Improvements in Cash Checks.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cash Checks.
I, GEORGE DANA SMITH, of 44, East 14th Street, in the City County and State of
New York, United States of America, Merchant, 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 cash checks designed more particularly for use in
restaurants but adapted also for use in other branches of retail trade with satisfaction
to proprietor and patron, and the object of the invention is to guard against
mistakes favoring either the patron or proprietor and prevent losses to the proprietor
by delays or chances for fraud incident to the use of other systems of checks of this
general character. The invention consists in a cash check which will be hereinafter
described and claimed.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing forming part of this
specification, in which figures 1, 2, and 3, are face views of three of the cash check
having different colors and embodying the principle of my invention. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
I will describe the invention with more special reference to the use of the checks
in the restaurant business, as follows; On the face of the check and preferably at or
along each side edge of it there is printed or produced in any approved way a series
of numerals A which commence preferably at 5 and range, by successive additions of
fives, to 175, said numerals preferably ranging from 5 to 75 at one edge of the check
and from 80 to 175 at its other edge, the numerals being disposed to read trans-
versely of the check, as clearly shewn in the drawing. Near each of these numerals
or numbers, which I call "cash value" numerals, a dot or mark a is placed to form
an independent distinguishing mark next each numeral and preferably in front of it
as a guide to be punched out by a hand punch to indicate the money value
of the food served. These dots or marks facilitate the correct punching of the
check and to further promote this object I separate the first row of numerals
from 5 to 75 at one edge of the check somewhat farther from each other than
the opposite row of 80 to 175, there being fifteen numerals in one row and
twenty in the other. This arrangement gives increased space between the contiguous
marks a which indicate charges from 5 to 75 cents which is within the range of
purchase of all ordinary patrons, and the wider separation of these numerals and
marks gives the check puncher a clearer view of them and enables him to punch the
dots more accurately and quickly than if they were closer together and this is quite
an advantage when business is good and the check puncher is overrun with work.
The series of numerals 80 to 175 at the other edge or side of the check inay be
arranged closer together as shewn, without materially obstructing the punching
operation, as the check puncher can well afford to take more time to guide his punch
more carefully in punching out the more closely spaced marks a at this side of the
check and which he will not so often be required to do. By placing the row of
higher cash value numerals more closely together, as described, a smaller check
indicating a given maximum sum of money may be used to promote convenience of
both patron and proprietor. I consider the arrangement of the cash value numerals
to read transversely of the check, as shewn, is a most desirable feature as it brings
all these numerals in full view at once and allows them and their dots or marks to be
spaced evenly apart at each side of the check to facilitate quick and correct punching
of it. If desired the left hand row of numerals may be arranged with 80 at the top
and 175 at the bottom instead of the preferred reverse arrangement shewn in the
drawing. On the face of the check and preferably along its central portion, is
produced, by printing or otherwise, special directions to the patron or buyer which
it once notity him or her of the use to which the check is to be put and what they

page_text: are required to do to secure service and pay for their meal or goods. These
directions are important in the working out of the system involved in the use of the
checks and they consist preferably of the phrase "To be served you will require
this check. Please return it to Cashier and pay highest amount punched " but any
other wording may be used which has a like import.
An important feature of my cash check provided with "cash value" numerals
as above described, consists in providing the check with a "passport" indicating
to the cashier how many persons are to be passed out on one check, that no one
may pass the cashier without being accounted for on the check presented to him.
a
33
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This " passport consists preferably of numerals 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., up to 8, or higher
if preferred, and with the prefix "Pass" in front of them and as shewn in the
drawing in full lines at the tops of the three checks. It will be understood,
however, that the prefix
"Pass
may be dispensed with and instead of the
numerals 1, 2, 3, etc., the written words one, two, three, etc., may be employed as
"passport" and these words may or may not have the prefix "Pss. " in front of
them. Figure 2 shews in dotted lines the check slightly lengthened at the top and
with the "passport" Two produced thereon while figure 3 in dotted lines at the top
shews the "passport using both the written word and prefix or Pass Three, in
illustration of the many modifications of the "passport" which may easily be made.
Another desirable feature of the cash check consists in giving the checks having the
same "passport" character a like color which differs from the color of other checks
adapted for passing out or accrediting to the cashier a larger or smaller number of
persons. For instance, all checks on which but one person may pass out will be
yellow, as indicated in figure 1, all checks on which two persons may pass out will
be blue, as indicated in figure 2, and all checks to pass three will be pink, as
indicated in figure 3, and so on for a series of checks having any desired passport
capacity or value up to seven, eight, or more persons. By thus giving each series
of " passport" checks the same color readily distinguishable from the colors of
every other series of passport checks the cashier by associating the colors with the
passport capacity of the checks will more easily identify them and avoidance of
errors and economy of time will thereby be promoted. Another important feature
of the cash checks provided with series of cash value" numerals, consists in
numbering them in series and preferably by consecutively higher numerals each
series of checks to run from 1 to 500,000 or 1,000,000. I place these numbers
preferably at the lower enks of the checks, as shown clearly in the drawing. The
object of these serial numbers is to prevent fraudulent use of the checks which is
readily done by the cashier noticing the highest number on all checks of a certain
passport value or capacity at any certain hour or interval of time, and if after such
time a check is presented to hini having a number lower than those about passing
through his hands, fraud is evident and may immediately be traced in any manner to
the culprit, be he either a waiter clerk or patron.
In using these cash checks one of them bearing a "passport" for one person or
the yellow check shewn in figure 1, will be given to each person entering the
restaurant who will give the check to the waiter with his order and as the waiter
leaves the kitchen or storeroom with the food ordered, a person whom I call a
"Checker" will with a punch cut from the check a dot or mark a opposite the
numeral indicating the total value of the food and the waiter will deliver the check
with the food to the patron. On receipt of every subsequent order from the same
patron, the waiter will take the previously punched check with bin to the kitchen
and on bringing out the order the "checker" will punch out a higher cash value
numeral representing the value of the food and the check will again be delivered to
the patron with the food, and the patron may guard against overcharge or other
error by comparing the check or the amount last punched on it with the bill of fare.
The highest numeral punched will indicate the sum of money the patron will pay to
the cashier on his way out of the restaurant and the " passport" together with the
distinctive color of the check is evidence to the cashier that but one person may pass
out on this check. Should a party of two, three, or more persons enter the restaurant

