Indelible Check Perforator

Tags

antique, check, indelible, perforator, protector, rouss, wesley

Most folks today have heard about, and perhaps even followed, the multitude of court cases surrounding many of our modern computing appliances over the years; Apple versus Microsoft, Xerox versus Apple, Apple versus Samsung, AMD versus Intel – the list goes on and on.

What few realize is that historically when there has been a technological revolution there then follows many legal battles over patents, licensing, etc.  Just as many of today’s tech giants battle it out in courts over such issues as patent infringements, this was also the case during the 19th century industrial/mechanical revolution.

By 1896, ten years after the U.S. Supreme Court weighed-in on the forging of checks, one of the more lucrative new areas of office technology was in the area of check protectors (see S&P Check Protector).  In late 1896, Wesley Manufacturing Company introduced a new protector, the Indelible Check Perforator.

Made from cast iron and steel, the Indelible Check Perforator was a mechanically simple machine.  To operate, you placed your check in between the two rollers by lifting the spring-loaded smaller upper roller.  You would then turn the knobbed head so that the figure you wanted was in place.  The last step was to simply press down firmly and that symbol would then be perforated onto your check.  Once the symbol was perforated onto your check, the device would automatically advance your check one character’s distance ready for the next number.  Where the “indelible” name comes in is that when you depress the head the perforating needles, after penetrating your check, would then press into an inked pad.  When the perforating needles came back through the paper the edges of each individual hole would then be covered in red ink.  This system would make it very difficult to then forge the check by any means.

1897 magazine advertisement

When introduced the Indelible cost just $5.  This was lower than many of the other check protectors on the market and in addition it was a high-quality piece.  The Indelible was an immediate success and with that notoriety it took almost no time at all for the first patent infringement lawsuit to be filed.

article from February 1897

The company accused of infringing Wesley Manufacturing’s patents was Rouss Manufacturing Company Inc.  Rouss Manufacturing marketed a check protector called the Royal Automatic Check Protector.  During the entirety of 1897 Wesley Manufacturing posted notices in all of the industry magazines, office suppliers, etc. giving everyone notice that they were going to take legal action against a manufacturer who was infringing on their patents.  The pressure must have been telling because in April 1897 W.J. Coulson of Rouss Manufacturing went so far as to go to the offices of the American Stationer magazine and claim to a reporter ” The Stationer recently had a notice stating that the Wesley Manufacturing Company had notified a Brooklyn manufacturer of the Indelible check protector, who was selling an infringing machine at a cut rate, to stop his operations, and that he had agreed to do so. I am that Brooklyn manufacturer, and I want to say that I am the inventor and originator of the Indelible check perforator: that I made the machine before there was a Wesley Company; that I made it for that company, and when that concern declined to carry out a contract I had with it I made and marketed the machines myself; the company has begun no suit against me; I have been served with no papers, and furthermore there is no patent on the machine; I sell my machine at the same retail price that the company charges for its machine. My machine is the original in every respect, and I am not only the original manufacturer of it, but am the one who originated it.”

Mr. Coulson was technically correct when he stated that there is no patent on the machine.  (side note:  of course, Wesley Manufacturing was at that time claiming six patents and had a seventh that would be granted shortly.  The Circuit Court made it a point however to effectively ignore the first six patents).  However, the patent was filed and was granted a short 2 months later.  It would appear that Mr. Coulson was incorrect on a number of other issues as well because later in 1897 a lawsuit was brought against Rouss Manufacturing Co Inc and on February 25, 1898, the case was heard in the Federal Circuit Court of Pennsylvania.  The Federal Court found that there was a patent infringement and a preliminary injunction was placed against Rouss Manufacturing.

1897 industry magazine advertisement

Skip forward about two years and in early 1900 it was being announced by Rouss Manufacturing in all of the industry magazines that the case (and supposed counterclaims) had been settled and that Rouss Manufacturing is now “enabled” to sell the Royal Automatic Check Protector under license from Wesley Manufacturing.

