Safe-Guard Check Writer Model Y

Tags

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.