A little OT: Redeveloping Cash Register Receipts

Sparky · Apr 9, 2007

So - I have a $70 parking ticket that's maturing rapidly. My car was disabled at the time. I know that I can have it rescinded if I supply proof of my car being disabled. BUT - the receipt I have from the repair has COMPLETELY bleached in the sun from sitting on the dashboard.

STOP!

Before you have this post deleted.. here's what's germaine. I'm assuming that the technology used in the printing of the receipt is related to cyanotypes (blueprinting). It seems to me that I should be able to redevelop (reduce) the bleached receipt using ammonia fumes or something... though I don't really know enough NOT to get myself into trouble. Where the heck is Donald Qualls when you need him?? Anybody have a suggestion on this?

jim appleyard · Apr 9, 2007

Wouldn't it be easier to have the repair garage xerox a copy for you? They must keep a copy of the repair bill for their records?

Sparky · Apr 9, 2007

I thought it might be easier to hold the receipt over some heated (fill in the blank) to regenerate it - providing someone knew the answer.

the reason I say it is because it was done at pepboys - which is a big chain in california... and I could see it taking HOURS to retrieve it - not to mention bothering the heck out of the poor clerks...

blaze-on · Apr 9, 2007

I think Manny, Moe and Jack swiped your vehicle for a test drive and got the ticket...

copake_ham · Apr 9, 2007

If the heat sensitve receipt has been further fried - about the only dumb idea I can come up with is to throw it in the freezer overnight in hopes of reversing the process!

Elsewise, better pony up the 7 smackers!

bdial · Apr 9, 2007

bothering the heck out of the poor clerks

Helping you is their job afterall..
I'm not advocating making a pain of yourself for no good reason. I'm sure they get lots of that too. But it seems worthwhile to ask the question of whether or not they can reproduce the reciept. They are completely computerized, so in theory, it shouldn't take much effort on their part.

copake_ham · Apr 9, 2007

bdial said:
Helping you is their job afterall..
I'm not advocating making a pain of yourself for no good reason. I'm sure they get lots of that too. But it seems worthwhile to ask the question of whether or not they can reproduce the reciept. They are completely computerized, so in theory, it shouldn't take much effort on their part.

Yeah, but at $3.00 a gallon for gas, not to mention one's personal value of time spent - going and getting the replacement receipt seems more costly than paying the $70 parking ticket!

bdial · Apr 9, 2007

Perhaps so, but making a phone call to ask the manager if it's feasible doesn't take very much time, and no gas. As for the value, only Sparky can determine that. In any case, I don't think it would be feasible to redevelop the original receipt, just to get back to the original question

Eric Rose · Apr 10, 2007

Hey how about getting those tube topped spiked heels gals from CSI to work on it for you LOL.

markbb · Apr 10, 2007

did the orginal receipt have the license plate of the car on it? If not, I don't see how it could prove the vehicle was 'disabled'.

Sparky · Apr 10, 2007

no mark - it's actually a pretty good deal. You don't need it. Just provide proof of purchase even from an auto parts store (quart of oil or what-have-you) from the same day. Not many people know you can do this though. A friendly cop told me once.

m_liddell · Apr 10, 2007

Scan in and boost the contrast?

markbb · Apr 10, 2007

I've asked our NCR team here for some help - apart from some sort of destructive chemical methods, one idea raised was checking to see if the details are viewable under UV light?

AgX · Apr 10, 2007

Well, that IS interesting.
Thought about it, but lack on sufficient information on that thermal printing.

Over here, I would send that spoiled reciept with a statement about type of car, licence number, and time and place added by that garage bill stating the licence number to the authorities. If they accepted that bill as proof, which is questionable, they most probably hold to the fine,as they would argue I had enough time to get the car repaired at that place or have it towed away myself. ( I got even up to court in a parking matter on 40€ myself in a case beyond any question. And won. It took one year though; and don’t ask what it cost me, and the state.)

But play in your lab on that bill (project `reappearance´), have fun with it and get those dollars pay off.

AgX · Apr 10, 2007

The article on `thermochromism´ on Wikipedia indicates that that decomposing I myself have encountered with darkstored reciepts, (that’s why I xerocopy important reciepts) IS reversable. Though it does not clearly state whether this is also true for sunexposed samples. Keeping them warm should keep the image. Cool storage would be in favour for the leuco-dye form. If there has not been some decomposing of the coloured-dye form by UV-radiation beyond that leuco/color changebility (what my first thought was though) there could be a chance of restoration.

-) ask the author of that article,
-) make photos in the UV- as well IR-spectrum,
-) fiddle around with other useless prints of that kind,
-) heat treat the bill in question with a small heated bar etc. diagonally (to be sure to hit some printed aerea but not spoil the whole bill),
-) develop by means of a ph-indicating agent
-) look for that appearance on the wall
-) use public transport

That heat treating and photographing advice has already been given by other posters…

copake_ham · Apr 10, 2007

Geez, for the the time we've wasted on this we could have passed the hat and come up with $70 for the OP!

AgX · Apr 10, 2007

Well, we all could ask PE.

But would that be as much fun...?

AgX · Apr 10, 2007

Life is so short.
Why wast it on important things?

MattKing · Apr 10, 2007

copake_ham said:
Geez, for the the time we've wasted on this we could have passed the hat and come up with $70 for the OP!

George:

Given that this is income tax time in both of our countries, there might be others who could be in need of this solution .

Matt

copake_ham · Apr 10, 2007

MattKing said:
George:

Given that this is income tax time in both of our countries, there might be others who could be in need of this solution .

Matt

Matt,

My "boss" (a.k.a. as the "better half") expects to complete our tax returns tonight. I will begin passing the hat shortly!

removed account4 · Apr 10, 2007

jon

if you have the date you were at pep boys, they
can easily look it up. it is just done by date and location ...

good luck with your situation

john

A little OT: Redeveloping Cash Register Receipts

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