Gladys Presley's Charge Plate
During the mid-1950s, long before people had plastic credit cards, metal plates were issued by large department stores to offer credit to their customers. The plate was laid onto a machine with a roller and an imprint was made on a paper docket.
This was Elvis' mothers charge plate from Goldsmith's, which was on South Main Street in downtown Memphis. Mrs. Presley purchased most of her clothes and jewellery at Goldsmiths, and even had her hair done their regularly by Holmer Gilliland.
Just with credit cards these days, it was eventually cut in half to prevent further spending.