A Brief History of NCR
Invented in 1880, Jack Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier forever changed the way retail establishments would conduct everyday business. The first machines were sold not only for their functional ability, but also on their beauty – a fixture which every store owner would be proud to display in his establishment. The first cash registers were housed in elegant cabinets of polished wood. In 1888 ornate cases of brass and cast iron were produced. These fancy cases on cash registers ceased in 1915 due to demand for brass during World War I. Less expensive sheet metal versions were then produced and the era of the brass cash register ended after only 27 years.
Even though brass cash registers have not been manufactured since 1915, they were refurbished and sold as used registers for the next three decades. In some cases, they can even be found in use today. The quality of the mechanisms in these machines, as well as the timeless beauty of their ornate cases, make it easy to understand why these one-time common business machines have become such a sought-after and coveted antique.
The key word in that, is 'asking.' In working order, like yours, you may get as much as $100.00 on Ebay. Most sell on Ebay for under $50.00, but you have a good looking and working register. Hope this helps and good luck. Tom; Tara, 10 years ago I have the same model cash register. Antique National Cash Register Keys -1, 2/3, 5, 6 for 400 & 500 NCR Coca Cola Cash Register Sign Plaque Solid Metal Depression Era Style Pepsi 7UP ANTIQUE NATIONAL CASH REGISTER OVAL NUMBERS FOR MODEL 311,313,317. New Listing Antique National Cash Register 41 Key CHECKS & RINGS NCR Arts & Crafts. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller. From United States. New Listing Antique National Cash Register 17 ORIGINAL KEYS NCR New Old Stock. Top Rated Seller Top Rated Seller.
These are the keys for a Brass National Cash Register model 313, 315, 317 Etc, or the model 700 group, (and will fit some others.) Two of these are stamped 'The National Cash Register Co., Dayton Ohio' and the other two are stamped 'National' all are original old National Cash Register Co. ANTIQUE Original National Cash Register Key E54646. Shipping: + $4.00 shipping. VINTAGE POLLY GASOLINE CANDY BAR VENDING MACHINE. $175.00 + shipping. Sticker/Tattoo Vending Machine. $165.00 + shipping. Mercantile trades and factories Standard Register 'KANTSLIP' receipt register.
Examples of early registers
Model Number
The model is the key to what your register is. The model number and serial number are usually located on a tag on the front of the machine. Before 1909, registers were either a one- or two-digit model number, for example, model 2, 50, 92. If your register is a push-key register and was made before 1909, the model number is usually located on an oval tag to the right of the register directly under the glass (it may say “size”). If your register has a crank on the right side, the model number is usually located on a badge between the push buttons. After 1909, National switched to a class system, and the model numbers changed. For example, a model 72 changed to a model 442 after 1909.
If your register was made after 1909, it is located on a plate dead center of your register directly under the glass. It should look like this:
The top number is your serial number. The bottom number is your model number. The top tag represents a model 572 that has an electric motor (EL) and has 9 drawers. So, this tag is for a floor model. The other letters you may find are:
G – which is the kind of autographic printer that is on your register
L – Lights on your register
C – A fairly large register with more than one drawer that sits on a cabinet
F – A floor model register
If this tag is missing, the information might be found on a paper tag on the bottom of the cash drawer. Please refer to our parts section, we do have the capabilities to make tags. The bottom number is the model number. This model number is very important when trying to establish what kind of register you have.
Serial Number
The below table is a guide to tell you what year your National Cash Register was shipped from the factory. Registers were numbered sequentially, and not according to what model they were. The serial number is the above number on the tag on the front of your machine.
