Half a croissant, on a plate, with a sign in front of it saying '50c'
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Bill Press

Flattens bills for vending machines
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No, not the political commentator.

This is for vending machines that accept paper bills. Very often, they are fussy about the condition of the bill and will reject overly wrinkled specimens. The bill press is a small device located near the vending machines that will quickly steam/heat press the wrinkles out of the bill, making it suitable for vending machine use without fear of rejection.

The user has to do his/her part and ensure that the corners are properly unfolded before pressing, of course.

An additional halfbaked touch would be to charge for the use of the bill press. ($1 of course, bills only.)

Obviously not a problem in countries that have gone to coin for low denominations.

waugsqueke, Aug 14 2002

(??) Bill Press http://www.cnn.com/...ers/press.bill.html
[DrCurry, Aug 14 2002]

Extreme Ironing http://www.extremei...i/homepage/main.php
Ironing for the 2000's! [Aristotle, Aug 16 2002]

Bill Press http://msnbc.msn.com/id/3080456/
Not him. [waugsqueke, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 21 2004]

[link]






       am I the only one here who has ironed money?   

       what with the Canadian toonie and loonie we no longer have any wrinkle issues. However, we all wear heavier belts and reinforce our pockets.
rbl, Aug 14 2002
  

       My gran irons money.

Good idea. The only downside I can see is when wee bastard vandals work out they can completely wreck the machine by sliding a bit of plastic into the bill press.
namaste, Aug 14 2002
  

       bm, one can only assume.   

       I am waiting for the machines to take debit cards. I never carry cash as my bank lets me debit as much as I want with no fees. Cash is just so 1900's.
rbl, Aug 14 2002
  

       DrSealy, I thought it went without saying that the last sentence implied that those countries had gone more or less exclusively to coin. The US has always had some form or another of dollar coin, and it's never caught on. Picky bastard.
waugsqueke, Aug 14 2002
  

       some idiot will try to get his trousers in there. croissant.   

       rbl, ironing is so 1900's
po, Aug 14 2002
  

       Sometimes I will iron a bill if it is wet or crumpled horribly.   

       If you want to know the ultimate trick for bill acceptors, here it is: Although gross, it works about 90 percent of the time. spit on the top third of the bill. Spread it around real good. I swear i'm not making this up.
JRandMoby, Aug 14 2002
  

       you want to know the ultimate answer for grubby crinkled notes? - shopping!
po, Aug 14 2002
  

       waugs: it's my understanding that it's the US citizens, given the option of using bills or coins, that are the picky bastards and stick to bills. And that's your *next to last* sentence...
DrCurry, Aug 14 2002
  

       So if I want to press a 1$ bill, it never comes out. That's your next to next to last sentance.   

       A 1$ pressed croissant to you.
FarmerJohn, Aug 14 2002
  

       My last sentence which actually isn't my last sentence isn't my last sentence because it is instead a parenthetical observation to the admins, and therefore not actually part of the idea, and therefore, subject to deletion at such time as the aforementioned admins create a vending machine category where this idea can be then relocated.   

       (FJ... if watermelancholy reads your ideas on his new computer, will he be seeing a Farmer in the Dell?)
waugsqueke, Aug 15 2002
  

       Plastic bills get much less crinkly and vending machines are less likely to reject them. They are also more durable and can incorporate improved anti counterfeiting measures. Different coloured plastic bills make it much harder to confuse different currency denominations.   

       Yay plastic bills, the long term solution to your problem.
madradish, Aug 15 2002
  

       Of course, don't get confused and try ironing those plastic bills.   

       Shrinkies.
bibimbap, Aug 15 2002
  

       In days gone by, so I am given to understand, staff in many of the more correct gentlemen's clubs in London would remove the banknotes of a member who was staying overnight, and replace them with new ones.
angel, Aug 15 2002
  

       Weren't they forced to stop switching notes after being sued after a visit by a collector of rare currency?   

       And doesn't this idea promote money laundering?
FarmerJohn, Aug 15 2002
  

       // more correct gentleman's clubs. //
  

       "Good evening. Your usual table near the dance-pole, sir?"
"No, but thank you, James, just the same. I think we'll watch this younger lady's performance over here."
"Very good, sir."
  

       Okay, I have to ask. Is a 'gentleman's club' the same thing in the UK as it is in the states?
RayfordSteele, Aug 15 2002
  

       The Clintonesque "Bill Press" is something entirely different.   

       Fact is, we've all laundered our money by mistake, thus reducing our bills to a useless scrap of fiber that won't go into the vending machine to save its own worthless monetary life.   

       Finally, I'll have my usual seat near the pants-pole, thank-you-very-much.
polartomato, Aug 16 2002
  

       An idea that seemed dumber than a bag of hammers at first glance but no, hey--build the press into your money-keeper, so's after it has been stashed there for a while, it comes out pressed! Assuming that "a while" has any basis in reality for the user. This is the sort of invention that requires almost no material, claims to solve a problem, and can be designed, manufactured, marketed and ditched in the month or two that such ideas are bankable. Call Ronco! Get a croissantamatic for this idea pronto!   

       -Or-   

       Fold the bill in half longitudinally, then unfold it. Usually fixes it.
entremanure, Aug 16 2002
  

       The other day I thought about posting something about a press for adding braille to US currency. Not sure if that would be legal, though
theircompetitor, Feb 04 2004
  

       //a press for adding braille to US currency. Not sure if that would be legal, though// -- You mean like a machine that blind people have at home to mark their money? Probably illegal, but if anyone gives you trouble start the discrimination thing.
kbecker, Feb 05 2004
  

       Would I be flamed if I posted my 'Dick Pound' idea now?
Lacus Trasumenus, Feb 05 2004
  

       I figured this would be media coverage of Mr. Gates....
normzone, Feb 05 2004
  
      
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