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The notch in the WWII dog tag was not a tooth notch; the notch was for correct loading and registration when a tag was used in conjunction with an Addressograph Model 70 medical printer.  If the tag or “plate” was loaded incorrectly (backwards and/or upside down) the Addressograph Model 70 would not function and could not print the text of the identification tag / plate.

For more information on the notch in WWII Dog Tags and the Addressograph Model 70 – Click Here

For anyone that owns or inspects an Addressograph Model 70 will notice on the data plate it says “PAT NO. 2116235 AND OTHERS”.  If you research this Patent Number 2116235 this number returns a “Printing Device”, but it does not resemble an Addressograph Model 70.  The 2116235 device is a desktop imprinter for transferring data from embossed plates onto paperwork.

2,116,235 - F. E. Curtis – Printing Device – May 3, 1938

The concept of the 2116235 patent is similar in function to the Addressograph Model 70 but through research we have found several other patents the specifically deal with the Addressograph Model 70 and the notch in the WWII military identification tags or WWII dog tags.

2,342,698 – C. H. Sand, Jr. – Printing Machine - Feb. 29, 1944
 This Patent is clearly the Addressograph Model 70 – The text of the actual patent clearly outlines what the notch in the identification tag is for and how the notch is used.  The drawings of the patent show the registration pin as 62 and the notch in the identification plate as a-3.  Anyone who claims the notch was a tooth notch in the military dog tags is mistaken or uninformed.

On page 2 of Patent 2,342,698 – it clearly states, “A suitable pin 62 carried by the head is adapted to coact with the notch a-3 in the plate and allow it to reach final position, shown in Fig. 1, only when the plate is inserted that end foremost and with the type on the plate facing downwardly.”

2,342,699 – C. H. Sand, Jr. – Printing Machine – Feb. 29, 1944
 This Patent is also the Addressograph Model 70 though the verbiage is slightly changed.

On Page 2 of 2,342,699 – “When a properly positioned plate is inserted to the limit of its inward movement, so that the notch a-3 comes about the stop pin 62, the end of the plate abuts the front end of the latch 70 and forces it rearwardly, thus causing the shoulder 15 to clear the plate 25 to release the platen arm, and then operating lever 40 may be actuated to swing the platen arm upwardly to effect the printing.  If, however, the plate should be inserted the wrong end foremost, the convex end thereof would strike the pin 62 before the end of the plate abutted the front end of the latch 70 and accordingly the latch would not be released and no operation of the platen could be effected.

The same result takes place if the plate is inserted wrong side up, because in this case the notch a-3, which is at one side of the axis of the plate would be distance from the pin 62 so that the plate could not be inserted sufficiently to release the latch.

It will be seen, therefore, that the device is only released for operation of the platen when a plate is inserted in the proper position for printing, and this is one of the features of the present application.”

2,540,704 – W. H. Wolowitz – Reversible Printing Plate – Feb. 6th, 1951
 It appears this device was based on the Addressograph Model 70 but was adapted for use by plates other than military identification plates or dog tags, maybe for medical applications in hospitals.

For more information on the notch in WWII Dog Tags and the Addressograph Model 70 – Click Here