Patent GB-189910532-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Systems for Controlling and Recording Sales, Receipts, and like Operations.
Inventor: HOFFMAN FREDERIK JACOBUS
Filed: 1899-05-18
Granted: 1900-05-18
Abstract: 10,532. Hoffman, F. J. May 18. Receipts, checking and recording.-Relates to a system for checking receipts for sales &c. and keeping a record of the transactions. For U.S. currency nine long strips b, Fig. 8, are used for each denomination of money, units and tens of cents, units, tens, hundreds, and thousands of dollars, so that, in this case, fifty-four strips altogether are employed. The strips are gummed at the back, and their denominations are distinguished by colours. The nine strips for each denomination are printed repeatedly with the numbers of units they represent 1, 2, 3, ..... 9 respectively, and the repetitions are numbered consecutively by small exponent numbers y. Each strip is printed in duplicate, and before use is cut in two along an irregular line, one half b<4> being given to the salesman, and the other b<3> retained by the superintendent as an identifying-check to prevent fraud. The salesman's fifty-four strips are then rolled up and placed in the compartment of a box a, Fig. 1, which is divided by longitudinal and transverse partitions into six columns and nine rows. There are also compartments for spare rolls, and a large division for the bill blanks c. The compartments are fitted with transverse guide-rods passing over little tables in the compartments, and the end of each strip is drawn over the table under and between the rods so as to present its face to the salesman and so that it can be pulled out and torn off as required. The bills c are marked with the salesman's distinguishing sign or number and with consecutive numbers, and they are divided into three parts c', c<2>, c<3> separable along the perforations c', c<5>. Suppose now that a sale is effected to the value of $78À60. The strips representing 70, 8, and 6 are pulled out sufficiently to tear off one digit, leaving displayed 7<2>, 8<2>, 6<2> in place of 7<1>, 8<1>, 6<1>, and the torn off portions are stuck over the corresponding ciphers on the part c<3> of the bill blank c. An entry is made also on the parts c', c<2>, and the bill is then separated into its three parts, c' being given to the superintendent, c<2> retained by the salesman, and c<3>, after receipt, presented to the customer. The ciphers on the form c<3> are printed in an ink affected by water, so that the removal of any of the numbered portions of the strips after the transaction can be detected. A record of the day's transactions for each salesman is kept on the form shown in Fig. 10, the record in this case being marked only for the single sale just described. In the columns d<5>, d<6>, d<7> for each denomination are placed opposite the number 1, 2, ..... 9, (1) the exponential of the corresponding strip at the beginning of the day, (2) the exponential at the end of the day, (3) the difference of the exponentials. In the columns d<8> are placed the values of these differences, and the whole is totalled below. On the right of the form a further record is made and also a record of the number of bill blanks used obtained from the number of the first and last,