Bates stamps are used to mark and identify business or legal documents. The device has evolved from traditional rubber stamps to self-inking and electronic versions. The first Bates stamper was created in the late 19th century by the Bates Manufacturing Company and was later marketed by Thomas Edison. The stamp is commonly used to create a unique identification number on every sheet of paper used by a business. Some companies have switched to electronic versions or use hash values to create unique identification numbers for each document.
A Bates stamp is a device used to make identifying marks on business or legal documents. Early Bates stampers used a traditional rubber stamper, while modern versions are self-inking. Today, the concept of Bates stamps has been transformed to meet the needs of advanced technology, computers and electronic documents.
The first Bates stamper was created in the late 19th century by the Bates Manufacturing Company based in New Jersey. Law firms, physicians and businesses quickly adapted this new technology to easily and consistently mark and identify documents. Inventor Thomas Edison realized the potential of the Bates stamp and bought the patent. Edison is credited with the widespread marketing of this device, which made the Bates stamper a common part of everyday business. Since then, the Bates Seal has become a staple in most legal offices.
One of the most common uses of the Bates stamper is to create a unique identification number on every sheet of paper used by a business. This provides the company with an easy and effective method of referencing multiple jobs by number. Other versions of the Bates Stamp can be used to stamp the date or time, as well as the page number or other identifying marks. Special versions can even be used to mark documents with a company name, logo or copyright information.
From the early days of standard rubber stamps, the Bates stamper has evolved to meet the needs of many users. Some feature a series of numbered dials, allowing the user to change the date or page number with each stamp. Others automatically change the number shown each time the stamp is pressed. Versions with automatic inks are pivoted to draw ink from a built-in ink well, eliminating the mess and inconvenience of a separate ink pad.
By the end of the 20th century, many companies had switched from manual Bates stampers to electronic versions of this technology. Some software programs have built-in features to simulate the effect of a traditional Bates stamp. Other companies use special Bates stamper software to create the same type of identification marks on each document before printing.
During the early part of the 21st century, some companies began to replace traditional Bates stamping marks with a modern system known as hash value. Hash values consist of computer-generated algorithms that create a unique identification number for each document automatically. The hash value represents a type of digital fingerprint for each individual document or page and can be created in a variety of ways depending on the needs of the business.
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