The cash register is marked with the manufacturer's name 'The National Cash Register Co, Dayton, Ohio, United States of America'.

The cash register was made in about 1900 but some parts of the cash register are modern reproductions.

The National Cash Register Company, in Dayton, Ohio was the first company to manufacture and promote cash registers. This machine is an example of the 'brass era' when cash registers were designed to look beautiful as well as register sales. They featured elaborate moulded brass casings and viewing panels so that people could look through to the mechanism inside. Such machines would have been important status symbols and indicated to customers that this was a thriving business.

World War I spelt the end of this type of machine when brass and other metals were appropriated for munitions. After the war, the desire to reduce production costs meant that cash registers took on a more functional appearance.

The cash register was invented in 1879 by James Ritty, a saloonkeeper in Dayton, Ohio. It was based on a mechanism he had seen count the revolutions of an ocean linerĀ?s propeller in its engine room. He called his invention the 'Incorruptible Cashier'

The National Cash Register Company (NCR) was formed in 1884 by John Patterson who had bought the rights to the 'Incorruptible Cashier'. He was a grocery store owner who had purchased two machines to address a problem with his staff giving 'freebies' to their friends. The machines had an immediate effect and his profits increased dramatically. John Patterson put the machines into production and set up an inventions department to create bigger, better and more thief proof registers. Notable improvements included adding a paper roll to record sales transactions, thus creating the receipt.

Reference: Museum of American Heritage 'Ka-Ching! Ka-Ching! The History of Cash Registers'

This cash register was donated by Tooth and Co as part of a major donation.

Cash register of gold coloured metal with pressed floral design. The register has a flat back and base and sides, in profile the front of the object is stepped at the top and bottom with an outward curving middle. At the bottom is a wide shallow cash drawer. The step above this drawer is covered with a loose sheet of black glass (possibly reproduction). Above the drawer are two rows of keys on stems with round buttons tops. Above these the casing curves up and back. It is covered with a hinged plate with a lock mechanism. The top of the register is surmounted by a rectangular perspex box inside of which are rows of flat cards printed with monetary values. The rectangular perspex box is a modern replacement added by the Museum. There is a top sign 'Amount Purchased' that is also a modern addition by the Museum.

Made: The National Cash Register Co; Dayton, Ohio, United States of America; 1895 - 1905

A plate on the front of the register is stamped 'The National Cash Register Co / DAYTON OHIO USA' , another metal plate is stamped 'S30053 / 356G'

86/4466

1895 - 1905

570 mm

510 mm