The history of things: Early 20th century US cash register steals the show in Moscow

This mos.ru story focuses on an early 20^th century till, made by the American company National Cash Register Company, founded in the late 19^th century. Over 100 years ago, these luxurious-looking machines decorated virtually every large retail outlet in this city. They operated in almost the same way as their modern equivalents. They printed out receipts and showed the sub total and the grand total to the customer and the salesperson. All the models of these tills had melodious bells that tinkled when they were used.

Each of them was called Natsional in Russia, deriving its name from the above-mentioned National Cash Register Co. Actually, bar owner and inventor James Jacob Ritty (1836-1918) from Dayton, Ohio, invented the first cash register in history. Ritty needed a machine with a cash drawer that would help him balance the books and record cash transactions at his saloon. Ritty thought it was essential because he suspected all his employees of stealing and pocketing customers’ money.

The idea dawned on him while he was sailing aboard a steamship from Europe to the United States. Ritty became fascinated with a device that showed how many times the ship's propeller shaft revolved. All of a sudden, Ritty realised this was exactly what he needed. After coming home, Ritty went straight to his brother John who was a talented mechanic, and then visited the US Patent and Trademark Office. The Ritty brothers eventually equipped their till with a roll of paper for printing out receipts, the forerunners of the modern receipts that all of us get when shopping.

The tills not only helped Ritty control the bar’s profits but boosted them considerably. The amazing machine attracted crowds of onlookers and for many, served as the main motive for visiting Ritty’s bar.

“Ritty's Incorruptible Cashier” became highly popular all over the United States. John Patterson, a wealthy industrialist and founder of the National Cash Register Company, also became interested in this invention. Just like Ritty, Patterson was also bedeviled with dishonest salespersons. He ordered several cash registers from the enterprising brothers, took out a loan, bought a patent and started manufacturing them under the National Register Company trademark, established by him in 1884. It was Patterson who fitted cash registers with bells that rang during each purchase, telling everyone that a shop or a café was doing fine.

Russia started importing these cash registers some time later. They became extremely popular in Russia and remained so for a long time. During various upheavals, including World War I and the Revolution of October 1917, and in subsequent years, there was no time for innovative trade technologies. Therefore prewar mechanical Natsional cash registers survived until 1933. It was only in 1934, when the Soviet Union started manufacturing its own cash registers.