On This Day in Inventor History: The Birth of the Cash Register On this day, January 30, 1883, James Ritty and John Birch were granted U.S. Patent No. 271,363 for their invention of the cash register, a device that revolutionized the retail industry by helping businesses track sales and prevent theft. James Ritty, a saloon owner in Dayton, Ohio, struggled with employees skimming profits. His inspiration struck during a steamboat trip to Europe in 1878, where he noticed a mechanism that counted the revolutions of the ship’s propeller. He wondered: Could a similar device track cash transactions? Upon returning home, Ritty and his mechanically inclined brother, John, began work on what they would later call "Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier." Their machine recorded transactions, deterring theft and improving financial accountability. Although Ritty initially struggled to balance running a saloon with manufacturing cash registers, his business was later sold and evolved into the National Cash Register Company (NCR)—which became a global leader in business technology. The cash register was one of the earliest business machines, paving the way for modern financial tracking and point-of-sale systems. It stands as a testament to how everyday problems can inspire world-changing solutions. What everyday problem are you working to solve? Share your ideas in the comments below! 📜 Primary Source: U.S. Patent No. 271,363 – James Ritty & John Birch, January 30, 1883 🔗 Read more: https://www.thoughtco.com/cash-register-james-ritty-4070920

Posted by InventorsInHistory at 2025-01-30 15:09:08 UTC