Antique National Cash Register Keys

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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.

Examples of early registers

RegisterCash
This is a photograph of one of the first registers ever invented.
This is another example of a very early register - typically called a dial register.

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Keys
This is a model 2 register. This detail adding register adds the sales by individual wheels that are actuated by the keys
This register is a wooden register, also called a 'woody' in the clamshell pattern.

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

Antique National Cash Register 717

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

188910,000 – 20,0001903310,000 – 370,000
189020,000 – 30,0001904370,000 – 430,000
189130,000 – 40,0001905430,000 – 490,000
189240,000 – 60,0001906490,000 – 550,000
189360,000 – 70,0001907550,000 – 610,000
189470,000 – 90,0001908610,000 – 690,000
189590,000 – 100,0001909690,000 – 800,000
1896100,000 – 120,0001910800,000 – 940,000
1897120,000 – 140,0001911940,000 – 1,080,000
1898140,000 – 160,00019121,080,000 – 1,220,000
1899160,000 – 200,00019131,220,000 – 1,370,000
1900200,000 – 230,00019141,370,000 – 1,470,000
1901230,000 – 270,00019131,220,000 – 1,370,000
1902270,000 – 310,00019141,370,000 – 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 1880S-1000April 1893
S-3000September 1894S-5000August 1896
S-7000February 1898S-9000April 1899
S-11000February 1900S-13000October 1900
S-15000July 1901S-17000February 1902
S-19000September 1902S-21000May 1903
S-23000November 1903S-25000April 1904
S-27000July 1904S-29000January 1905
S-31000July 1905S-33000December 1905
S-35000March 1906S-37000June 1906
S-39000October 1906S-41000December 1906
S-43000March 1907S-45000May 1907
S-47000July 1907S-49000September 1907
S-51000October 1907S-53000December 1907
S-55000February 1908S-57000May 1908
S-59000August 1908S-61000October 1908
S-63000January 1909S-65000March 1909
S-67000May 1909S-69000September 1909
S-71000December 1909S-73000May 1910
S-75000November 1910S-77000June, 1911
S-79000January 1912S-81000October 1912
S-83000June 1913S-85000January 1914
S-87000August 1914S-89000January 1915
S-91000March 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.

This red brass Model 129 is an example of the Art Nouveau pattern.
Here is an example of a chicken scratch pattern. The pattern has little 'scratches' as the background of the design.
This red brass Model 313 (and most models in the 300 class) is an example of the Dolphin pattern. The sides of the case and the front lid have a large 'onion' or 'carriage'. The top sign has dolphins on either side of the top sign.
This red brass Model 442 (and most models in the 400 and 500 class) is an example of the Empire pattern.

Antique National Cash Register Keys Replacements

This nickel-plated Model 5 is an example of the Fine Scroll pattern.
This copper-oxidized Model 240 is an example of the Fleur De Lis pattern. You will notice the fleur de lis on the sides and front of the case. These look like Boy Scout symbols.
This nickel-plated Model 11 is an example of the Ionic pattern. These machines are typically cast iron machines with a nickel plate or copper-oxidized finish.
This red brass Model 52 is an example of the Renaissance pattern. There are little four-leaf flowers on the sides and front lid of the case. There is also a ribbon on the drawer front.
This red brass Model 2 is an example of the Wide Scroll pattern.

Antique National Cash Register Keys 349

MMF POS keys and locks are identified by the matching letter and number code stamped on the key and the lock cylinder. To order replacement keys, enter the letter and number code stamped on the cash drawer lock cylinder into the search box below.

Note:You must enter the exact code found on your lock cylinder, otherwise your lock might not be found. Be sure to match key code EXACTLY or key will not work. Keys are NOT returnable.

Old National Cash Register Keys

Enter your lock/key code in the search box above

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