C. 1888 cash Register

Generous D&H Canal Historical Society members frequently donate items to the Society that they feel belong in our collections, for which we are incredibly grateful. Featured here is a wooden cash register dating from around 1890, a gift of Rebecca Kalin. The attached label states “HOPKINS & ROBINSON MFG CO.  HOPKINS REGISTER”, with “PAT. AUG. 10, 1886. LOUISVILLE, KY” included in smaller print below. This tells me that it was made in Louisville, Kentucky circa 1890—patents were valid for 14 years, so it would have been made between 1886 and 1900. 

As businesses grew, cash registers were required to keep employees honest, as well as to streamline accounting- one early example I have seen was really just a cash box with a place for the cashier to hand write the amounts on a paper roll! Our later example has more functions. It is constructed of maple or birch with brass keys attached to an iron mechanism. It is missing the hinged cover over the top rows of cylinders that are manipulated by the brass keys. These individuals keys allow the operator to register 1 cent and then 5 cents, continuing up at intervals of 5 cents to $1 through $5 and then a key for what would have been a large sum of money then, $10. Lifting the key corresponding to the amount moved a cylinder that had increasing amounts on it, one connected to each of the 26 keys. Subsequent lifting of the same key moved the cylinder to track each addition. The missing top cover had a narrow window so you only saw the appropriate amount as the cylinder rotated. I believe the operator then had to add up the 26 rows of amounts manually to get a total, as I do not see any way for it to calculate the total, a feature of later cash registers. An internal bell rang when the cash drawer was opened. Unfortunately, some of that mechanism is missing. In pencil on the inside of the back panel is “No. 16”, apparently dating from its construction. Unfortunately I can find no information on this particular style and brand of register anywhere- perhaps you no more? Let me know!

After a gentle cleaning and minor restoration, it requires a case to protect it from curious patrons before it will be put on display in the Tavern Room of our Museum. This is particularly appropriate- that first floor 1827 addition to the DePuy Tavern was a canal-side store from 1827 until at least 1857, and probably longer. Other period material culture is already casually displayed in the space. Many stores lined the canal, usually at locks, open May through November, to service the up to 5,000 workers who lived on the canal at it peak. Cash registers like this one would have been used in canal stores in the latter period.