1900  industry magazine advertisement

The Indelible Check Perforator was available from 1896 through at least 1915.  It was made of cast iron and steel and measures 4.5″ L x 4.25″ W x 4.375″ H.  It weighs a hefty 3.5 pounds but was still lighter in weight than much of its competition.

1901 industry magazine advertisement

From 1896 to 1900 the Indelible was designed with 11 characters, the numbers 1 through 0 and a dollar sign.  In 1901, a new symbol, a star, was added to the revolving head.  Originally, the Indelible was only available in a japanned body with a nickel-plated head, but in 1902 a fully nickel-plated model began being advertised along with the japanned version.  These variations will help you determine the date of manufacture of an Indelible.

1906 industry magazine ad

Here is a sample of the perforations made by the Indelible.

The red ink being a bit smudgy is my fault.  After 120 years the original ink pad in the Indelible had the consistency of a hard pencil eraser.  I performed a complete “tune-up” and clean out of the Indelible and that included replacing the pad.  However, I used what I had on hand which was not the correct type of felt necessary.  It works great now otherwise and I’ll order a replacement stamp pad which I’ll cut to size and that should fix that issue.  Only then will my checks finally be safe from all of the forgers and grifters still using 19th century technology in an attempt to steal my money.

Patent and Other Information:

• Patent 441057 granted November 18, 1990
• Patent 459544 granted September 15, 1991
• Patent 460257 granted September 29, 1891
• Patent 500258 granted June 27, 1893
• Patent 505577 granted September 26, 1893
• Patent 530470 granted December 4, 1894
• Patent 584518 granted June 15, 1897

Notes:

1. Editors (1896, October), The “Indelible” Check Perforator, The Book-Keeper, page 22
2. Editors (1897, February 25), Going To Protect Its Patent, The American Stationer, page 32
3. Wesley Mfg Co (1897, March 25), advertisement, The American Stationer, page 24
4. Editors (1897, March 25), Roundabouts, The American Stationer, page 30
5. Editors (1897, April 15), Chat By The Way, The American Stationer, page 17
6. Medical Electric Co (1897, April), advertisement, The New Education, page 4
7. Editors, The Federal Reporter Volume 87, West Publishing Company ,1897
8. Editors (1900, February 3), Check Protector Suit Settled, The American Stationer, page 22
9. Rouss Mfg Co Inc (1900, February 10), advertisement, The American Stationer, page 26
10. Wesley Mfg Co (1901, February 21), advertisement, Geyer’s Stationer, page 27
11. Editors (1902, August 16), Check Perforator, The American Stationer, page 48
12. Wesley Mfg Co (1906, March 24), advertisement, The American Stationer, page 93
13. FP Burnap Stationery & Printing Co Catalog (1915), Kansas City, MO, page 87

 

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S&P Check Protector

Tags

antique, check protector, cushman, denison, nafew, nafew-lovell, pitt, s&p, sittmann

On March 1, 1886 the U.S. Supreme Court decided on the case of Leather Manufacturers’ Bank v. Morgan, 117 U.S. 96.  Essentially, this case stated, amongst other things, that the loss from a forged, or “raised”, check must be paid by the maker of the check and not the bank when in the absence of any suspicious conditions.  When this decision was made it was simply the latest such outcome which reaffirmed previous decisions from lower courts.

Shortly after these court decisions the market for check protectors took-off.  There were other protectors on the market, of course, but many were expensive.  And while many were introduced in the late 1880’s and 1890’s few were as successful as the model designed by Sittmann & Pitt.

Gustav Sittmann and Walter H. Pitt (S. & P.) designed a small and ingenious check protector and promptly submitted an application for patent in September 1893.  In February 1895 they were granted patent 534404.  This check protector was manufactured and sold for approximately 30 years by a number of different companies.

