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National Cash Register, Model 313

National Cash Register, Model 313

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Description
This 1913 National Cash Register Company cash register has an ornate brass exterior with a marble plate above the cash drawer. In addition to the wooden cash drawer and pop-up indicators at the top, the machine had two rows of keys. Keys in the top row are numbered 90, 70, 50, 35, 25, 15,and 5 (the rightmost key is missing a label). Keys in the bottom row are labeled $1, 80, 60, 40, 30, 20, 10 (the rightmost key is missing a label). Inside a locked compartment above the keys is a register that reads dollars and cents up to $9999.99, a four-digit customer counter, and a two-digit no sale counter. The machine has no mechanism to assist the clerk in adding up totals for individual sales and no paper tape to serve as a receipt. It has serial number 1265603.
By this time, aggressive sales tactics, numerous acquisitions, and frequent lawsuits had won NCR dominance in the cash register market. The firm also trained numerous young executives, including Thomas J. Watson. When the U.S. government found NCR in violation of antitrust law, several of these executives, including Watson, were fired. Watson was soon hired by the Computing Tabulating Machine Company of Endicott, New York, becoming the president of a firm that soon was known as IBM.
References:
Cortada, James. Before the Computer: IBM, NCR, Burroughs, and Remington Rand and the Industry They Created. 1865-1956, Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1993.
Crandall, Robert L. and Sam Robins. The Incorruptible Cashier, vol. II, Vestal, N.Y.: The Vestal Press, 1990.
Location
Currently not on view
Object Name
cash register
date made
1913
maker
National Cash Register Company
place made
United States: Ohio, Dayton
Physical Description
brass (overall material)
marble (overall material)
wood (overall material)
glass (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 43.2 cm x 26 cm x 40.7 cm; 17 in x 10 1/4 in x 16 1/32 in
ID Number
MA.333754
accession number
302254
catalog number
333754
subject
Mathematics
Business
See more items in
Medicine and Science: Mathematics
Computers & Business Machines
Cash and Credit Registers
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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Comments

I have a National Cash Register Model 313 S/N 1510064 and am wondering where I can find the date of manufacture. Thank You.

Dave E. Larson

Tue, 2021-08-03 16:47

Look on the underside of the drawer. There should be a label with that information.

Charles Mangiaracina

Wed, 2022-01-05 16:16

"hello, i just purchase an ncr r-313 14-2025all the compartment are locked and there aren't any keysare there actually 5 different keys to the registar? any idea how i could open it up?thank you, leanne"

leanne

Sat, 2015-07-25 18:12

Hi Leanne, you may have figured this out by now but I wanted to respond in case. I have a National 313 as well and have been researching it religiously - I have learned that they have 5 keys which are available through eBay to buy if you so require. :) Best of luck!

April Marie Bee

Thu, 2019-06-20 08:48

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