Historical bank check from 1885 signed on the verso by Benjamin Talbot Babbit in old ink. Toning and light creasing, otherwise, in good condition.(1809-1889) Benjamin Talbot Babbitt was a self-made American businessman and inventor who amassed a fortune in the soap industry, manufacturing Babbitt's Best Soap. v Babbitt moved to New York City, where he began to manufacture "saleratus" (or sodium bicarbonate, commonly called baking soda). He used a process which he invented, and sold the product in small, convenient and well marked packages. He packaged and marketed his product so well that he quickly controlled most of the sodium bicarbonate market. He started producing a baking powder, a soap powder and several varieties of soap, all of them also successfully marketed well, and very popular. In 1851, he became the first to manufacture and market soap in individual bars, which he packaged attractively and added a claim of quality. He took the ordinary and proved it could be turned into a marketable product. He, along with others like him, helped change American merchandising.Babbitt invented most of the machinery he used in his production plants. He owned extensive ironworks and machine shops in Whitesboro, New York. He held more than 100 patents. In addition to inventions concerning his own field of business, his invention ideas ranged from wind motors, to gun barrels, armor plate, ventilators, steam engine appliances, canal boats and artificial icemakers.Babbitt became known as a genius of advertising. He rivaled his friend P. T. Barnum in originality and success, becoming a household name throughout the U.S.Babbitt met a young shoeshine boy with the name B. T. Babbitt. When he told the boy his name was also B. T. Babbitt, the surprised boy said, "Lawd mister, did your momma get your name off a soap box too?" His soap was one of the first nationally advertised products. The soap was sold from brightly painted street cars with musicians, which helped lead the phrase "get on the bandwagon." Babbitt was the first manufacturer to offer tours of his factories and one of the first to give away free samples. He used the advertising slogans, "Soap for all nations" and "Cleanliness is the scale of civilization".Comes with a full Letter of Authenticity from Todd Mueller Authentics.