Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1890-06-25
LONDON BANK TELLERs.


A London bank teller, says the Bos-
ton Commercial-Bulleti always expert
ences a feeling of relief when he finds
his money correct at the close of Fri
days work, and this feeling is usually
shared in by the rest of the staff, who
can not leave the bank until he either
discovers his error or satisfies himself
as to the actual shortage. The great
bulk of the shortages made across bank
counters in England are believed to oc-
cur on that day.
Next in order of bad days for the tell
er, or cashier, as he is designated in
London, comes Saturday, but there the
bad luck is Ineligible. Saturday is
wages day, and no sooner has the teller
filled his till and loaded up his shelves
with silver in e5 and e10 bags than the
days work sets in like flood. Until
twelve o'clock he is paying away with
both hands; after that hour, if he is a
receiving clerk as we'll, he begins to re-
ceive heavily, for Saturday is also the
last day of the week, and every one
elects that the bank should receive his
deposits rather than that he should keep
them in his own less secure custodyover
Sunday.
In beginning work on Saturday the
London teller faces an open mahogany
counter, of which the portion controlled
by his desk is probably six feet long by
three feet wide. He likes to have
good, square view of his customer, and
it is one of the canons of British bank
ing that the eyes of the staff shall COM
mand the counter. With such an open
counter the chief clerk is able to keep
the whole field under his eye at one
time, and to relieve the overstrain at
any particular desk. The effect of the
exposed condition is beneficial, too, on
the staff, the members of which pre-
serve a sJeadier demeanor and attend
more closely to business while under the
eyes of the public.
The London teller is quick manipu-
lator of coin. This is largely owing to
the fact that the smallest note issued in
London is of the value of G5 or $25.
When asked for gold in a greater
amount than his eye can count at a
glance, the teller, after counting it
quickly with a pianoforte motion.
throws it with his copper scoop into his
faithful scales, and 80 checks his count.
| The weights of these scales are arranged
in suitable numbers. The teller also
| checks the gold which he receives by
weight, and here his knowledge of his
| business will be tested. One hundred
new sovereigns are of full weight, rath-
or more, in fact, but the same number
taken at haphazard will be found to be
nearly half sovereign Tor II per cent?
short in weight, while 100 pounds ster-
ling in ordinary half sovereigns are
sometimes 20 shillings Tor per cent?
short in value. The teller can quickly
satisfy himself as to whether the de-
ficiency is caused by shortage in the
weight or the count by dividing the
amount and weighing one moiety
against tho other. If they balance
evenly the count is correct. and the diff
ference is due to underweight. If the
latter exceeds the average stated the
coin will need TO DC specially examined;
there is probably something wrong.
The edge of the English bank counter
is provided with lip TO prevent the
coin from rolling over and to aid the
teller in scooping up the money. The
seller usually counts with the first two
fingers of both hands, simultaneously
sometimes he uses six fingers, and a
teller has been known to count four
huholOu ohu hiIJ SONerelBHS LII one
minute, working against time. An ex-
pert teller will count one hundred
pounds sterling value Of silver in seven
minutes. When it is remembered that
the coins are always mixed, and consist
Of sixpences, shillings, forins, half.
crowns and crowns, with never a deci-
NAL convenience among them, this will
reasonably be considered as remark.
able feat.
The annual loss from wear and tear oil
gold coin in England by reason of the
absence Of small notes is almost incred.
ible. In Scotland the issue of one.
pound sterling notes displaces gold to a
great extent. The Scotch teller excels
| In counting fnnar rnnnau In Annnni n u