James Ritty

Isaac Atayero                                                                                                 February 26 2009
Sacred Heart School                                                                                                      Grade 8A

James Ritty

    Do you own a supermarket or a chain of stores then you will know important the invention of James 

Ritty is . James Ritty was born on a cold October day in the hot lands of Dayton Ohio . He was born on 

October 29 1836 to illegal immigrans Ledger and Mary Ritty.

       As he grew up in age and experience , James had many accomplishments . James fought in the 

civil war of America and later owned a local salon called the pony house, it was successful because it 

offered free food , wine , and beer at an affordable price . But that is not why he is remembered; Ritty is 

known and remembered for an invention that has changed the face of marketing, which we know as the 

cash register . A cash register is a mechanical or electronic device for calculating and recording sales 

transactions . One of its most important function is the ability to give a customer a receipt.

       The  two causes that led James to consider making the cash register are as follows. The first cause, 

his employees stole money from him , since his salon was successful and thriving . The second 

contributing factor to Ritty's famous invention was an inspiration on a trip . Ritty was on a steamboat 

trip to Europe, he was fascinated by a mechanism that counted how many times the ship's propeller 

went around. He wondered if something like this could be made to record the cash transactions made at 

his saloon.

    

   In 1879 , James and John Ritty got a patent for what was known as "Ritty's Incorruptible Cashier" . 

After a lot of prototypes , the brothers finally found the one that worked. The cash register's original 

design had no drawers and operated by pressing a key that represented a specific amount of money. 

This led James to open his own factory, which did not last long . James was not able to manage two 

businesses , so in 1881 he sold the interest that he had gained to a group of investors, that later formed 

the national cash register company. Even though Ritty did not prosper from his invention, he did not get 

a negative attitude and he continued to be friends with the investors. Ritty retired from the bar business 

in 1895 . He died of heart trouble in his downtown Dayton Arcade residence. He is entombed with his 

wife Susan and his brother John (ca 1834-28 December 1913) at Ohio. Before Ritty, died John H. 

Patterson invited him to attend various NCR meetings and conferences. James Ritty really made a 

important invention ; this just goes to prove that inspiration is the mother of manifestation.