I think I'm going to the Western Currency Printing Facility today. Should be a good visit, but I've got to bring the kids, they'll be more interested in the stacks of cash than in the processes used. Oh well, should be a neat trip anyway. I bought a sheet of uncut $2s the last time I was there, but I was with my wife and couldn't really spend any money with her watching. Today, no wife, just the kids. Will they tattle if I get something really cool?
Have a great time and see if you can get some pics (if they allow it) they realy would be interesting
Very cool. My dad brought me when I was a kid, maybe 8 years old, and I still remember the trip. Buy them something cool and maybe they will look the other way when you make your purchase
It was a good trip. Everyone that worked there was awesome, except the tour guide, she was a ..... And of course she was the one I interacted with the most. She literally said, no questions, at the beginning of the tour. In the middle she tells us that our group was so quiet. Someone tells her, you told us no questions. She says, well I meant.... Got to see the "new" $100 being printed. They've been printing it for two years to prepare for the Feb 2011 release. I couldn't see it too well, but what I could see was a radical change. The people on the work floor were very friendly, pretend offering us sheets of money (the tour is on an enclosed walkway over the actual plant). One guy actually took a sheet of 32 $100s and folded it into a giant paper airplane, and then pretended he would throw it up to us. Wish I had a video camera for that. An educational tour, neat to actually see the money. There were exhibits and a movie about money printing. However, for pure educational value I'm sure there are videos on the internet that would be better. Too many distractions, the tour guide is telling things and you're too busy checking out the stacks and stacks of money, but purely from a collector's point of view mind you, not from a greedy wanna have it perspective. If you are going to be in or around Fort Worth, it is worth it, the price is right ($0). However, I wouldn't go too far out of my way for a visit.
Lucky you! I can't wait to see them myself!!! Is that a folding error-plane??? LOL! Wow! Damaged even before it's shipped out! Very cool report. Glad you had a great time despite the guide. Did you get yourself anything? ...gift shop wise? * Lots of videos on printing money on YouTube, not sure if any are scenes from the Western facility: Collection of YouTube links: BEP & printing currency US Capitol & BEP 2:30 min marker, The Travel Channel Modern Marvels: Money, The History Channel Money Part 1/5 Money Part 2/5 Money Part 3/5 Money Part 4/5 Money Part 5/5 BEP Spider Press Demo, Intaglio steel plate printing demo BEP Demo Old Printing Press: TNA Coin & Currency Show
One wall of windows was covered with white paper and the guide said that it was covered because they had shot a documentary in there yesterday. I guess at least some videos are from the Fort Worth plant.
Very cool! Maybe something new will be aired or posted online in the near future... maybe something that features the new notes!
Sounds like a great visit, would have loved to see the airplane!!! To echo Krispy - were you able to get anything for yourself? Also, did they talk much about the new features on the new $100. Would have loved to hear more than what is already published about the enhanced intaglio process used on the shoulder. Thanks for the report!
Yeah, true collector. I told the kids at the beginning to shut up, I was there for me, not them. I am so mean. In fact my poor daughter is in a wheelchair at the moment from a broken leg and I still told the kids to shut up, the trip was for me. (In my defense, all day every day is about them. I've been off all summer and its been one long stretch of driving kids everywhere, trips to the pool, park, library. Every moment is for them)
As for the gift shop, well, not really. I bought an uncut sheet of $2s the first time I was there (which was a nightmare since I was with 6 other people, none of which had any interest and were only there because I dragged them there). The $2 is the only US paper money I'm really interested in as a collector. My son bought the shredded currency. I bought my daughter a pad of paper printed like $50 bills (she thought they were real, and then when I told her they were just a picture, she decided she could sell the sheets to stupid little kids for at least $10 each, she's six). Interestingly, there was no sales tax on the purchases. Why? I was in TX, is it federal property and therefore not eligible for state taxes?