January 1895 industry magazine advertisement

In January 1895 the Nafew-Lovell Co introduced the “Nafew-Lovell Check Protector” to the stationer trade.  By May 1895 this same item was being advertised in newspapers across the United States.  This model was available in japanned black with gold pinstriping and some other minor gold enamel ornamentation.  The front of the protector was marked “The Nafew Lovell Check Protector Havemeyer Building New York”.  It’s initial price was $7.50 which is equal to over $212 in 2018 dollars.

July 1895 industry magazine advertisement

Nafew-Lovell Company was organized in 1894 and incorporated April 1895 to deal in patents, copyrights, etc.  This is the first company to produce what would later come to be known as “The S. & P.”.  By July 1895 the company changed names to the Samuel Nafew Company and at the same time increased the price to $8.50.

There was one other known S&P type check protector that was sold for a short time in 1895.  In August 1895 the Samuel Nafew Company sent out a circular to the trade stating that they own the patent, are producing this check protector, and that others are not genuine and infringements will be followed-up for prosecution.  By the end of the year you saw no more mention of this knock-off machine.

August 1895 trade notice

In early 1896 Samuel Nafew Company reduced the price to $8.00.  In mid-1897 they reduced it again to just $5.00.  This was a time when many other companies were reducing the prices on their check protectors (see Chicago Check Perforator) forcing the Samuel Nafew Company to do the same in order to stay competitive.

Note also that by February 1896 the front of the check protector is labeled “The Nafew Check Protector”.

February 1896 industry magazine advertisement

July 1897 industry magazine advertisement

1899 turned out to be a terrible year for the Samuel Nafew Company.

• In April 1899 there was a bankruptcy judgment against the Samuel Nafew Company in the state of New York.
• There was a fire at 390-392 Broadway in Chicago on October 26, 1899 where they had offices and a warehouse and they sustained several thousands of dollars in loss of stock and other items.
• The sales over the holidays that they were depending on never materialized.
• In December 1899 Sittmann & Pitt informed Samuel Nafew that if they did not make a reasonable payment on the debt owed to them they would file against them for involuntary bankruptcy. Sittmann & Pitt did just that in January 1900 and by July 1900 they started producing the S.& P. Check Protector under their name.

January 1900 New York Times article

1901 industry magazine advertisement

Sittmann & Pitt manufactured and marketed the S.& P. Check Protector until December 1908.  In January 1909 the “patents and business of the S&P Check Protector” were taken over by the Cushman & Denison Manufacturing Company.  One of the changes that Cushman & Denison made was to now make the S.&P. available in a nickel-plated model.  When they took over manufacture they never changed the label on the front and it always read “The S.& P.”.

1909 industry magazine advertisement

While the price you see in the industry magazines is the suggested retail price, in stationery stores the prices varied.  The following ad from a 1911 newspaper from Arkansas shows a price of $4.50.

1911 newspaper advertisement

By 1921 Cushman & Denison were offering the S. & P. for $10.00.

1921 industry magazine advertisement

The S.& P. Check Protector was available at least until 1924, but likely for a number of years after.  Aside from some cosmetic changes such as with the gold pin striping or the name painted on the front there was very little change over the 30 plus years it was sold.

The S. & P. Check Protector was everything it was advertised to be.  It was a small and very well-built check protector and even if you find one that has been abused over the years it is likely to still work.  It was made of 100% cast iron and steel, weighs 4 pounds, and measures 4.5″ W x 5.844″ L x 5.5″ H.  The S. & P. is a perforator type machine.  A perforator punches a series of pin-sized holes that were in the shape of numbers and symbols.

