Antique National Cash Register Made of brass. This is an awesome piece. It works! Take home a piece of history by buying this National Cash Register. Weight: EST. 150lbs History of National Cash Register: Invented in 1880, Jack Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier forever changed the way retail establishments would conduct everyday business. The first machines were sold not only for their functional ability but also for their beauty – a fixture that every store owner would be proud to display in his establishment. The first cash registers were housed in elegant cabinets of polished wood. In 1888 ornate cases of brass and cast iron were produced. These fancy cases on cash registers ceased in 1915 due to demand for brass during World War I. Less expensive sheet metal versions were then produced and the era of the brass cash register ended after only 27 years. "J"