From the June 1932 issue of Modern Mechanics, this recipe for building a fax machine ("electric picture transmitter") out of two salmon tins:
A COUPLE of sardine and salmon cans, a few bits of brass and several pieces of wood are all the materials that are needed to assemble an experimental but very practical picture transmitter and receiver.Two of each of the cans will be needed. The salmon cans should be of the small or half can size and the end that has been opened should be replaced by soldering in water tight, a new disc of tin.
