NCR, National Cash Register, started in Dayton, Ohio just a very short distance from where this cache lies. James Ritty, a Dayton saloon owner, invented the first cash register in 1879 to use in his saloon to keep track of sales and to prohibit his employees from stealing from him. He established a company to manufacture the cash registers in. Unfortunately, Ritty's invention did not draw much enthusiasm from other business owners, and Ritty's new company quickly closed. Ritty eventually sold his patent to a group of Ohio investors. Among them was John H. Patterson, who eventually turned Ritty's invention into a fortune.
In 1884, Patterson founded the National Cash Register Company and opened the business in Dayton with 13 employees. Patterson is one of the first to develop improved employee programs such offering hot lunches, a “glass” factory to improve lighting, and ventilation, baths, showers, exercise programs, social and professional clubs, and many more perks-including an onsite doctor, which they still offer today. In 1906 Charles Kettering designed the first cash register powered by an electric motor. In 1911 the one-millionth cash register was sold.
In 1913 when the great flood ravaged Dayton, John Patterson was key in the relief efforts. NCR built boats, set up a tent city for the homeless and provided food and medical care. In addition, Patterson successfully headed a million-dollar relief fund.
NCR continued to make advances and go into the electronic and digital stage. In the mid 1970’s NCR commercialized bar code scanners and began the production of bank ATMs and personal computers. In 1997 NCR introduced the first self-checkout. In 2009 NCR moved its headquarters from Dayton to Duluth, Georgia and continues to make its imprint in the digital world.