IMPROVEMENTS IN CHEQUES, DRAFTS AND OTHER MONETARY DOCUMENTS
Year: 1885

page_text: Documents.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CHEQUES, DRAFTS AND OTHER MONETARY DOCUMENTS a communication to me
from abroad by William Toan Doremus of Flatbush in the County of Kings and
State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, to be as follows:-
"
The object of this invention is to provide blank cheques, drafts, and other money
orders prepared in such a manner that when properly filled up, they cannot be
easily raised or made to represent a larger sum than that for which they were
drawn.
The invention consists in a cheque, draft or other money order made with spaces
arranged in the manner hereinafter described.
Besides the usual spaces for the date and place of drawing and the names of the
drawee and payee, is a space which is divided by short-vertical or inclined lines
into nine sections, one for each of the nine digits, which digits in their natural
order, are placed in the centres of the said sections or divisions. Each of these
divisions may be sub-divided into three subdivisions, in the left hand one of which
is placed the digit to which the division is appropriated, in the central subdivision
is placed the same digit with a cipher at its right hand making it represent tens,
and in the right hand subdivision is placed the same digit with two ciphers at its
right hand, making it represent hundreds.
These subdivisions may be distinguished by different colours, as for instance, red,
white and blue, to catch the eye, or may be left white, as may be desired.
In filling up the check, the sum for which the cheque is drawn is written out in
words in the body of the check, beginning under the numeral that represents the
amount of the highest denomination mentioned in the sum, and under the left.
hand part, the central part, or the right hand part of the subdivision in which the
said numeral stands, according as the said highest denomination is units, tens or
hundreds.
In a modified form of check the sum for which the check is drawn is written out
in words beginning under the numeral that represents the amount of the highest
denomination mentioned in the sum, and on the first, second or third of the lines
according as the said highest denomination is units, tens or hundreds.

page_text: Below the above mentioned divisions and subdivisions are two or more additional
lines or spaces in which is to be written in words the amount for which the cheque
is drawn.
The words units, tens, hundreds may be placed at the left hand ends respectively
of the first three of the said additional lines or spaces.
At the right hand middle lower part of the check are four or more short lines or
Epaces, to receive the signature of the drawer.
At the right hand end of these four lines or spaces, are formed by vertical lines,
two vertical sets of spaces or divisions, the one set being designed to receive
numerals and ciphers when filling up the check and in the other set of spaces, are
contained the words "units," "tens," $1
'hundreds," "thousands," beginning at the
lowest space.
Above the last mentioned spaces is the word "pounds" "dollars" or whatever
the unit of currency may be.
The signature of the drawer is written on the line corresponding to the space
which contains the name of the highest denomination mentioned in the sum.
The numerals representing the amounts of the several denominations mentioned
in the sum being written in the vertical set of spaces opposite the names of the
said several denominations ciphers being placed in the spaces not occupied by
numerals.
The sum can then be written in numerals in the left hand lower part of the
check after the currency symbol.
A check made and filled out in the manner herein described cannot be raised
without making so many changes that the attempted fraud will be at once detected.

page_text: The invention consists in a check draft or other money order made with spaces
arranged in the manner hereinafter described.
The check is prepared with a space A for the name of the place where and the
date when the said check is drawn a space B to receive the name of the drawee
and a space to receive the order and the name of the payee.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the figures.
Figure 1 is a face view of one of these improved checks shown in blank.
Figures 2 and 3 show slightly modified forms of the same. Figures 4. 5 and 6
illustrate the mode of filling up the checks shown in figures 1. 2. and 3.
Below the spaces A, B. C is a space D which is divided by short vertical or
inclined lines into nine sections one for each of the nine digits which digits in their
natural order are placed in the centres of the said sections or divisions.
In the modification illustrated in figures 2 and 5 each of these divisions of
the space D is subdivided into three subdivisions in the left hand one of which is
placed the digit to which the division is appropriated in the central subdivision is
placed the same digit with a cipher at its right hand making it represent tens, and
in the right hand subdivision is placed the same digit with two ciphers at its right
hand making it represent hundreds.
In the form represented in figures 1 and 4 the digits are placed in the tens places,
the units and hundreds places being left blank.
The subdivisions of the divisions of the space D may be distinguished by different
colours as for instance red white and blue to catch the eye, or may be left white as
may be desired.
Below the space D are two or more spaces E in which is to be written in words
the amount for which the check is drawn.
In the form represented in figures 3 and 6 the words units, tens, hundreds, are
written or printed in the left hand ends respectively of the first three of the
spaces E.
Below the spaces E in the right hand middle part of the check are formed four
or more spaces F to receive the name of the drawer.
At the right hand end of the spaces F are formed by vertical lines two sets of
spaces G. H. the spaces G being designed to receive numerals and ciphers when
filling up the check and in the spaces H are written or printed the words units
tens hundreds thousands beginning at the lowest space.
Above the spaces H in the lowest space E may be written or printed the word
pounds, dollars or whatever the unit of currency may be.
In filling up the check the sun for which the check is drawn is written in words
in the spaces E beginning in the forms of check shown in figures 1. 2. 4 and 5
under the numeral in space D that represents the amount of the highest denomina-
tion mentioned in the sum and under the left hand part the central part or the
right band part of the subdivision of the space D in which the said numeral stands
according as the said highest denomination is units tens or hundreds.
In the form of check shown in figures 3 and 6 the sum for which the check is
drawn is written out in words in the spaces E beginning under the numeral in
space D that represents the amount of the highest denomination mentioned in the
sum and in the first second or third of the said spaces according as the said highest
denomination is units tens or hundreds.
The signature of the drawer is written in the space F, the corresponding space H
of which contains the name of the highest denomination mentioned in the sum.
The numerals representing the amounts of the several denominations mentioned
in the sum are then written in the spaces G opposite the names in the spaces H of
the said several denominations ciphers being placed in the spaces G not occupied
by numerals.
The sum can then be written in numerals in the left hand lower part of the
check after the currency symbol.

page_text: A check made and filled out in the manner herein described cannot be raised
without making so many changes that the attempted fraud will be at once detected.
For example if the sum be nine thousand seven hundred and eighty four pounds
this sum will be written in the spaces E beginning in forms 1 and 2 under the left
hand or units part of the 9 subdivision of the space D and in the first or units
space E in form 3, thousands being the highest denomination mentioned and nine
being the amount of the said denomination.
The signature is then written in the space F opposite the word thousands in the
space H. The numerals are then written in the spaces G nine opposite the word
thousand seven opposite the word hundred eight opposite the word tens and four
opposite the word units.
In this case there are no blank spaces to be filled with ciphers.
Finally the sum can be written in numerals at the lower left hand part of the
check as as illustrated in figures 4. 5 and 6.
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
A check draft or other money order made substantially as herein shown and
described with spaces A. B. C to receive the name of the place and the date the
name of the drawee, and the order and the name of the payee with a space D con-
taining the digits in their natural order with two or more spaces E to receive a
statement of the sum in words with spaces F to receive the signature of the drawer
and with spaces G. H. corresponding with the spaces I the spaces H containing
the names of the various denominations and the spaces G to receive numerals
representing the amounts of the various denominations or ciphers as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1885
A. M. CLARK.
By A. M. & Wm Clark,
Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London.