A Method of Numbering Bonds and other Documents Representing Value, and Apparatus for that Purpose.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Nov., 1893-Accepted, 23rd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Numbering Bonds and other Documents Representing
Value, and Apparatus for that Purpose.
We JEAN ALBERT DUPONT and EDOUARD LAMBERT both of 16 Rue Drout
Paris in the Republic of France do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to render, if not impossible at least extremely
difficult any changes of the numbers marking bonds, shares, coupons and other
documents representing value, such changes having often been fraudulently made in
order that stolen documents that were stopped might be dealt with or cashed.
In the ordinary system of numeration, the decimal system, a number is formed
by a combination of digits, each of which belongs to a different denomination, and
each such denomination has for its unit conventionally 10 units of the preceding
denomination.
Hence in any number the number of units in each denomination is represented
by a digit selected out of the series 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.
In the system of numbering according to the present invention, each digit of the
number, instead of standing alone, is one of a series of digits arranged an order
which is conventional but determined and invariable according to a key known to
those who will have to certify the authenticity of the number. In the examples
hereinafter given, and from practical considerations the conventional but determined
and invariable order or key adopted is the series of the natural numbers 0, 1, 2 &c.
to 9 repeated several times. Thus the number 1;378,520 for example may be
expressed in the following manner.
1 3 7 8 5 20
2 4 8 9 6 31
3 5 9 0 7 42
01853
5 7 12 9 64
68 23 075
7 9 3 4 186
8 0 4 5 297
9 5 6 3 0 8
0 2 6 7 4 19
1 3 7 8 5 20
In order to facilitate the reading of the number, the digits
which constitute it may be written larger than the others.
It will be seen that each of those digits is followed by a
number of others in the order of the natural numbers 0, 1, 2
&c. to 9.
These digits might obviously be otherwise arranged, especially
in circular form of which examples are hereinafter given.
Moreover the number of digits placed after those of the number
may be as great as desired.
This system presents the following advantages.
If one wished to change one of the digits in the number of a bond, coupon or the
like, the forger would have to change aiso all the digits of the series of which the
digit of the number forms part.
If, for instance he desired to substitute 1 for the 5 in the hundreds' place of the
number 1,378,520 in the above example, he would have to change the whole series
under the 5 viz. 5 6789012345 into 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1. If the forger
did not make this change the series would read 1 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5, and simple
inspection would at once shew the want of continuity of the series, the digit 1
being followed by 6 instead of 2, and the last digit 5 being different from the first
digit 1. Thus the forger would have to erase or chemically remove a great number
of digits, involving so great difficulty that the fraud might be considered
impracticable.
Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the accompanying drawings shew examples of numbering
in various ways.

page_text: and A¹ being thus free to turn.
tens and units D is lifted by
with
In like manner for counting hundreds as well as
acting on A and the three rings A. A' A' are free
to turn. While B is making its movement, its branch 62 suddenly escapes the
studs, A', A² the levers D D D rapidly descend and their tongues dd'd² engage
a', a to hold A, A', A' in position. While B makes its return stroke,
a stud at the end of 6 meets the outside of A by which it is pushed a little
outwards so that it escapes A allowing B to resume its original position. An
arm E acting on the end of the lever D and through it on D and D' causes the
tongues d, d', d² to engage with a, a', a². The lever F on which B is mounted
receives reciprocating movement from the rod T. A spring G acting on H
moves F back; a spring I serves as buffer if the stroke of T is not properly
a,
An example of this is shewn by Figs. 10, 11, 12 & 13. This mechanism acts like
the former similar parts are marked with corresponding letters; it is therefore
unnecessary to repeat the description.
3. MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING AS IN FIGS. 5 AND 6.
An example of this is shewn in Figs. 14 to 20 inclusive Figs. 17 and 20 being
plans, the others of the figures shewing details. A, B, C are discs having their
upper faces engraved with the numerals 0, 1, 2 &c. to 9, A indicating units, B tens,
Chundreds. D are casings in which are journalled the axes E of the discs A B C,
these axes having mitre wheels F fixed on them, and gearing with mitre wheels G
fixed on grooved sleeves H. Each casing D has its bottom N formed as bearing
for the sleeves Hand grooved underneath to fit on a slide bar O which carries
the ends of the spindles K L M. A lever P with spring pawl Q by its recipro-
cations moves step by step a ten toothed wheel R fixed on the spindle K, on which.
also is fixed a wheel S with one tooth s by which a ten toothed wheel T fixed on
the spindle L is turned one tenth of a revolution for each revolution of S. A one
toothed wheel U fixed on L in like manner turns the ten toothed wheel V which is
fixed on M one tenth of a revolution for each revolution of U. A spring X
prevents R from turning backwards.
Dated this 4th day of March 1802
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A Method of Numbering Bonds and other Documents Representing
Value, and Apparatus for that Purpose.
We, JEAN ALBERT DUPONT, and EDOUARD LAMBERT, both of 16 Rue Drouot,
Paris, in the Republic of France, 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 :-
This invention has for its object to render, if not impossible at least extremely
difficult any changes of the numbers marking bouds, shares, coupons and other
documents representing value, such changes having often been fraudulently made in
order that stolen documents that were stopped might be dealt with or cashed.
In the ordinary system of numeration, the decimal system, a number is found by
a combination of digits, each of which belongs to a different denomination, and
each such denomination has for its unit, conventionally, 10 units of the preceding
denomination.
Hence in any number the number of units in each denomination is represented by
a digit selected out of the series 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

