier II was officially discontinued from the market on May 6, 1985.

Copier Art

American artist and writer Pati Hill employed the IBM Copier II for creating what is recognized as Xerox Art. IBM loaned her a Copier II from 1977 for two and a half years, which she utilized for producing books and participating in exhibitions.

IBM 3896

The Copier II was also marketed under the designation IBM 3896 tape/document converter, tailored to reproduce adding machine tapes commonly used for bank deposit records. This variant featured a modified top section designed to properly handle and stack paper tapes. Announced on April 5, 1977, it was withdrawn from sale on July 25, 1980.

IBM Series III Copier/Duplicator

Introduced in March 1976, the IBM Series III represented a strategic shift by sustaining its core platform through four major model updates instead of full redesigns. It incorporated:

• Use of plain cut sheet paper
• Enhanced semi-automatic document feeding
• Introduction of automatic duplex copying

Price points ranged from $25,000 to $40,000 depending on included options. Eight distinct models were released across four main iterations.

Models 10 and 20

The initial Models 10 and 20 debuted in 1976 and were removed from marketing on March 11, 1986.

• Model 10: Machine type/Model 6802-001
• Model 20: Machine type/Model 6803-001
• Optional collator: Machine type/Model 6852-001

Key technical details included:

• Warm-up duration of 600 seconds; first copy produced in 4.5 seconds
• Rated speed of up to 75 pages per minute (equivalent to 4,500 pages per hour)
• Paper capacity featuring a primary tray holding up to 2,100 sheets and a secondary tray accommodating 600 sheets
• Copy size range spanning minimum dimensions of , up to maximum sizes of
• Model 20 offered reduction capabilities between 65% and 74%
• Optional one or two collators supporting up to forty bins total; each bin capable of holding one hundred pages

Due to considerable reliability challenges stemming from frequent paper jams caused by a complicated paper path design, these models were withdrawn in January 1978. They were subsequently reintroduced in November after extensive Engineering Changes (ECs), which unfortunately hindered momentum following the success enjoyed by the Copier II.

Models 30 and 40

Introduced in 1980 and discontinued on June 16, 1986, the Models 30 and 40 offered the following specifications:

• Warm-up duration of 600 seconds; initial copy produced in 4.5 seconds
• Output speed of 60 pages per minute (equivalent to 3600 pages per hour)
• Main paper tray capacity of 2100 sheets; secondary tray holds 600 sheets
• Maximum copy size ; minimum copy size
• Model 40 included a reduction feature ranging from 65% to 74%
• Optional collators available with one or two units, each containing 20 bins holding up to 100 pages, allowing a maximum of 40 bins

Although these models demonstrated improved reliability over Models 10 and 20, their commercial performance suffered due to elevated manufacturing expenses which negatively affected their price competitiveness.

Model 60

Released on May 13, 1982, and phased out on February 3, 1988, the Model 60 replaced the Model 40 by utilizing the same chassis and standardizing the copy reduction feature. Additionally, factory-refurbished ex-lease Model 40 units were upgraded to Model 60 specifications. Its main features comprised:

• Warm-up period of 600 seconds; first copy ready in 5 seconds
• Production speed of 70 pages per minute (4200 pages per hour)
• Paper tray capacities consistent with prior models (2100 sheets primary, 600 sheets secondary)
• Copy reduction between 65% and 74%
• Continuous forms feeding with an optional automatic stack feeder accommodating up to 50 pages
• Job interrupt capability allowing brief suspension of lengthy tasks for shorter ones
• Two-up copying mode placing two images on a single page
• Optional one or two collators with twenty bins each

IBM performed comprehensive pre-launch evaluations at nineteen customer locations, securing orders for a total of 105 units prior to launching an extensive marketing campaign during 1983–1984.

Think Magazine: Comeback

The March/April 1983 edition of IBM’s internal publication Think was largely devoted to the Model 60, featuring the headline and article title: Comeback: How Boulder brought new life to the copier business. This feature extended over twelve of the magazine’s forty-eight pages and was predominantly text-based with minimal photographic content.

The article emphasized three principal points:

1). An open admission regarding difficulties encountered with Models 10/20 and pricing challenges associated with Models 30/40, attributing quality issues to:

• The complex design advancements made in Models 10/20
• The move from Lexington to Boulder which resulted in losing one-third of the development workforce and nearly all manufacturing personnel
• Boulder’s initial limitations in high-volume production capacity (handling only about 100,000 parts daily compared to Lexington’s fifteen million), necessitating a scale-up effort to achieve processing of approximately 1.2 million parts per day

2). A reaffirmation of IBM’s continued dedication to copier technology and highlighting the superior quality embodied by the Model 60.

3). Positioning IBM as a pioneer within the copier industry by showcasing several technological firsts introduced by the company.

Models 50, 70 and 85

The final update to the Series III line arrived in 1986 with the release of Models 50, 70, and 85. Both Models 70 and 85 incorporated redesigned developer units featuring dual magnetic brush rollers that improved character fill density, optical clarity, and overall copy quality compared to earlier versions. Notably, Model 50 was introduced four years following Model 60.