Year | Serial Number | Year | Serial Number |
1889 | 10,000 – 20,000 | 1903 | 310,000 – 370,000 |
1890 | 20,000 – 30,000 | 1904 | 370,000 – 430,000 |
1891 | 30,000 – 40,000 | 1905 | 430,000 – 490,000 |
1892 | 40,000 – 60,000 | 1906 | 490,000 – 550,000 |
1893 | 60,000 – 70,000 | 1907 | 550,000 – 610,000 |
1894 | 70,000 – 90,000 | 1908 | 610,000 – 690,000 |
1895 | 90,000 – 100,000 | 1909 | 690,000 – 800,000 |
1896 | 100,000 – 120,000 | 1910 | 800,000 – 940,000 |
1897 | 120,000 – 140,000 | 1911 | 940,000 – 1,080,000 |
1898 | 140,000 – 160,000 | 1912 | 1,080,000 – 1,220,000 |
1899 | 160,000 – 200,000 | 1913 | 1,220,000 – 1,370,000 |
1900 | 200,000 – 230,000 | 1914 | 1,370,000 – 1,470,000 |
1901 | 230,000 – 270,000 | 1913 | 1,220,000 – 1,370,000 |
1902 | 270,000 – 310,000 | 1914 | 1,370,000 – 1,470,000 |
If your register has a serial number that begins with an “S”, this means that at some point your register was sent back to the factory to either be repaired or resold. It may have endcaps that don’t have holes in them to accommodate a top sign. While it is impossible to tell when the register was originally sold from the factory, the S machines were numbered as follows:
S-1 | January 1880 | S-1000 | April 1893 |
S-3000 | September 1894 | S-5000 | August 1896 |
S-7000 | February 1898 | S-9000 | April 1899 |
S-11000 | February 1900 | S-13000 | October 1900 |
S-15000 | July 1901 | S-17000 | February 1902 |
S-19000 | September 1902 | S-21000 | May 1903 |
S-23000 | November 1903 | S-25000 | April 1904 |
S-27000 | July 1904 | S-29000 | January 1905 |
S-31000 | July 1905 | S-33000 | December 1905 |
S-35000 | March 1906 | S-37000 | June 1906 |
S-39000 | October 1906 | S-41000 | December 1906 |
S-43000 | March 1907 | S-45000 | May 1907 |
S-47000 | July 1907 | S-49000 | September 1907 |
S-51000 | October 1907 | S-53000 | December 1907 |
S-55000 | February 1908 | S-57000 | May 1908 |
S-59000 | August 1908 | S-61000 | October 1908 |
S-63000 | January 1909 | S-65000 | March 1909 |
S-67000 | May 1909 | S-69000 | September 1909 |
S-71000 | December 1909 | S-73000 | May 1910 |
S-75000 | November 1910 | S-77000 | June, 1911 |
S-79000 | January 1912 | S-81000 | October 1912 |
S-83000 | June 1913 | S-85000 | January 1914 |
S-87000 | August 1914 | S-89000 | January 1915 |
S-91000 | March 1915 |
Case Design
National cash registers were made in red brass, nickel plate, and copper oxidized. If your register looks to be in different colors of brass, this is because at some point somebody has stripped off the old nickel plate. If your register was originally nickel plate, then most likely your drawer front is solid nickel, because this is the piece of the register that was touched most often, and National put solid nickel drawer fronts on the register so the nickel plate wouldn’t wear off. It is highly unlikely that if your register is a nickel plated register, that it will be completely one color under the nickel plate. This is because when National was putting their registers together, when they got a batch from the foundry that was different colors, National nickel plated the register.
Antique National Cash Register Keys Replacements
National Cash Register Keys
Antique National Cash Register Parts
Antique National Cash Register 333
Antique National Cash Register Ebay
The HBAC Group takes great pride in the quality and detail of our new parts. All of our replacement parts for antique cash registers are manufactured by us, or made exclusively for us, to our specifications. We hesitate to refer to our parts as “reproductions,” as they are new parts designed to duplicate the missing or broken original parts on your machine so that you may be able to repair or restore your cash register back to its original condition. We have worked hard to make sure that the parts that we make are as close to the original as possible. These parts are designed to replicate the quality craftsmanship that National Cash Register Co. designed for these beautiful registers.
Our goal is to provide you with the proper part of the best quality available for your machine. If you do not see a part listed for your register, please ask, we may be able to assist you. To help assist you with the parts you need, please have the model number of your register when you are ordering parts. To locate your model number, please refer to our register identification page.
National Cash Register Key Replacement
The HBAC Group does not take orders via the website. With parts as unique as these, we like to talk to our customers so that we can make sure you are ordering exactly what you need. TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, please call us at (607) 792-3343 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. EST Monday through Friday. You can also e-mail your order to info@hbacgroup.com . Please include your telephone number should we have any questions. We accept Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. We also accept Paypal.