Patent and Other Information:

• Patent 534404

Notes:

1. editors (1895, January), A New Check Protector, American Stationer, page 118
2. editors (1895, January 8), New Corporations in Which Brooklyn-ites Have Invested Capital, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, page 2
3. Schwaab Stamp & Seal Co (1895, January), advertisement, The American Lawyer, page 2
4. editors (1895, April), The Nafew-Lovell Check Protector, Scientific American, page 262
5. Dury & Finney (1895, May 30), advertisement, The Nashville American, page 3
6. Samuel Nafew Co (1895, July), advertisement, American Stationer, page 163
7. editors (1895, August), Trade Items, American Stationer, page 326
8. Samuel Nafew Co (1896, February), advertisement, American Stationer, page 339
9. Samuel Nafew Co (1897, July), advertisement, American Stationer, page 116
10. editors (1899, April 12), Judgments, New York Times, page 11
11. editors (1900, January 7), Petitions In Bankruptcy, New York Times, page 9
12. Sittmann & Pitt (1901, January), advertisement, American Stationer, page 17
13. editors (1909, May), Office Appliances, American Exporter, page 94
14. Cushman & Denison Mfg Co (1909, June), advertisement, American Exporter, page 152
15. Democrat Printing & Litho Co (1911, June 29), advertisement, The Arkansas Gazette, page 2
16. Cushman & Denison Mfg Co (1921, January), advertisement, American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 33
17. Cushman & Denison Mfg Co (1924, March), advertisement, Office Appliances The Magazine of Office Equipment, page 75

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Safe-Guard Check Writer Model Y

Tags

antique, check, check protector, check writer, lansdale, safe-guard, safeguard, whitaker

Introduced in 1917 the Safe-Guard Check Writer was an instant success. At its release the Safe-Guard was considered a major leap forward in check writers.

There were check writers and check protectors of various types using various technologies previous to the Safe-Guard.  However, the Safe-Guard’s unique combination of printing the check amount on a diagonal in a single line coupled with a diagonal rectangular design embossed over the name of the payee and over the written check amount made for a potent combination of writing and protecting.

ad from 1919 industry magazine

There were a number of different, but very similar, models introduced early on including the models F, G, R, S, W, Y, and others.  The very earliest models will reflect that they were manufactured by the John Whitaker Manufacturing Company but the company changed names to the Safe-Guard Check Writer Company in November 1917. Also, between 1921 and 1922 the style of the front rubber feet were changed to a more elongated “clown shoe” style foot.  This means that if you have a model Y check writer that states it was manufactured by the Safe-Guard Check Writer Company and it has circular rubber front feet then it was made between 1918 and 1921 (see picture at beginning of post).  If the model has elongated front feet then it was made 1921 or after.

newspaper ad from 1922

The model Y weighs 8 lbs 4 oz and measures 9.5″ L x 7.875″ W x 7.375″ H.  This is a serious piece of equipment.  These are also extremely well-made and are very likely to still be working.  Oftentimes, if it is not working then simply cleaning out the mechanics and adding a minimal amount of oil is enough to put it back in working condition.  One word of caution though, be careful if you are going to refill the ink well and use the correct ink.  While I do not have an operator’s manual it is unlikely that this used a water-based ink.  Doing so would have damaged the internal mechanisms over time.  I would recommend either leaving the ink well alone or cleaning (if you must) but not refilling so as not to inadvertently cause any damage.  Otherwise, if you must refill the ink reservoir then an oil-based ink similar to the type used by numbering machines would likely be your best bet.

The Safe-Guard Check Writer was advertised at $55 in 1920.  In 2017 dollars that is $674!

John Whitaker was the inventor and patent holder for all of the Safe-Guard patents.  He started John Whitaker Manufacturing Co and had factories in Philadelphia and North Wales, Pennsylvania.  In September 1917 he consolidated his factories in one location in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  He was known as a manufacturer of adding machines although it is unknown if he continued to do so after the introduction of the Safe-Guard Check Writer.  As noted above, in November 1917 the name of the company was changed to the Safe-Guard Check Writer Company.  In 1929 the Safe-Guard Check Writer Co purchased two companies; the Hercules Check Certifier Co and the Repeating Stamp and Duplicating Corporation.  By 1946 the company name had again changed to Safeguard Corporation but it stayed in Lansdale, Pennsylvania.  In 1946 the company was sold but did not change names, however, John Whitaker retired that year from the company.  John Whitaker passed away February 10, 1964.  A 1963 article mentions that Safeguard Business Systems is a distributorship of Safeguard Corp.  Safeguard Business Systems is still in business to this day.

