Which company, founded by John H. Patterson, pioneered the modern cash register in 1884?

NCR Corporation, originally the National Cash Register Company, pioneered the modern cash register under John H. Patterson after acquiring the business in 1884. The company built on an earlier machine invented by Dayton, Ohio, saloonkeeper James Ritty to reduce employee theft.

Ritty and his brother John patented a cash register and indicator in 1879. Their early machine displayed sales totals but did not print receipts. After the struggling business passed through other owners, Patterson and his brother acquired control in 1884 and renamed it the National Cash Register Company. Patterson improved the register by adding a paper roll, creating both an internal journal and a customer receipt.

The receipt was more than a convenience: it helped owners audit transactions and deter cashiers from hiding sales. Patterson also transformed NCR through aggressive sales demonstrations, standardized training and business-focused advertising. NCR later employed notable inventors including Charles F. Kettering, who designed a cash register powered by an electric motor in 1906. The company is now associated with NCR Voyix.