An Improved System for the Prevention of the Fraudulent Alteration of Cheques and other Negotiable Instruments.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved System for the Prevention of the Fraudulent
Alteration of Cheques and other Negotiable Instruments.
I, WALTER BRAFIELD HOBBS of 39 Cornhill in the City of London
Commercial Clerk do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved system for the prevention of the
fraudulent alteration of cheques and other negotiable instruments such as bills of
exchange bills of lading, receipts and other documents wherein a number or amount
of money is specified.
It is well known that the figures written on, and representing the amount payable
for cheques and other documents have been altered to other amounts than those
originally written thereon by chemical and other means my invention is intended
to prevent such alterations or the immediate detection thereof on presentation of
such documents for payment.
In carrying my invention into effect, I print on such document or cheque a table
or series of figures arranged in squares or other desired form, in the following
order viz.: one above the other, and representing on the one or multiplicand side,
which is in preference the left hand side, tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds,
tens and units, and on the other or multiplicator side the figures one to nine in
numerical or other order but leaving between the two tables a space from top to
bottom equal to one square for each line which is hereinafter called the denominator
column.
For example in drawing a cheque or other instrument, for say, the sum of
£50,000,- puncture or otherwise deface the figure one of the lines indicating
thousands, hundreds, tens and units on the multiplicand side of the table, leaving
the tens of thousands line complete, and defacing or puncturing the square space
opposite thereto and between the two tables or sets or series of figures. I then
deface or puncture the square containing the figure five in the multiplicator side
following on in such line.
It will be seen that the figures representing tens of thousands only will be left on
the multiplicand side of the denominator column separating the two tables, which
on being multiplied by the figure five punctured on the multiplicator side will
represent the amount specified above, viz. £50,000.
Again in drawing a cheque or other document for say £263, the space or square
in the denominator column and on the line marked hundreds is obliterated showing
where the amount begins, then the figure two of the multiplicator side and in the
same line with the hundreds is obliterated showing that the hundred has to be
multiplied by the figure two, thus giving £200, to make the sixty, the six of the
tens line is obliterated, the three in the multiplicator side of the table and opposite
the unit line is then obliterated, which will give the three required to make up the
amount specified above, viz.: £263.
It will be readily seen that should any other squares be obliterated than these as
above set forth, some alteration or fraud has been attempted and may at once be
detected.
I wish it to be understood that letters or other symbols may be used without
invention.
departing from the peculiar character of my
Dated this 6th day of October 1893.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved System for the Prevention of the Fraudulent
Alteration of Cheques and other Negotiable Instruments.
I, WALTER BRAFIELD HOBBS of 39 Cornhill in the City of London
Commercial Clerk do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :―
This invention has for its object an improved system for the prevention of the
fraudulent alteration of cheques and other negotiable instruments such as bills of
exchange, bills of lading receipts and other documents wherein a number or amount
is specified.
It is well known that the figures written on, and representing the amount payable
for cheques and other documents have been altered to other amounts than those
originally written thereon by chemical and other means, my invention is intended
to prevent such alterations or the immediate detection thereof on presentation of
such documents for payment.
I will now proceed to fully describe my invention aided by the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect I print on such document or cheque a table
or series of figures arranged in squares (as shewn in Figure 1) or other desired
form may be used, in the following order, viz. :-one above the other and
representing on the one or multiplicand side (marked A) which is in preference the
left hand side, tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds, tens and units, and on the
other or multiplicator side, marked B, the figures one to nine in numerical (or
other) order but leaving between the two tables a space from top to bottom equal
or thereabouts to one square for each line which is hereinafter called the
denominator column and is marked C on the drawings.
For example in drawing a cheque or other instrument for say the sum of £50,000
(referring now to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings ;) I puncture or otherwise
deface, (the puncture being represented by a circle) the figure one of the lines
indicating thousands, hundreds, tens and units on the multiplicand side (marked A)
of the table leaving the tens of thousands line complete, and defacing or puncturing
the square space opposite thereto and between the two tables or sets or series of
figures. I then deface or puncture the square containing the figure five in the
multiplicator side (marked B) following on in such line.
It will be seen that the figures representing tens of thousands only will be left
on the multiplicand side (marked A) of the denominator column (marked C)
separating the two tables, which on being multiplied by the figure five punctured
on the multiplicator side (marked B) will represent the amount specified above,
viz. :-£50,000.
Again, in drawing a cheque or document for say £263 (referring now to Figure 3
of the accompanying drawings) the space or square in the denominator column
(marked C) and on the line marked hundreds is obliterated showing where the
amount begins, the figure two of the multiplicator side (marked B) and in the
Bame line with the hundreds is obliterated showing that the hundred has to be
multiplied by the figure two, thus giving £200, to make the sixty, the six of the
tens line is obliterated, the three in the multiplicator side of the table and opposite
the unit line is then obliterated, which will give the three required to make up the
amount specified above viz.: £263.
It will be readily seen that should any other squares be obliterated than those
as above set forth, some alteration or fraud has been attempted and may at once be
detected.
I wish it to be understood that letters or other symbols may be used without
departing from the peculiar character of my invention.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The printing or otherwise producing a table or series of figures, letters or other
symbols on the face or other desired part of a cheque or other negotiable
instrument, and puncturing or otherwise defacing certain figures or letters thereon
to represent an amount or number specified thereon substantially as herein
described and shown in the accompanying drawings and for the purpose specified.
1004
W. B. HOBBS.