Credit Card Imprinter
A credit card imprinter is a device for printing the raised characters of a credit card onto multiple receipts. It was often used in credit card transactions before cards had digital magnetic strips that could be scanned. The imprinting process is accomplished by placing the card onto the surface of the imprinter, where it fits into place so that it won't move. Next a packet of two or three attached paper receipts is placed on top of the card, where it is also held in place. An attached bar containing a roller mechanism is manually pushed across the card and receipts, pressing the receipts onto the card. The receipts contain a chemical that activates when pressed, so the roller mechanism results in a print of the card's raised characters on the receipts.
THE OBVIOUS: people are travelling - increased movement - interstate highway act, commercial air travel - both post-war phenomena
Portability of Device - Performance of transaction in front of customer
Mechanical Pressing of entire document (minus amoutn of transaction)
A transition to a mode of analysis based on historical precedent rather than manifest personal character.
1) Signature on the slip
2) Signature plate on back of card
3) Unique credit card number affiliated with central credit card issuer
4) EXPIRATION DATE? Added variable or original functional attribute (why do they expire?)
5) Computer Legibility (OCR) ensures credit Card issuer records the number on the slip
6) Imrinted Number ensures transfer of number to slip is accurate and immune from human error (as opposed to OCR typewriter)
7) Unique numberd series on slips ensures sequential documentation of transacitons and accoutnability of copies to masters
8)Name of Card Owner
9) Name/Address of Merchant
10) Contracts / Checks / Bond
11) Account Humber identifies IP ADDRESS - Geography, Institution,
In attempting to maximize speed, efficiency and security, the ideal form of transaction seems to be one that overlaid multiple forms of verification and authentication on a single sight, and the credit card imprinter presents itself as the most efficient and cost effective solution to this problem.
History of Credit Cards
"Although the first charge card was issued by Western Union in 1914, it wasn't until 1958 that Bank of America (BofA) issued its BankAmericard, which combined the convenience of a charge account with credit privileges. When BofA extended its customer base outside California, the interchange system controlling payments began to falter because of design problems and fraud.
In 1968 Dee Hock, manager of the BankAmericard operations of the National Bank of Commerce in Seattle, convinced member banks that a more reliable system was needed. Two years later Natioanl BankAmericard Inc. (NBI) was created as an independent corporation (owned by 243 banks) to buy the BankAmericard system from BofA.
With its initial ad slogan, 'Think of it as Money,' the National BankAmericard Inc. developed BankAmericard into a widely used form of payment in the US. A multinational corporation, IBANCO, was formed in 1974 to carry the operations into other countries. people outside the US ressited BankAmericard's nominal association with BofA, and in 1977 Hock changed the card's name to Visa. NBI became Visa USA, and IBANCO became Visa International. (From Hoover's Company Records - In-depth Records;, VISA INC. Copyright 2008 Hoover's Inc., All Rights Reserved. P.4)"
Problematics surrounding credit cards: 1) The idea of the credit card is to make it easier to spend money, to encourage consumption. 2) An early problem was to become international, which involved removing "America" from the company name, and switching to the name, Visa. The rise of credit card use corresponds to a rise in international monetary flows. 3) In the history of credit cards, the speed of payment is always an issue (Cite Restaurant revolt of 1959). 4) The problem of identification is always an issue.
How does the credit card imprinter address each of these issues? What does it make possible and what are its limitations?
Credit Card Imprinter
Physical description:
History of Invention:
The development of the magnetic strip that makes this obsolete:
Critical Notes
Marx -- Universal equivalent. Is money really a universal equivalent? Move from money form to capital. Receipts
Derrida-- Signature is absurd final compensatory gesture to signal that what I've written down is from me. To tie what you say to who you are.
If you burn money, value is gone. Credit card is return to the value not being embodied in the artifact. Return to contractual... money as promissory note. Contract-producing instrument. Credit card is return! What these receipts actually represent historically.
Carrying a credit card rather than cash prevents theft because if someone steals your money, the money and the value it represents are gone. However, if someone steals your credit card, they have only stolen the means for making a contract, and you can call the company and cancel the card.
Even after the advent of the magnetic strip, the customer's written signature remains the unique identifier. This identifies the buyer with the card. The card's number identifies the card with the credit card account.
History of physicality of card, PATENT for the first embossed card. History of embossing plastic in general, PATENT for machine that embosses. History of death of this machine, PATENT for magnetic strip.
PATENT for carbon paper, carbon paper receipts.
Lagtime between invention of magnetic strip and universal use of it. Magnetic strip is about immediate verification. Can't be used until the business has a modem. Credit card co. needs to provide incentive for merchant to have immediate verification to deter fraud. Law that says if you accept fraudulent card it's your fault?
Carbon paper wasn't accepted in court bc of forgery from late 1800s to end of 19th century (From "Exciting History of Carbon Paper") Credit card receipts are not using carbon paper. Actually using a chemical reaction bc less messy. Top sheet has to be ultra thin.
Spacing between characters embossed on credit cards. Spacing within characters to make it possible to emboss. But also tight enough that you can't switch numbers. Can't turn 3 into 8. 2 and 5 don't look alike. Security font. Designed to be impossible to tamper with.
Carrying a credit card rather than cash prevents theft because if someone steals your money, the money and the value it represents are gone. However, if someone steals your credit card, they have only stolen the means for making a contract, and you can call the company and cancel the card.
Machine and human readable typeface—OCR
Overcoming the problem of anonymity--this is no longer your local pub. How do you evaluate something's credit worthiness. How do you minimize risk in order to increase commerce.
The emergence of the individual--air travel, interstate highway act, etc.
Exonumia
