Manually Operated Credit Card Imprinters

Manually Operated Credit Card Imprinters

Manually operated credit card imprinters, also known as zip-zap machines or credit card imprinters, are mechanical devices used to make a physical copy of a credit card's information. These machines were widely used before the advent of electronic payment systems and were the primary method of credit card processing for many years. The imprinter consists of a metal frame with a sliding carriage that holds a carbonless paper form and a metal plate with raised lettering that corresponds to the credit card information. When a credit card is placed on the form, the merchant slides the carriage over the card and presses down, causing the raised lettering to press against the paper and make an impression of the card's information. The imprinted form is then signed by the cardholder and serves as a record of the transaction. Merchants would later send the imprinted forms to the credit card company for processing and payment. While the use of manually operated credit card imprinters has declined significantly with the rise of electronic payment systems, they are still used in some situations where electronic payment is not possible, such as in remote or rural areas with limited access to technology.

credit card processing, carbonless paper, raised lettering, transaction record, electronic payment

— Jason Scott

CITATION : "Jason Scott. 'Manually Operated Credit Card Imprinters.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=390262 (Accessed on May 22, 2025)"