Autopen

An Autopen is a machine for automatically signing a signature as an autograph.

History

The first autopens were developed by an Englishman named John Isaac Hawkins. Hawkins received a US patent for his device in 1803. In 1804, Thomas Jefferson began using the device extensively. This early device was known at the time as a polygraph—an abstracted version of the pantograph—bearing little resemblance to today's autopens in design or operation.

Harry Truman is believed to have been the first United States President to use the autopen as a way of responding to mail and signing checks. Autopen devices are used today by politicians and fundraisers to sign letters to constituents written by administrative assistants and clerical staff, and by celebrities such as movie stars, music stars and astronauts to sign photographs.

Today's autopens are often used to allow someone to be in two places at once. A politician can be travelling while his staff sign letters on his behalf. Donald Rumsfeld admitted using an autopen to sign letters to the family of people killed in action. When questioned on the subject, he stated it was inappropriate and began to sign the letters personally.

Further developing the class of devices known as autopens, Canadian author Margaret Atwood developed a device called the Longpen, which allows audio and video conversation between the fan and author while a book is being signed remotely.

Mechanism

The first step in using an autopen machine is to have a metal "matrix" of the signature made. This matrix is then loaded into the machine and signing can commence. Some claim that celebrity matrices are bought and sold by autograph vendors to sign photos without the consent of the original celebrity.

Is it an autopen autograph or not?

Many celebrities answer fan mail by sending autographs back. Because of existence of the autopen, many fans may question the authenticity of an autograph if unable to witness it being made.

There are several telling characteristics which may reveal whether an autograph was made with an autopen:

• Celebrities using autopen machines usually do not change their signature for one particular fan. Therefore, if the autograph is personalized (as in "To James, cheers, John Smith"), then it is highly probable that an autopen was not used.

• Because autopen operators generally use only a single template, variation with other signature samples indicates non-autopen use. Stephen Beck has published many astronauts' autopens on the internet.¹

• An autopen's signature is slightly shaky as the autopen vibrates.

• Autopens come to abrupt halt at the end and may leave a noticeable spot of ink.

• Autopens do not always create an identical signature due to the machine moving accidentally.

Wikipedia information about Autopen This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Autopen". It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer). Help contribute to Americola and edit this article.