• Model 50 (Machine type/Model number: 6809-001) utilized collators numbered 6852-004 (primary with twenty bins) and 6852-003 (secondary with twenty bins).
• Model 70 (Machine type/Model number: 8880-001) employed collators labeled as 8881-001 (primary) and 8881-002 (secondary).
• Model 85 (Machine type/Model number: 8885-001) came equipped with standard collators.

All three models featured a main paper drawer capable of holding up to two thousand one hundred sheets alongside a secondary drawer for six hundred sheets, using IBM toner identified by part number 1669070.

Models 70 and 85 supported significantly higher monthly copy volumes as detailed below:

	Copies per minute	Copies per hour	Copies per month	Weight	Dimensions
Series III Model 50	55	3,300	30,000	545 kg (1,202 lb)	47.25 in × 49.0 in × 29.5 in (120.0 cm × 124.5 cm × 74.9 cm)
Series III Model 70	70	4,200	175,000	545 kg (1,202 lb)	49.0 in × 51.25 in × 29.5 in (124.5 cm × 130.2 cm × 74.9 cm)
Series III Model 85	70	4,200	175,000	658 kg (1,451 lb)	75.25 in × 51.25 in × 29.5 in (191.1 cm × 130.2 cm × 74.9 cm)

Three new capabilities were introduced with the Model 85 in IBM’s copier lineup:

• Fully automated duplex copying eliminating manual page flipping
• An optional stapling unit for document finishing
• An interactive display screen providing up to one hundred forty message screens available in thirteen languages

IBM ceased marketing Series III Models 50, 70, and 85 on June 28, 1988, subsequently transferring this product series to Kodak.

IBM 6670

The Series III was incorporated into the IBM 6670, which debuted in 1979 alongside its companion Collator device (IBM 6671). Both products were discontinued and removed from the market on November 19, 1986.

IBM Executive Copier 102

In February 1981, IBM introduced the Executive Copier 102 (model 6820–001), a rebranded version of the Minolta EP-310 compact desktop copier. This model delivered a copying speed of 12 pages per minute and was priced between $2,990 and $3,450 depending on purchase volume. This initiative marked IBM's initial foray into desktop copiers. However, due to a non-exclusive distribution agreement, Minolta's own dealers often offered lower prices, limiting IBM’s competitiveness. The Executive Copier 102 was withdrawn from sale on December 30, 1982, after less than two years on the market.

IBM 6821 Copier Management Information System (CMIS)

IBM launched the 6821 Copier Management Information System (CMIS) on July 17, 1984. This software operated on an IBM 5150 PC running DOS 1.1 and could connect up to 20 IBM copiers—and later certain Kodak and Xerox models—using specialized adapters to centrally gather usage data for billing purposes. CMIS was discontinued on April 20, 1987.

Manufacturing plants

Initially, IBM developed and produced its copiers in Lexington, Kentucky. In April 1973, production and development shifted to IBM’s Boulder facility to free up capacity in Lexington for increased Selectric II typewriter demand. This arrangement concluded in April 1986 when IBM announced a $120 million initiative to halt manufacturing at Boulder and repurpose the site toward software and services. Consequently, copier manufacturing—including Series III production—relocated to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1987, while development activities remained at Boulder.

In Germany, IBM began copier production in Berlin in 1970. By 1974, operations moved to a new 50-acre site in Marienfelde, Berlin, which produced copiers alongside dictation equipment and typewriters.

Organic photoconductor and TNF

The original photoconductor utilized in the IBM Copier I, Copier II, and later the IBM 3800 was based on the compound 2,4,7-trinitro-9-fluorenone (TNF). This material combined TNF with polyvinyl carbazole resin applied to an aluminized Mylar substrate, manufactured by IBM in Lexington, Kentucky. During the 1970s, concerns emerged regarding TNF’s potential carcinogenic effects. Although an evaluation by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health found no definitive risks, IBM mandated glove use when handling this photoconductor starting in 1980. By late 1981, TNF-based photoconductors for the Copier II and IBM 3800 were phased out and replaced with a formulation containing chlorotiane blue and diethylaminobenzal-denyde-dithenylhydrazone—sometimes referred to as blue coral—which had already been employed in the IBM Series III and 6670 models manufactured in Boulder, Colorado.

The end of OPD and withdrawal from the copier market

The IBM Office Products Division (OPD), established from the Electric Typewriter Division in 1964, managed product lines including Selectric typewriters, dictation devices, and the IBM Copier Family until its reorganization in 1981. That year saw OPD merge with data processing and general systems units into two new divisions: National Accounts and National Marketing—aimed at streamlining customer sales processes. The Boulder and Lexington manufacturing facilities were integrated into the Information Products Division.

In 1988, IBM divested its Copier/Duplicator product line along with associated service agreements to Eastman Kodak, at which time approximately 61,500 IBM copiers remained operational. Kodak continued producing select Series III models (50, 70, and 85) under its own brand at the Charlotte facility. Kodak exited the copier market by 1996 after selling this division to Danka for $684 million USD; Danka itself was later acquired by Konica Minolta in 2008.