Anyone know of a MICR parser algorithm written in Python?

[mkppk]

MICR = The line of digits printed using magnetic ink at the bottom of
a check.

Does anyone know of a Python function that has been written to parse a
line of MICR data?
Or, some financial package that may contain such a thing?
Or, in general, where I should be looking when looking for a piece of
Python code that may have already been written by someone?

I'm working on a project that involves a check scanner the produces
the raw MICR line as text.

Now, that raw MICR needs to be parsed for the various pieces of info.
The problem with MICR is that there is no standard layout. There are
some general rules for item placement, but beyond that it is up to the
individual banks to define how they choose to position the
information.

I did find an old C program written by someone at IBM... But I've read
it and it is Not code that would nicely convert to Python (maybe its
all the Python I'm used to, be it seems very poorly written).

Here is the link to that C code: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/software/retail/poseng/4610/4610micr.zip

I've even tried using boost to generate a Python module, but that
didn't go well, and in the end is not going to be a solution for me
anyway.. really need access to the Python source.

Any help at all would be appreciated,

-mkp