page_text: are generally too small to admit of 6 or 7 crowns in each row, these crowns are in
Fig. 5 employed only for the hundreds, tens and units, the millions, hundreds and
tens of thousands and the thousands being marked in large figures. As these do
not much change in a series of coupons, they may be printed as shewn side by side
in colour clearer than or different from that of the crowns. In this case, the
number consisting of the large figures and the lowest figures of the row of crowns,
reads 2,468,531.
Various forms of apparatus may be used for printing numbers marked in the.
manner described, these apparatus operating like ordinary numbering machines, as
will be explained with reference to Figs. 1 to 20 inclusive.
1. MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING AS SHEWN IN FIG. 1.
Figs. 7, 8 and 9 of the drawings accompanying our Provisional Specification and
Figs. 8 8 8 of the drawings filed herewith represent a longitudinal section, a
plan and details of the printing mechanism.
A A¹ &c. to A are concentric rings arranged to turn round the axis o, each ring
having engraved on its upper surface the numerals 0, 1, 2 &c. to 9, 0.
A A¹ A' for units, tens and hundreds are moved mechanically, the others for the
higher denominations, are moved by hand. Each of the rings A A¹ A has two
sets of teeth superposed a a, a' a', a² a²; the tongue b¹ has three equal teeth like
teeth of a comb which acting on the teeth a, a, a² move the rings A A' A² partly
round. The tongues d of the arms D D¹ D' engage with the teeth a a¹ a²
holding the rings in position after each movement.
Fig. 8' shews the positions of the rings and the tongues for moving simultaneously
the units, tens and hundreds.
Fig. 8 shews the position for moving the units and tens, and Fig. 8111 shews the
position for moving only the units.
Each of the three wheels a a' a' has 20 teeth, but the wheels differ in diameter
and the teeth are so cut that R being the radius of the hollow between teeth of
the largest or units wheel a and if s be the depth of the hollow, then the radius of
next or tens wheel a' is R-s, and of the hundreds wheel a² is R-2s. In the tens
wheel a¹ are two opposite hollows Y and Y cut to the same depth as the hollows Z
of the hundreds wheel a', and in the units wheel a are two hollows X X' cut to the
same depth. When the pawl b' is in the position of Fig. 8" its upper tongue as it
reciprocates with the lever Facts on the teeth of the units wheel a turning it at
cach stroke th of a revolution. The other two tongues of 6' cannot in this case
act on the wheels a' a' which are of smaller diameter and which therefore remain
held at rest by the teeth dd' d' of the levers D D¹ D².
At a certain stroke the upper tongue of falls into the hollow X of a, and the
tongue below it into one of the hollows of a¹ so that at the next forward stroke
of both the units wheel a and the tens wheel a' are moved a tooth. At the back
stroke, the upper tongue of 6' is withdrawn from X and it withdraws the next
tongue from engagement with the teeth of a' until again falls when the other
hollow X reaches it. At a certain stroke when the hollow X or X' coincides
with Y or Y' as shewn in Fig. 8' the three wheels a a' a² are turned simultaneously,
one tooth. At the back stroke the tongues are withdrawn from the teeth of a¹ a²
until the carrying operation is repeated.
An arm E acting on the end of the lever D and through it on D' and D' causes
the tongues d d to engage with a a¹ a². The lever F on which B is mounted
receives reciprocating movement from the rod T. A spring G acting on H moves
Fback; a spring I serves as buffer if the stroke of T is not properly adjusted.
L is a stop for H.

page_text: This mechanism acts like the former; similar parts are marked with corre-
sponding letters; it is therefore unnecessary to repeat the description.
3. MECHANISM FOR NUMBERING AS IN FIGS. 5 AND 6.
An example of this is shewn in Figs. 14 to 20 inclusive of the drawings
accompanying our Provisional Specification, Figs. 17 and 20 being plans, the others
of the figures shewing details.
A, B, C are discs having their upper faces engraved with the numerals 0, 1, 2 &c.
to 9, A indicating units, B tens, C. hundreds. Dare casings in which are journalled
the axes E of the discs A B C, these axes having mitre wheels F fixed on them,
and gearing with mitre wheels G fixed on grooved sleeves H. Each casing D has
its bottom N formed as bearing for the sleeves H and grooved underneath to fit on
a slide bar O which carries the ends of the spindles K L M. A lever P with
spring pawl Q by its reciprocations moves step by step a ten toothed wheel R fixed
on the spindle K, on which also is fixed a wheel S with one tooth s by which a ten
toothed wheel T fixed on the spindle L is turned one tenth of a revolution for each
revolution of S. A one toothed wheel U fixed on L in like manner turns the ten
toothed wheel V which is fixed on M one tenth of a revolution for each revolution
of U. A spring X prevents R from turning backwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:―
1. The herein described method of numbering documents representing value, by
making each digit of the number one of a series of other digits arranged in some
conventional, determined and invariable manner, the key of which is known to those
who have to authenticate the document, as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of
the drawings, by way of examples.
2. Apparatus for numbering according to the method above referred to, in
concentric circles, substantially as described with reference to Figs. 7 to 13
inclusive.
3. Apparatus for numbering in adjacent circles, substantially as described with
reference to Figs. 14 to 20 inclusive.
Dated this 9th day of November 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicants.