PURPOSE: To improve the operability by providing a single operation button controlling read start, transfer of read picture information and end of read so as to simply read an original of any form without making the equipment complicated.

CONSTITUTION: A reader 12 is removed from a facsimile equipment main body and runs on an original 19 to read the original 19. The obtained picture information is stored by a storage section 28 and sent by a transmission section 29. An operation button 21 is a button selecting whether or not reading is to be implemented. Only a part to be read in the original 19 is scanned manually while the operation button 21 is depressed. Then the original 19 is replaced while the operation button 21 is not depressed, and only a part to be read in a succeeding original 19 is scanned manually while the operation button 21 is depressed. Then picture information for the required part only is stored in a storage section 28 and only the edited part is sent.