NATIONAL cash register, United States, late 19th century.

NATIONAL cash register, United States, late nineteenth century.
Gilt metal with wooden base.
With marks of use.
Measurements: 54 x 52 x 42 cm.

Cash register of the firm National, (National Cash Register Ohaio USA). The machine is made of gilded metal, with decorative motifs in relief, mainly classical motifs such as palmettes, vegetal scrolls and acanthus leaves. It retains all the buttons, in black, white, orange, pink, blue and yellow. In the upper zone we can see the representation of an arrow, pointing to the indicators of payment mode and amount (in pesetas and cents), also visible on the back. On the left side there is a compartment for the paper roll that allows printing the receipt.
At the end of the 19th century, most of the businesses were growing, acquiring dimensions that went beyond the family environment, where it was usual for only one or two people to handle the money. Larger businesses began to worry about petty theft by their employees, so the logical conclusion was soon reached to use mechanical systems for cashing in establishments. James Ritty (Dayton, Ohio), a cafe owner, is now credited with creating the first cash register. After realizing that he was losing money in his business, he and his brother John invented and patented the first cash register on November 4, 1879. Together, in the following years, they developed new models, including the one known as "The Incorruptible Cashier". In 1885 they attracted the attention of a new partner, John Patterson, with whom they founded The National Manufacturing Company (soon after The National Cash Register Company). Despite the reluctance of store owners, and especially of their employees, Patterson managed to pave the way for the new invention and made the cash register machine the protagonist of commercial establishments, the focus of the public's attention. This was achieved by showing the customer the attractiveness of the new invention (through beautiful and ornate designs), and also by creating systems that helped employers to prevent employee theft. Thus, National began to manufacture cash registers with bases made of fine woods, sometimes richly ornamented with marquetry, and cash registers made of metals such as bronze, brass, copper and also simple metal, although adorned with engraved motifs or beautiful enameled designs. In addition, these were machines with a two-year warranty, which favored good reception by store owners. Nevertheless, many of these early cash registers have survived, in working order and in good condition, to the present day, and in fact remained in use for generations. Thanks to this success, many other companies began to manufacture cash registers; soon more than two hundred new firms would appear, although National would be the largest and most reputable.