It is unknown how long the model Y (and it’s sibling models) was available but consensus from other collectors has it until approximately 1928 when new models were introduced.

Patent and Other Information:

• Patent 1280921 Printing Device
• Patent 1303434 Check
• Patent 1377040 Check Printing and Scarifying Machine

Notes:

1. Editors (1917, September), Machinery Markets and News of the Works – Philadelphia, The Iron Age, page 719
2. Editors (1917, November), A Check Writer That Protects the Payee’s Name, Typewriter Topics, pages 158-160
3. Lodewick & Roquemore (1920, March), advertisement, Jackson Daily News, page 7
4. Safe-Guard Check Writer Co (1922, July), advertisement, American Exporter, page 12
5. Safe-Guard Check Writer Co (1922, October), advertisement, Kansas City Kansan, page 6A
6. Office Equipment Co (1926, November), advertisement, Asheville Citizen, page Twelve
7. Editors (1929, October), Safe Guard Check Gets Duplicating Device, Brooklyn Daily Eagle, page 39
8. Editors (1929, September), Financial World Briefly Scanned, Wilmington Morning News, page 13
9. Editors (1963, January), Obituary Paul B. Stitt, Philadelphia Inquirer, page 12
10. Editors (1964, February), John Whitaker, 94, Founded Firm, The Morning Call, page 31
11. Editors (1964, March), New Business is Formed, The Times San Mateo, page 29

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Alligator Check Protector and Letter Opener

Tags

alligator, antique, atwater, check protector, letter opener

“The Alligator check protector and letter opener is a novelty that a man keeps and shows to his friends. It costs but little but does not look cheap. It can’t wear out and is used daily for two important purposes. One end is a paper knife. The other end, the handle, is open and corrugated inside the handle, making a convenient and absolutely safe check protector. The article is made of handsomely polished nickel plated steel and is furnished in quantities at attractively low prices.”

The American Stationer, July 1910, Novelties for the Trade – The Alligator

The above quote from 1910 is a fair description of the Alligator. It is a device that combines a letter opener with a check protector. The letter opener is of a design that hasn’t changed in over a century. You can still find this type of letter opener today. The check protector portion is built into the two-piece handle and works by embossing a quilt-type pattern in a rectangle measuring approximately 2″ x .5″. You would write out your check and then emboss over it. This was to discourage trying to make changes to the check after the fact.

sample of embossed check

The Alligator weighs in at 2 ounces and measures 7.5625″ L x .9375″ W. It is made of nickel-plated steel. It is a very high-quality item, extremely durable and well-built.

This was patented as a check protector under U.S. patent 826135. The patent was applied for on May 31, 1904 and granted on July 17, 1906 to Silas I. Atwater. It was first advertised in 1904. If you find this item stamped with PAT APPD FOR then you know it was manufactured between 1904 and 1906. Otherwise, they are all stamped PAT’D JULY 17’06.

The Alligator was manufactured by S.I. Atwater, later known as S.I. Atwater Specialties Company. It was available starting in 1904 and the latest reference I can find that specifically mentions the Alligator is in May 1920. However, as a low-cost “novelty” item it never did receive a lot of advertising. It is entirely possible that the Alligator was available after 1920.

The first mention I can find of S.I. Atwater is for 1904. During the sixteen years that I can find reference to they were located in the following places:

• 1904-1910:  369 Broadway, New York, NY
• 1910-1918:  335 Broadway, New York, NY
• 1918-1920:  105 Lafayette St, New York, NY – Now shown as S.I. Atwater  Specialties Co
• 1920:  337 Broadway, New York, NY

In the January 1908 issue of the American Stationer it is mentioned that Hampden Hoge of the Hoge Specialty Co “has taken over the entire line of stationery specialties formerly manufactured and controlled by S.I. Atwater”. As S.I. Atwater is the only company ever mentioned in ads it sounds like S.I. Atwater simply became a subsidiary company under the Hoge Specialty Co.

