Crane Paper Company
Encyclopedia
Crane & Co., based in Dalton, Massachusetts
, is a manufacturer of cotton-based paper products used in the printing of national currencies, passports and banknotes as well as in social, business, industrial and technical applications. Crane remains the predominant supplier of paper for use in U.S. currency (Federal Reserve Notes).
, who printed the American Colonies’ first paper money. In 1801 Crane was founded by Zenas Crane, Henry Wiswall and John Willard. The company's original mill had a daily output of 20 posts (1 post = 125 sheets). Shortly after, in 1806, Crane began printing currency on cotton paper for local, as well as regional, banks, before officially printing for the government. Crane developed a method to embed parallel silk threads in banknote paper to denominate notes and deter counterfeiting in 1844.
In 1879 Crane grew when Winthrop M. Crane
won a contract to deliver U.S. currency paper to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
in Washington, D.C.. Crane produced both the yellow (issued in 1883-84) and the white (1884–1894) watermarked security papers for the nation's Postal Notes. These early money orders were produced for sale throughout the postal system by the Homer Lee Bank Note Company
(1883–1887), the American Bank Note Company
(1887–1891), and Dunlap & Clarke (1891–1894). In 1922 Crane & Co. incorporated, with Frederick G. Crane elected as president.
In 2002 Crane purchased the company Tumba Bruk
from the Central Bank of Sweden (Riksbank) and operates this today as Crane AB.
.
Sweden’s 1000 kronor
banknote, released in 2006, was the first banknote to use Crane’s Motion technology. A 2007 AP
article reveals that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing will use a new security thread containing "650,000 tiny lenses" (now believed to be over 1 million lenses per inch of thread) in the next $100 bill
design.
In September 2008 Crane initiated purchase negotiations with Visual Physics, a subsidiary of Nanoventions, based in Atlanta, Georgia. This purchase gave Crane exclusive control of Motion.
Dalton, Massachusetts
Dalton is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. Dalton is the transition town between the urban and rural pieces of Berkshire County, Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 6,892 at the 2000 census.- History...
, is a manufacturer of cotton-based paper products used in the printing of national currencies, passports and banknotes as well as in social, business, industrial and technical applications. Crane remains the predominant supplier of paper for use in U.S. currency (Federal Reserve Notes).
History
Stephen Crane was the first in the Crane family to become a papermaker, buying his first mill, "The Liberty Paper Mill", in 1770. He sold currency-type paper to engraver Paul ReverePaul Revere
Paul Revere was an American silversmith and a patriot in the American Revolution. He is most famous for alerting Colonial militia of approaching British forces before the battles of Lexington and Concord, as dramatized in Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poem, Paul Revere's Ride...
, who printed the American Colonies’ first paper money. In 1801 Crane was founded by Zenas Crane, Henry Wiswall and John Willard. The company's original mill had a daily output of 20 posts (1 post = 125 sheets). Shortly after, in 1806, Crane began printing currency on cotton paper for local, as well as regional, banks, before officially printing for the government. Crane developed a method to embed parallel silk threads in banknote paper to denominate notes and deter counterfeiting in 1844.
In 1879 Crane grew when Winthrop M. Crane
Winthrop M. Crane
Winthrop Murray Crane was a U.S. political figure. He served as the 40th Governor of Massachusetts between 1900 and 1903. He also served as a United States Senator from Massachusetts from 1904 until 1913...
won a contract to deliver U.S. currency paper to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is paper currency for the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve itself is...
in Washington, D.C.. Crane produced both the yellow (issued in 1883-84) and the white (1884–1894) watermarked security papers for the nation's Postal Notes. These early money orders were produced for sale throughout the postal system by the Homer Lee Bank Note Company
Homer Lee Bank Note Company
The Homer Lee Bank Note Company was a producer of postage stamps and currency and was founded in New York City by artist, engraver, and inventor Homer Lee. In 1891, it was absorbed into the American Bank Note Company....
(1883–1887), the American Bank Note Company
American Bank Note Company
The American Bank Note Company was a major worldwide engraver of national currency and postage stamps. Currently it engraves and prints stock and bond certificates.-History:Robert Scot, the first official engraver of the young U.S...
(1887–1891), and Dunlap & Clarke (1891–1894). In 1922 Crane & Co. incorporated, with Frederick G. Crane elected as president.
In 2002 Crane purchased the company Tumba Bruk
Tumba Bruk
Tumba Bruk is the printing company responsible for manufacturing of the Swedish krona banknotes. The company was founded by Sveriges Riksbank in 1755 to produce banknotes, but in 2002 the company was sold to the current owner, banknote paper supplier Crane & Co.. It is located in Tumba, close to...
from the Central Bank of Sweden (Riksbank) and operates this today as Crane AB.
Motion
Crane’s Motion security technology is being introduced into high denomination banknotes worldwide. The design involves a micro-lens array interacting with graphics far smaller than any microprintingMicroprinting
Microprinting is one of many anti-counterfeiting techniques used most often on currency and bank checks, as well as various other items of value. Microprinting involves printing very small text, usually too small to read with the naked eye, onto the note or item. Microprint is frequently hidden in...
.
Sweden’s 1000 kronor
Swedish krona
The krona has been the currency of Sweden since 1873. Both the ISO code "SEK" and currency sign "kr" are in common use; the former precedes or follows the value, the latter usually follows it, but especially in the past, it sometimes preceded the value...
banknote, released in 2006, was the first banknote to use Crane’s Motion technology. A 2007 AP
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
article reveals that the US Bureau of Engraving and Printing will use a new security thread containing "650,000 tiny lenses" (now believed to be over 1 million lenses per inch of thread) in the next $100 bill
United States one hundred-dollar bill
The United States one hundred-dollar bill is a denomination of United States currency. U.S. statesman, inventor and diplomat Benjamin Franklin is currently featured on the obverse of the bill. On the reverse of the banknote is an image of Independence Hall. The time on the clock according to the...
design.
In September 2008 Crane initiated purchase negotiations with Visual Physics, a subsidiary of Nanoventions, based in Atlanta, Georgia. This purchase gave Crane exclusive control of Motion.
CEO
- Zenas Crane
- Winthrop Murray Crane
- Lansing Crane (1995–2007)
- Charles Kittredge (2007–present)