£1 NOTE IN DUPLICATE.

Thames Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 17586, 27 March 1929, Page 7

£1 NOTE IN DUPLICATE.

DISCOVERY AT HOME. MACHINERY TESTS. Genuine Bank of Bkngland notes in duplicate, and also missing numbers, have been reported to Midland Bank officials. The discoveries are regarded with consternation, and it is stated that the machinery which prints the new issue is undergoing a searching overhaul by expert engineers. "The case is a mystery," said an official. "There can be no suggestion of fraud. The machinery is thought to be perfect.'-' Two similar cases have already been revealed in the South of England. In the Manchester instances, defects were found in two packets of £1 notes of the first issue. One packet of notes was three short, with three consecutive numbers missing). In another packet were found three additional £1 notes, exact duplicates of three others in the packet. On inquiry at the Bank of England the officials could make no statement regarding the case. The Midland Bank also refused further details, and the Manchester officials remain mystified. The disoveiies were made by customers. One oomplained that the parcel of notes he had been given earlier in. the day was not complete. The numbers at both ends of the packet had been checked, but from the middle of tbe packet three £1 notes of consecutive numbers were missing. At first the officials demurred. The packets were always tested by weight as well as numbers. However, three new notes were handed out and investigations set on. foot. A second customer then announced that he had got three notes too many. These were not the notes that the other customer had missed, but three £1 notes exactly duplicating in number and every detail three other notes in the same packet. This cleared tip the difficulty so far as the loca 1 bank was concerned. No shortage in i-he c/otal had to be dealt with, but what remains to lie solved is how such omissions and duplications have aaisen.