ad from 1904

ad from 1905

ad from 1910

sample of Alligator used as a marketing item

 

Patent Information:

• US Patent 826135

Notes:

1. S.I. Atwater (1904, September). advertisement. The Book-Keeper and Business Man’s Magazine, page 514
2. S.I. Atwater (1905, May). advertisement. Scientific American, page 393
3. Beach, E.H.., Tools of Business, An Encyclopedia of Office Equipment and Labor Saving Devices, Detroit, MI, The Book-Keeping Publishing Co Ltd (1905). Print
4. Editors (1907, June). Atwater’s Specialties. Geyer’s Stationer, page 25
5. Editors (1908, January). Trade Items. The American Stationer, page 11
6. Editors (1910, July). Novelties of the Trade. The American Stationer, page 14
7. Editors (1920, May). Buyer’s Reference Bureau. The American Stationer and Office Outfitter, page 99

Chicago Check Perforator

Tags

antique, check protector, cummins, perforator

The Chicago Check Perforator falls under the category of check protector.  Check protectors, still used today, were a way to mark or complete a check so that it made them very difficult to alter in any way that wouldn’t make it obvious that they were tampered with.  There were different technologies used for this purpose; embossing, special inks, punching and the type we’re talking about today, perforating.

A check perforator punches small round pin-sized holes that form numerals, letters and/or symbols. The person preparing a check positions the check in the check writer so its print-head (a series of very small needles)  are centered over the field on the check where the amount of the check would otherwise be written out. Using the lever and dial combination on the check protector, the operator enters the monetary amount of the check by first turning the dial to the desired number and then pressing down on the lever. This amount is then perforated onto the check. The check is then automatically forwarded by a single space ready for the next number or symbol.

perforation sample; it is likely that the pins need adjusting for a few of the numbers

There were at least two different models of the Chicago Check Perforator, this being the later one.  This model weighs-in at a staggering 6 pounds and measures 8.5″L x 4.5″ W x 4.75″ H.  It is made of very heavy-duty iron/steel.  Oddly, this model is quite a bit smaller than it’s predecessor which must have been a real beast.  I have seen versions of this item in a brass finish, nickel-plate and “plain”.  It is possible that the “plain” version is simply a heavily used plated protector where over time the plating has worn off.

The Early Office Museum states that this model was advertised from 1889 to 1930.  Here is an ad from an 1896 magazine publication that B.F. Cummins used for a number of years with only minor revisions.

Note the “reduced to $10$” in the above ad.  Before 1896 this was more expensive but the company took a chance and reduced the asking price.  This greatly increased sales of this protector.

On the forward part of the base is a brass plaque which, among other things, shows the dates of the three patents in force for this item.  The first patent, number 409324 was applied for in December 1887 and granted in 1889.  The other two patents (see below) were granted in 1890 and 1892 respectively.

B.F. Cummins Company was incorporated in 1887 and manufactured various hand perforating machines.  These machines consisted mainly of check protectors or postal marking machines.  Benjamin Franklin Cummins (B.F.) was the President of the company.  He was also a practicing lawyer in Chicago until 1893.  (note 1)

The Chicago Check Perforator was built to last.  The mechanics are a bit difficult to get to if you need to fix one but otherwise fairly straightforward.  The heaviness of the machine was actually one of its strengths.  If you are using an item such as this regularly, say on a wood-top or laminate top desk, the rubber feet and heft will keep it from moving around while you print-out checks.  The operation is very simple, smooth, and intuitive.  Best of all, it plain works.  It’s obvious why this sold so well when it was introduced.

Patent Information:

• US Patent 409324
• US Patent 433003
• US Patent 486858

Notes:

1.  page 169, Albert Nelson Marquis ed. (1911) Book of Chicagoans: A Biographical Dictionary of Leading Living Men of the City of Chicago, second edn., Chicago, IL: A.N. Marquis & Co.