One of the exhibits in the Carillon Historical Park in Dayton, Ohio features the National Cash Register Company (NCR), a Dayton business. In 1879, James Ritty invented the first mechanical cash register, and the National Manufacturing Company was formed in Dayton to manufacture and sell the new machine. The company and the cash register patents were purchased by John Henry Patterson in 1884 and the company was renamed the National Cash Register Company (NCR). At this time there were only about a dozen of Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier machines in use and little demand for them. Patterson put together an aggressive sales force which worked on commission and used a standard sales script.
Among the sales innovations pioneered by NCR were guaranteed sales territories, quota and point systems, sales conventions, formal sales training classes, and dress codes.
In 1906, Charles F. Kettering designed the first cash register powered by an electric motor. Kettering also developed the Class 1000 register which was in production for 40 years.
In 1911, NCR sold its one millionth cash register. By 1917, NCR controlled 95% of the cash register market. In 1922, NCR brought out the Class 2000 Accounting Machine which was capable of keeping track of 30 separate totals. In 1929, NCR purchased the Ellis Adding Typewriter Company whose machine was capable of typewriting and mechanically adding and printing totals which lead to the Class 3000 Accounting Machine.
In 1952, NCR acquired the Computer Research Corporation (CRC) which produced a line of digital computers with applications in aviation. In 1958 NCR introduced the first commercially available computer with a solid-state processor and in 1960 the first business computer with an ability to upgrade.
In 1973, NCR produced its 10-millionth machine and in 1974 it commercialized bar code scanners. In 1985, NCR brought out its first personal computer.
In 1991, NCR was acquired by AT&T.
The Carillon Historical Park in Dayton. Ohio includes a display of NCR products.
More museum exhibits
Carillon Historical Park: Cash Registers (photo diary)
Carillon Historical Park: A Shaker building (photo diary)
Carillon Historical Park: Newcom Tavern (photo diary)
Carillon Historical Park: Bootleggers, Bandits, and Badges (photo diary)
Museums 101: Neighborhood grocery store (museum tour)
Museums 101: The Cheap Cash Store (Photo Diary)
Lake Chelan Historical Society: The general store (photo diary)
Museums 101: The General Store in the Presby House Museum (Photo Diary)