Computers & Business Machines
Imagine the loss, 100 years from now, if museums hadn't begun preserving the artifacts of the computer age. The last few decades offer proof positive of why museums must collect continuously—to document technological and social transformations already underway.
The museum's collections contain mainframes, minicomputers, microcomputers, and handheld devices. Computers range from the pioneering ENIAC to microcomputers like the Altair and the Apple I. A Cray2 supercomputer is part of the collections, along with one of the towers of IBM's Deep Blue, the computer that defeated reigning champion Garry Kasparov in a chess match in 1997. Computer components and peripherals, games, software, manuals, and other documents are part of the collections. Some of the instruments of business include adding machines, calculators, typewriters, dictating machines, fax machines, cash registers, and photocopiers
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Mechanism from National Cash Register, Model 79
- Description
- By 1894, when this device was made, the National Cash Register Company had developed an adding mechanism in which digits were indicated on the rim of rotating wheels. This is such a mechanism. The three wheels could rotate to show totals as high as $9.99. Four other wheels on the left side each have the digits from 0 to 9 around the edge. The mechanism is mounted on a white wooden display board.
- A mechanism of this type was used in the NCR Model 79 cash register (see object MA.316701). NCR went on to develop a more compact mechanism that could represent eight totals, rather than just one, on a single shaft. See object MA.316704.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1894
- maker
- National Cash Register Company
- ID Number
- MA.316703
- accession number
- 225455
- catalog number
- 316703
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Pamphlet, The Hustler, a Publication of National Cash Register Company
- Description
- In 1884, John H. Patterson bought control of a fledgling cash register manufacturer in Dayton, Ohio, and changed the name of the firm to National Cash Register Company. He rapidly set out to improve sales, establishing publications for NCR salesmen and customers. One of the first was called The Hustler. This is the November, 1893, issue of the title (volume 9, #84). The cover shows Bedouin coffee sellers at the Columbian Exposition, a world’s fair held in Chicago that year. In the center of the image is a large brass NCR cash register. The issue also includes two pages answering shop keepers objections to cash registers; a two-page listing of NCR cash register purchasers in October, 1893; an advertisement for NCR products on the back page; and an endorsement from world’s fair organizers reporting that the 650 cash registers in use at the fair were performing well.
- The paper was received with an NCR credit register (1987.0751.01), a hinged parallel rule (1987.0751.02), and business cards for two NCR sales representatives (1987.0751.04). The credit register was made twenty years after the publication of this issue of The Hustler.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1893
- maker
- National Cash Register Company
- ID Number
- 1987.0751.03
- accession number
- 1987.0751
- catalog number
- 1987.0751.03
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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National Cash Register, Model 79
- Description
- This large, nickel-plated, manually operated cash register is an NCR Model 79. It has three columns of keys for entering numbers, and a fourth column of function keys. The operating crank is on the right side, the cash drawer is below, and a receipt dispenser on the left side. Pop-up indicators above the keys indicate the total purchase. The Model 79 was introduced by NCR in 1892, this example dates from 1894. Principles introduced with this cash register would prove important on numerous later NCR cash registers. For a model of part of the mechanism of this machine, see MA.316703.
- Reference:
- Richard R. Crandall and Sam Robins, The Incorruptible Cashier, vol. 2, Vestal, N.Y.: Vestal Press (1990), pp. 157–169.
- date made
- 1894
- maker
- National Cash Register Company
- ID Number
- MA.316701
- accession number
- 225455
- catalog number
- 316701
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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