Restoration of Rusty 1914 National Cash Register - With Original Lit Top Sign, St. Paul Saloonkeeper
This all-original 1914 National Cash Register has its original owner's glass sign - Frank Matschinger, who operated Astoria Cafe in St. Paul, Minnesota and sold Yoerg's Beer. The restoration tackles a jammed machine, restoring power to the motor, rust and crud, a surprise inside, tear down, and lots and lots of sanding and polishing bronze surfaces.
A subsequent owner of this machine was Como Park Pharmacy, as evidenced by a hand-painted glass sign on the other side. Because this cash register was used at a bar, it has unique keys like "Cigar," "Lunch", and "Pint", and was designed to face the back wall behind the bar, so no number indications are shown on the back side. The tag indicates a serial number and the model number 442-E-L (series 400 with four rows of keys with printer, Electric, Lighted).
The label underneath the case drawer shows the original purchase date of April 17, 1914 by Frank Matschinger, a German immigrant to St. Paul.
If you have any questions about restoring antique cash registers, drop a comment below. Another excellent resource is the Cash Register Collectors Club (crcci.org).
Chapters:
00:00 Rusty antique cash register
01:18 Disassembly - taking apart old cash register
02:20 Antique cash register wiring diagram
02:32 How to open an old cash register
03:32 Original NCR cash register top lit sign
05:45 Stuck keys on an antique cash register
06:50 Broken springs on an old cash register
07:30 Receipt printer disassembly National Cash Register
08:15 Yoerg's Beer, St. Paul, Minnesota
09:58 Astoria Buffet, St. Paul, Minnesota (Astoria Hotel, Astoria Cafe, Wabasha St)
11:05 Key removal, buffing, polishing, antique NCR cash register
14:45 Crank handle refinishing NCR register
15:24 Electric motor on NCR cash register 452-E-L
15:38 Dash pot, NCR
18:10 Lit top sign, antique National Cash Register
19:49 Como Park Pharmacy, St. Paul, Minnesota
22:45 Refinishing the wood base on an old cash register
23:36 Frank Matschinger, St. Paul, Minnesota saloonkeeper Astoria Cafe, Wabasha St
30:10 Receipt printer reassembly
35:10 Reassembly of an antique brass cash register
36:31 Before and after of a restored NCR cash register with lit top sign