(_Infallible when Imitated._)
The Ruling Engine is used for shading the letters, skies, &c. in genuine
Bank notes. Underneath, and sometimes on the lace of the letters in the
title or name of the Bank, as well as other lettering, there appears a
soft, smooth, pale grayish color, which to the naked eye appears to be
painted with a brush, but on close examination it proves to be fine
parallel lines, and when done by the Ruling Engine the lines are, 1st, all
exactly of the same size; 2d, regular distances apart; 3d, perfectly
parallel to each other; 4th, uniformity in their direction: and it is
_perfection_ in these four points which gives it such a smooth and perfect
appearance, and the least deviation from which will prove it to be
hand-work. In counterfeits this shading is imitated by hand, and it is
impossible to do it in this way as perfect as the Ruling Engine, as some
lines will be coarser than others, some wider apart than others, not
parallel, and some not perfectly straight, and all are apt to be more or
less _tapered_ off when done by hand with the graver, which is not the
case with the genuine, and which gives the whole a scratchy appearance; in
fact, the least deviation in any of the points will show at once, and
destroy the appearance of the whole. In titles, or the name of a bank,
where the letters are alike, as for instance,
[Illustration: THE BANK OF ----,]
the shading in the genuine always is done all the way across all at once,
and there is a perfect _uniformity_ from beginning to end; the lines all
point exactly in the same direction, whether horizontal or diagonal, on
the “T” in “THE” as on “F” in “OF,” preserving the same angle and fineness
throughout. In counterfeits, where the letters are shaded by hand, one
letter at a time, if the lines pretend to be horizontal, some are apt to
slant a little downwards or upwards, some letters shaded a little finer
than others--that is where they are intended to be alike and uniform. This
principle of UNIFORMITY in shading is very important, and should always be
noticed. See the words “UNIVERSAL,” “DETECTOR,” “BANKS,” and “UNITED
STATES,” in the steel plate, which are shaded by the Ruling Engine, while
the word “COUNTERFEIT” is shaded by hand to illustrate counterfeit work.
The sky in vignettes in the genuine is sometimes ruled by the Ruling
Engine, and always appears soft, smooth, and perfectly done, and in this
case the lines taper off gradually. Imitations of this by hand will appear
uneven and scratchy, some lines coarser than others, and some wider apart
than others. All genuine skies, however, are not done by the Ruling
Engine, but are sometimes fine dots or wavy lines, which fade off into
fine dots, and sometimes heavy rolling clouds, circular lines, but it is
always done perfectly and beautifully, and looks smooth and natural, being
always done in genuine bills by first class artists, while the sky in
counterfeits is generally apt to appear coarse and scratchy, and not
fading off gradually enough.
[Illustration: G H
_Magnified 5 to 10 times._]
Diagram G serves to represent the style of genuine Ruling Engine work as
it appears when magnified 5 to 10 times, and H an imitation of Ruling
Engine shading as done by hand and magnified the same. A first-class
Ruling Engine is said to cost $3000.