Improvements in Means for Preventing the Alteration of Cheques, Drafts, and other Monetary Paper.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left. 9th Nov., 1893—Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preventing the Alteration of Cheques,
Drafts, and other Monetary Paper.
CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL, " Mattapoisett," 3 Woodstock Road, Bedford
Park, London, W., Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
"
This invention has for its object, to prevent the changing, altering, or "raising
the amount for which a cheque, draft, postal order, or other monetary paper is
given, and consists mainly, in a new and novel device and dies, for stamping upon
such paper at and over the amount expressed thereon in writing, or over the value-
numerals, or both, in such manner that the paper will be embossed and at the same
time stretched and abraded to an extent that will prevent the erasing of the original
written amount, or the value-numerals, and also prevent writing thereover without
its being detected.
To this end the invention consists, generally, of a stamping-device having a
suitable base or pedestal, carrying a swinging-arm, so arranged, that it may be
moved down towards, and away from the base, the movement in one direction
being obtained, preferably, by giving the arm a quick blow, and in the opposite
direction by a self-acting spring. The base of the stamp may be of any suitable
design but I, preferably, construct the swinging-arm to represent a lion couchant,
although other forins can be used.
To the swinging-arm is properly secured a metal die-plate or master-die,
having engraved or formed thereon, preferably, in intaglio, any matter that may
be desired, such as name, address, and business, together with a geometrical figure
or figures of suitable design. The reverse or counter-die,-of such die-plate-in
relief, obtained preferably by electro-deposition,-being secured to the base. in
such manner that a perfect fitting of the master and counter-dies, is obtained.
when the swinging-arm is brought down to the position for making an impression.
The stamp is so arranged that cheques, drafts, and similar monetary paper, may
be inserted between the dies when in normal position, in such manner that an
impression of the master-die is made thereon when the dies are brought together.
The master-die has the characters formed thereon or therein deeply, with the
edge lines, sharp, clear, and well defined, in contradistinction to ordinary. die-
sinking for embossing-dies, in which, the abrading, puncturing or rupturing the
paper is sought to be prevented-so that, as the accurately matched master-
and counter-dies, are brought together the paper will be deeply and sharply
embossed and decidedly abraded or ruptured at the apexes of the characters, and
designs or geometrical figures, in such manner that any alteration of the original
writing by erasing or by writing thereover will be prevented.
Dated this 7th day of January 1893.
CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL.
CHARLES ADAMD-RANDALL,
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Preventing the Alteration of Cheques,
Drafts, and other Monetary Paper.
I, CHARLES ADAMS-RANDALL, 5; Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, London,
Electrical and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved device for preventing the changing,

page_text: altering or raising of the amount for which a cheque, draft, postal order or other
monetary paper is given or drawn, which device comprises dies for stamping the
paper at and over the amount expressed thereon in writing, or over the value-
numerals, or both, in such manner that the paper will be embossed and at the same
time stretched and abraded to an extent that will prevent the erasure of the
original written amount, or of the value-numerals, and will also prevent writing
thereover without certainty of detection.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my improved device may be
conveniently and advantageously constructed.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the said device.
Figure 2 is a plan of the lower die detached, and
Figure 3 is a plan of a portion of a lower die.
A is a base of suitable form; B is the upper limb or swinging arm of the device,
which is connected by a hinge-joint C to the base A. This upper limb or arm is
made of ornamental shape convenient for operation by hand, for example it is
formed to represent an animal, such as a lion couchant, as shown, the top of the
head being made smooth to adapt it for being struck by the hand.
The said upper limb or swinging arm is made hollow and afterwards filled with
lead or the like to increase the momentum of the said swinging arm and thus facilitate
the impression of the paper by the dies. Between the arm B and base A is
arranged a spring D adapted to keep the dies apart and thus permit the ready
insertion of the paper to be stamped, a stop E being provided to limit the upward
movement of the swinging arm B.
To the said swinging arm B is properly secured in any convenient manner a
metal die-plate or master die F having engraved or formed in intaglio therein any
matter that may be desired, such, for instance, as the name, address and business,
calling or profession of any person or persons, together with suitable depressions
forming a geometrical or other figure or figures of suitable design.
The reverse or counter G of the die-plate F, which is in relief, is obtained
preferably by electro-deposition, and is secured to the base A in such manner that
a perfect fitting of the master and counter-dies F and G is obtained when the
swinging-arm B is brought down to the position for making an impression.
I prefer to make the dies of such form and size as to cover, and effect the pro-
tection of, both the writing and the value-numerals on the cheque at one impression,
and to form a series of faceted or pointed star-shaped or diamond-shaped depressions
or cavities in the master-die, arranged in diagonal rows and interspersed with
faceted or pointed crosses or stars, the whole being surrounded, if desired, by
letters forming the name and address of the firm or individual issuing the cheque,
draft or the like, substantially as shown in Figure 2. The said faceted or pointed
depressions and faceted or pointed crosses or stars may, however, be arranged
otherwise than is shown in Figure 2, and I find it advantageous to make the die
with such faceted or pointed depressions arranged in the form of crosses overlapping
each other as shown in Figure 3, and to arrange faceted or pointed crosses or stars
in the square spaces thus formed, so that there are a series of short straight over-
lapping and intersecting rows of the said depressions, and no unbroken curved lines
or spaces exist which might follow the curves of the writing.
The master-die F has the characters deeply formed therein with sharp, clear
and well defined edge-lines in contradistinction to ordinary embossing-dies in which
the abrading, puncturing or rupturing of the paper is sought to be prevented, so
that, as the accurately matched master and counter dies are brought together, the
paper will be deeply and sharply embossed and decidedly abraded or ruptured
at the apexes of the projections in such manner that any alteration of the
original writing on the paper by erasure or by writing thereover will be effectually
prevented.
In stamping paper with my improved device, the swinging arm B is forcibly
depressed by a quick blow with the hand, thus causing the dies to come together

page_text: and emboss and puncture or abrade the paper; the said arm B and the die F, on
being released, are moved away from the paper by the spring D.
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 :-
First. The improved device constructed Substantially as herein before described
for embossing and puncturing or abrading cheques, drafts and the like to prevent
alteration thereof, as above specified.
Second. The improved die so constructed as to operate simultaneously upon the
writing and the value-numerals of the cheque or the like, and having the faceted or
pointed depressions or projections interspersed with the faceted or pointed crosses.
or stars, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Dated the 9th day of November 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.