Riggles Industrial Graphics

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Serving the Aerospace and High Tech Industry since 1949
William M. Riggles Jr. - Inventor - Mechanical Engineer / Illustrator
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Finger Print Machine that uses a prism to capture high quality images
of finger and foot prints.
Fingerprint Viewing and Photographic Device (1965).


The idea originated from the observation that when your fingers contact a glass of water, you get a crisp fingerprint. By painting one side of a prism with black paint, and lighting the prism from the side, gives you a print you would never get with ink.

Close up of the fingerprint, on the prism.



Developed and patented while working with the University of Miami Neo-Natal Dermatoglyphic Unit. A high quality image of an infant's footprint will reveal the epidermal ridge patterns that indicate abnormalities in 21 of 23 chromosomes. The invention made it possible for doctors to detect birth defects in infants, by photographing the tiny ridge patterns.

William Riggles Jr. designed a fingerprint machine that takes a picture of the person, check and the person's fingerprint in one shot on 16 mm film.William Riggles Jr. designed a fingerprint machine that takes a picture of the person, check and the person's fingerprint in one shot on 16 mm film.
William Riggles Jr. designed a fingerprint machine that takes a picture of the person, check and the person's fingerprint in one shot on 16 mm film.The Poloroid on the right photographed an infant's footprint in order to detect birth defects at an early age.The flashlight / prism and the ID card check for positive ID.William Riggles' fingerprint system includes a portable flashlight / prism for comparing an ID print and the real thing.

Top Left & Right: Shows Check Cash Identification System; photographs, check, thumb print and person's face.

Bottom Left: Check Cashing; pediatric foot print & flashlight with prism viewer for driver's license check.