page_text: "
a pass 1" yellow check will be given each one and if one person is to pay for all,
the waiter taking their order will also take all the checks to the kitchen and the
"checker" will retain all of them and substitute one check for all having a
passport" corresponding to the number of persons or the number of Pass 1 check;
for instance, if there be three persons in the party a Pass 3 pink check will be given
the waiter by the "checker "after it is punched to represent the cash value of the
food furnished all three persons. As this party of three persons leaves the restaurant,
the cashier will by the check notice that three persons are to be passed out on it
and all confusion or embarrassment or chance of loss to the proprietor by exit of
a dishonest patron without paying for his meal are obviated. When a patron or
party orders more than $1.75 will pay for, a check of substantially similar nature to
the one herein shewn and described but having "cash value" numerals ranging
from 175 to 400 or more, will be substituted for the check punched out as will be
readily understood.
To briefly summarize the uses of my check, I would state that it constitutes a
service cash and pass check entitling the holder to be served, registering the value
of single or cumulative orders, acting as a voucher to the receiving cashier, enabling
the holder to pass out unquestioned, and finally by reason of its passport characters
as described one check of the series is adapted to be exchanged for and used in place
of a number of other checks of the series and to enable a corresponding number of
persons to pass out. The herein described checks are not limited in their use to the
promotion of safety and regularity in carrying on the restaurant business but may
be used to advantage in other branches of retail trade with satisfaction to both
proprietor and patron, as they furnish a mutual safeguard against unpleasant mis-
understandings liable to arise in ordinary course of trade and effectually defeat the
intentions of dishonest persons.
It is manifest that I am not limited to the use of the preferred style of cash
checks combining all the above described features as some of these may be omitted
without affecting the "ity of checks combining any two or more of them, hence
I claim various c
ons and sub-combinations of the novel features of the cash
-
check as hereinafte. set forth.
The drawing and specification shew and particularly describe the cash checks as
arranged for use in accordance with the money system or standard of the United
States of America or in dollars and cents, but the numerals of increasing cash value
may be arranged in accordance with the monetary system of any country, for instance
in Great Britain the numerals will indicate pounds, shillings, and pence, or fractions
thereof, and in France the numerals will indicate francs and centimes, and in Germany
they will indicate marks and pfennigs. The directions indicating the passport feature
of the cash check and the instructions to the patrons of any business house will also
be in the language familiar to the persons using the checks, as will readily be under-
stood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is;
1. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value and provided with a passport character, substantially as described,
whereby said check is adapted to register the value of single or cumulative orders, and
enables the holder to pass out unquestioned, as herein set forth.
2. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value and provided also with a serial number, substantially as described,
for the purposes set forth.
3. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value and provided also with a passport character and a serial number,
substantially as described, for the purposes set forth.
4. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value and provided with a printed description of the use of the check,

page_text: a passport character and a serial number, substantially as described for the purposes
set forth.
5. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value, dots or marks next said numerals or guides for punching the
check, and provided also with a passport character, substantially as described, for
the purposes set forth.
6. A service cash and pass check having marginal rows of cash value numerals
increasing in value, dots or marks next said numerals as guides for punching the
check, and provided also with a serial number and a passport character, substantially
as described, for the purposes set forth.
7. The series of service cash and pass checks each having marginal rows of cash
value numerals increasing in value from end to end, a serial number, and a printed
description of the use of the checks, together adapting a check to secure service, to
register the value of single or cumulative orders, and to act as voucher to receiving
cashier, the said check being also provided with passport characters, as described,
whereby one check of the series is adapted to be exchanged for and used in place of a
number of other checks of the series and to enable a corresponding number of persons
to pass out, all substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of August 1889
G. D. SMITH.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.