If a brand was selling well or becoming too (competitive), National would buy them out or sue them for patent infringement and put them out of business.” “It is said that during the brass era of machines, there were over 350 different name brands other than National Cash Register. “Some of the higher end brands were Hallwood, Chicago, Ideal, Lamson, Sun, and Boston. Built to last and designed with attention to detail that prompted people to preserve the machines resulted in a number of machines lasting for generations. In addition, each National register came with a two-year guarantee. It was not uncommon for wooden registers of the day to also feature bronze, brass, nickel and copper oxide metal elements, as well as engraved enamel decorative designs. At the same time, Patterson models features help owners avoid theft by employees, properly track sales, and quietly revolutionize the operation of business.

Patterson achieved his goal by making cash registers functional works of art, made from quality wood and metal, with ornate designs. Patterson didn’t give up easily, and honed in on making the register the focal point of the business, states Witcher, who has bought and sold more than 600 registers over the years, and currently has around 350 in his collection. (Note the previous mention of employees pocketing sales of saloon spirits.) Mr. In the early years Patterson ran into a similar struggle, pushback from merchants, but more so from their employees, Witcher explains on his website. Registers: An Invention Born of Necessity Patterson, the same man who set into motion the National Cash Register Company. One of the most notable models is the “Incorruptible Cashier.” Despite their efforts the business didn’t take off and ultimately the patent became ownership of a group of investors. What began as the way for one saloon owner to quell incidents of employees stealing money from sales of libations became an endeavor focused on manufacturing various models of cash registers for sale. According to Crook and Richard Witcher, seasoned collector, a retired salesman for National Cash Register, former cash register restorer and past vice president of the Cash Register Collectors Club, name plates, front lids, and top signs are some of the most sought-after. Using only cash registers that are severely broken or extensively worn beyond recovery, she is able to salvage parts including gears, cogs, number keys and wheels, and uses them to create custom jewelry for resale.Īlthough it isn’t a popularity contest, as with most collecting interests, in the world of cash register parts a few items are often at the top of wish lists.

When it comes to transforming register parts into wardrobe accessories she is redefining style. One of the people repurposing parts in an uncommon manner is Kat Barron Miller, owner of MKP Jewelry. Of course, Mahs adds, there are also those who are looking for parts for their intended purposes (repairing or restoring antique and vintage cash registers), but in her six years of selling, the majority of buyers are using the parts in other ways. “The price flags and the counter wheels are often used in altered art or assemblage art projects as well - they add a bit of steampunk flair to the projects.” He also focuses his efforts on acquiring top Amount Purchased signs, National Cash Register clocks, and additional parts.īefore beginning to wonder if repurposed cash register parts may be limited to gifts and displays, Mahs dispels that idea in short order. He still enjoys the hunt for complete antique cash registers but also other components. It had a lever that slid side to side and then pushed down to register the sale. “We looked at the machine and had never seen one like it before. That led to a trip with his father to look at the register. Louis cash register advertised in a local classified newspaper. The intrigue with cash registers and the parts working in precise orchestration to ring up a sale became so significant for Crook that at one point plans to purchase a new bicycle were forgone for the opportunity to pick up a St. He does business at “From that time I was always fascinated by cash registers in general and especially how they worked. He is a collector and dealer of old cash registers. It was a candy store machine, and it was on his workbench in our basement,” said Crook. “About the age of five I remember watching my dad restore a National Cash Register Model 313. Please allow up to 1 to 2 weeks for delivery.Early Mechanical Interest Fuels Fascination Please note that some keys may not be in immediate stock and may take a few days to receive from the manufacturer. If you need a cash drawer key, you will need to call us at 23 for availability. All key sets will contain at LEAST 1 operator or employee key and 1 Master or programming key. We feature an extensive list of cash register key sets.

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