What is a Cash Register?
A cash register is a machine used in retail stores and restaurants for accepting payments from customers It typically consists of a drawer for coins and bills, a display or touch screen for entering data, and a keyboard for keying in the amount of the transaction. Cash registers can also be equipped with additional features such as barcode scanners, receipt printers, and digital scales.
The earliest cash registers were developed in the late 19th century, shortly after the invention of the typewriter and adding machine. These early cash registers were mechanical devices that used a system of levers and gears to record transactions.
Today, cash registers are mostly digital machines that record transactions electronically. Many modern cash registers have software that can store inventory data, record customer information, and even track sales trends over time.
Five Examples of Cash Registers Throughout History
1. National Cash Register. The National Cash Register (NCR) was one of the first and most popular cash registers in history. Developed in 1884 by John H. Patterson, it was the first cash register to feature a paper roll to print transaction receipts. It was also one of the first that had a total-amount key and the ability to record inventory.
2. Burroughs Adding Machine. Developed in 1885, the Burroughs Adding Machine was the first successful adding machine to combine addition and subtraction in one machine. It featured a typewriter-style keyboard, a crank for entering data, and an automatic totalizer that added up the entered numbers.
3. IBM 36/38 Cash Register. Developed in the late 1960s, the IBM 36/38 Cash Register was one of the first electronic cash registers. It featured a flat-panel display, a silent tone arm to indicate the amount of the sale, and the ability to record up to 100 different items.
4. Royal Alpha 583CX Cash Register. The Alpha 583CX was an electronic cash register developed in the 1980s by Royal. It featured a two-line display, programmable tax rates, built-in calculator, and the ability to store up to 2,000 items in its memory.
5. NCR RealPOS 70. The NCR RealPOS 70 is a modern point-of-sale (POS) terminal developed in the 1990s. It features a touch screen display, integrated barcode scanner and printer, and the ability to store up to 10,000 items. It is designed to be easy to use and highly secure.