"MONOMARKS"

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 48, 25 August 1925, Page 7

"MONOMARKS"

UNOUPLICATED IDENTITY MARK

AN INTERESTING INVENTION,

(pnoM oun own conREsroNDOT.)

LONDON, 14th July.

Members of the London and Overseas Press were invited to n luncheon at Hotel Victoria to hear something about an invention which will give an unduplicated mark of klenlity to innumerable people and Hims.

Sir Sydney Skinner, who presided, said that if the scheme accomplished what they thought it would-, it would wake a decided impression on British trade, and that was of importance at this-.particular moment of supposed depression, though he admitted that he did not think the depression was bo had as was suggested in some quarters. He believed tiuit in this invention they were shiUiug -,i new' note. Englishmen, he said, \ypit! vpry conservative. They did not like new things, but there was a wondurfti] amount of intelligence in the Old Coimt.ry. ■ He was able to announce tiiiit many important business men favoured tcheijie, and Lord Meston confirmed 'the' im'piWsiion wl'iicli had been nitiJe by the inventor. • ■ •

Ml-. vViili.im. Men is, the inventor, explained cli.it a .\funomark was a group of from one to liw symbols, consisting of either uhjiiajc'iiu.il ohm utters, numerals, or ti comliinntkm of botii. Kv'ery group, before it uui I I liiltil 'the purpose of a British Muiumuirk, must be. preceded by either of two prelixws—oithin' BM. standing for Uritish iiunimiiirk, or 15CM, standing for British Commercial Monomark. Monomarks of other countries would have varying prefixes to denote nationality. He' stated th)it the word Monomark was coined for the purpose of expressing uniqueness, an nnduplicated mark of identity. No JMonomark would have its duplicate in the world. They had on their register a sufficient number of different Monomarks to give one each to every responsible pel-son in the civilised world. Although they were composed of characters other than numerals, all Monomarks had their position in the ordinary numerical scale, and could be readily indexed. They offered their system to the Treasury, the Post Office," and banks for numbering Treasury notes, postal orders, and cheques. Monomarks were 729 times more efficient than ordinary numerals. The system was sharply divided into two sections, the Monomark for the commercial firm and the Monomark for the private individual. HOW FIRMS "WILL BENEFIT. Dealing with the commercial aspect, | he said that they proposed that manufacturers or merchants should stamp the Monomark on their \ wares, or, when ordered to do so, the Monomark of their I customer. Any article,. whether - textile, ' paper, wood) leather, or any other material might bear a Monomark, which, if necessary, might be as small as la hallmark. Not only would it be the equivalent of a. full name and address, but the n'rst letter of the prefix would establish the country of issue. There was another Way in which it would meet a long-felt want. "For many reasons a firm might wish to be in receipt of correspondence respecting certain articles it sells and yet not desire to disclose its identity. For example, Jones and Co. had a reputation for high-class goods and adopted the Monomark BCM/JAC. They desired to experiment with the sals of a. lower and cheaper grade of goods. They therefore registered and used for the purpose another Monomark such as BCM/XYZ. They could therefore receive orders from any part of the world for the latter, without lowering their reputation for the former ADVANTAGE TO THE INDIVIDUAL. As to tha advantage to the individual, he pointed out that instead of putting his initials on his luggage ,as at present, ho could put his Monomark. In all cases of lost-or mislaid articles the finder' should write to the Monomark upon the ni-licle. The company itself would not handle lost goods. A child becoming lost, or n relative meeting with an accident, would bo readily- identified by the Mono- ; mark upon the linen, clothing, or belongings. There were in England alone 530,000 people of the name of Smith, of whom 204.000 were .7 Smith, 41,000 John Smith,.3Q.OOo J. W. Smith, and 5000 John William Smith. From the time since there weve two Adams in the world civilisation had needed the Monomark.

The legend "Made in England" was often a lie, but "Made in England ISCM/H44S" was a fiigned statement which might be challenged by meianß of a postage stamp. Among the results they expected to achieve were: —More orders for tho Homo Country and increased production for its mills and factories; lessened overhead charges, easier distribution, and the freer exchange of commodities ; less bolstering up of . inferior articles at the expense of the better articles, and readier repeat orders.

Messrs. X Vine and Co. will cell drapery, etc.; nt their Mart, 107, Customhouse quay, to-morrow, aI. 2 p.m. "Sir Harry Brittain, K.B.E;, G.M.G., W.P., will be the chief guest and speaker at a New Zealand Club luncheon on Weduisdn next.