Antique F AND E CHECKWRITER HEDMAN MFG CO MODEL D Oct

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Labor Day INCA, AZTEC, African Artefacts & Mu...

By Churchill Galleries

Sep 7, 2021 - Sep 17, 2021

Set Reminder 2021-09-07 10:00:00 2021-09-17 18:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Labor Day INCA, AZTEC, African Artefacts & Multiples https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/churchill-galleries/labor-day-inca-aztec-african-artefacts-multiples-7365
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• Lot Description
  Antique F AND E CHECKWRITER HEDMAN MFG CO MODEL D Oct 5th 1915 serial no plate obscured w age see photos; original purchaser insure against loss protected by WM J BURNS DETECTIVE AGENCY First developed in 1914, the F&E Check Writer was more of a hi-tech defense weapon than a mere piece of office equipment. It was designed, as a number of other similar machines were in the early 20th century, to combat what was then considered Ì¢å€åœone of the gravest and most widespread of all menaces against our nationÌ¢å€å™s business”Ì¢å€å”check forgery. Skilled forgers, known to swindled businessmen as Ì¢å€åœpenmen,” Ì¢å€åœscratchers,” or simply Ì¢å€åœcheck raisers,” had mastered a wide array of methods for acquiring, editing, and cashing fraudulent checks. Since even many corporate paychecks were simply handwritten with a pen and ink during this era, all a criminally-minded fellow had to do was delicately inscribe an extra Ì¢å€åœy” to transform an eight-thousand dollar payout into EIGHTY-thousand. Incredibly, this kind of thing worked to remarkable effect, with multi-million dollar losses across the country stemming solely from the talents of weapon-less thieves. Ì¢å€åœThe growth of forgery and check alteration has been synonymous with the development of our great industrial system,” wrote Burgess Smith, a former inspector with the U.S. Bureau of Engraving, in a 1922 edition of American Industries magazine. Ì¢å€åœAs checks have increased in use, forgers have increased in numbers, and as protective measures have improved in efficiency so has the forgerÌ¢å€å™sÌ¢å€å™ skill. For many years the forger and his greatest foe, the designer of protective devices, fought a nip and tuck battle over many a bank account; and it was only recently that the latter won a decisive victory. This victory, it may be added, is one of science and chemistry over the cunning of the criminal.” Smith is referring to the combined use of increasingly advanced Ì¢å€åœsafety paper” along with fool-proof mechanical Ì¢å€åœcheck protector” machines like the F&E model in our collection. Unlike similar devices from earlier in the century, which used hole-punch style printing that remained vulnerable to alterations, the WWI era machines succeeded by Ì¢å€åœcutting the amount of words through and through the paper in shredded letters of two alternating colors, and at the same time, forcing an insoluble ink into these shreds under high pressure, making the fluid a part of the fibre of the document.” Or, as the F&EÌ¢å€å™s own advertising put it, this was Ì¢å€åœnot a mere check writer, but an absolute, 100% prevention of loss through alteration of your checks.” Basically, kryptonite for those dastardly Ì¢å€åœscratchers.” source: https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/hedman-f-e-check-writer/ and from https://www.fbi.gov/history/directors/william-j-burns%20As%20a%20young%20man,%20Mr.%20Burns%20performed%20well%20as%20a%20Secret%20Service%20agent%20and%20parleyed%20his%20reputation%20into%20the%20William%20J.%20Burns%20International%20Detective%20Agency.%20A%20combination%20of%20good%20casework%20and%20an%20instinct%20for%20publicity%20made%20Mr.%20Burns%20a%20national%20figure.%20His%20exploits%20made%20national%20news,%20the%20gossip%20columns%20of%20New%20York%20newspapers,%20and%20the%20pages%20of%20detective%20magazines,%20in%20which%20he%20published%20%E2%80%9Ctrue%E2%80%9D%20crime%20stories%20based%20on%20his%20exploits.%20Well%20qualified%20to%20direct%20the%20Bureau%20and%20friends%20with%20Warren%20Harding%E2%80%99s%20Attorney%20General%20Harry%20M.%20Daugherty,%20Burns%20was%20appointed%20Director%20of%20the%20Bureau%20of%20Investigation%20on%20August%2022,%201921.%20Under%20Mr.%20Burns,%20the%20Bureau%20shrank%20from%20its%201920%20high%20of%201,127%20personnel%20to%20around%20600%20three%20years%20later.%20He%20resigned%20in%201924%20at%20the%20request%20of%20Attorney%20General%20Harlan%20Fiske%20Stone%20because%20of%20his%20role%20in%20the%20Teapot%20Dome%20Scandal.%20This%20scandal%20involved%20the%20secret%20leasing%20of%20naval%20oil%20reserve%20lands%20to%20private%20companies.Approximate measurements: 7 x 4.5 x 10 inchesMaterials: metal, variousShipping cost: $45. Different rate to California, Alaska, Hawaii and all International apply.

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  Good
• Shipping Info

  • Churchill Galleries may, in its discretion and at purchaser's request, package and arrange for delivery as directed by the purchaser. In such event, purchaser agrees that (a) all such packaging, handling and delivery is at the sole risk of the purchaser and that Churchill Galleries shall have no liability for any loss or damage to such items, and (b) purchaser shall pay in advance, all packaging expenses, including labor, materials, carriers fees and all insurance charges. Please arrange seventy-two hours in advance for collection and delivery. Churchill Galleries shall not be responsible for obtaining any permits or licenses on behalf of purchaser and no sale shall be cancelled or refunded for lack of purchaser's noncompliance with permitting and licensing issues. Churchill Galleries will not cancel sale due to shipping. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING RATE WILL APPLY.

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