Electronic Cash Registers: From the “Incorruptible Cashier” to the Digital Age
Have you ever stopped to listen to the "cha-ching" of a retail transaction and wondered where it all began? For most of us, the sight of a checkout counter is a mundane part of daily life, but the history of Electronic Cash Registers is actually a fascinating tale of innovation, security, and the birth of modern data tracking.
The Problem of the "Missing Nickel"
Before the 1870s, business owners had a major problem: they had no way of knowing if their employees were pocketing cash. In 1879, a saloon owner named James Ritty, frustrated by disappearing profits, invented a mechanical device he called the “Incorruptible Cashier.”
It didn't just store money; it created a public record of every sale with a loud bell. That "ding" wasn't just for flair—it was an audible alert to the manager that a transaction was…
