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Restoration of Rusty 1914 National Cash Register - With Original Lit Top Sign, St. Paul Saloonkeeper
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- Published on May 30, 2023 veröffentlicht
- 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 
Science & Technology
I love the way things looked back then. Everything was ornamented. Everything was beautiful: cash registers, park benches, lamp posts. Beautiful job.
Everything was infested with bugs and rodents.
@THE PINK FLAMINGO STRIKES AGAIN!! And nowadays we're infested with trolls who just want to shoot down anything you say.
ดูสภาพเเล้วยากมากที่ซ่อมครับ
คนซ่อมเก่งมากครับ
I was thinking about the same thing. Nowadays everything is purely pragmatic and cheap. If a things' purpose isn't too look good, it doesn't. This is really sad to me. We are surrounded by plastic, worthless, one -use stuff :(
@JayPixx77 Buildings look like boxes, and cars look like toasters.
What an incredible restoration. I absolutely loved watching. I also appreciated the history as well. Great job!
God when they wiped off the Como Park Pharmacy sign I nearly fell over in shock. I can’t imagine how terrible it must have felt for them.
same! i'm glad i saw your comment before i got to that part because i was prepared lol
@betp it was great how he remade it - made me emotional. the only Como I know is from pittsburgh pa (where im from ) is Perry Como . Will have to check out Minnesota and the area someday.
Wow…..
Mind boggling how complex and ingenuous mechanical things were back then. We certainly have the digital marvels today and the circuit boards or whatever they are called, but the mechanics and the artistry of the esthetic of the yesteryear are mesmerizing.
And the restoration - the discovery, the puzzle, the eureka…. the mysterious (to me) processes 🙊🙉🙈 - Tremendous enjoyment 🙏⚙️❤️
Taking it apart is one thing… but putting it back together? Genius
a lot more patience than me
An incredible restoration. I can't imagine how many hours it took you to complete this epic project!
I was a cash register technician in my youth and I worked in the 80's with one of the last NCR trained technicians on the old "Brassies". Thank you for keeping one more alive.
Beautiful work! You're doing a fantastic job by keeping history alive for our young people to see! 🙏🏴
É incrível o como as coisas fabricadas no passado, tinham todo charme e glamour e para durar muitos anos. Por isso, não troco minha geladeira com 64 anos de idade por nenhuma outra moderna!
I've watched a lot of these restorative videos and this is the coolest one I've seen. I love that you gave the history about where it came from, it's use back then, that's always something I wonder about (I studied history in college) so it was so awesome to get those answers. Amazing work!
Какая невероятно сложная, но красивая и надёжная конструкция! Поразительно.
No idea why Clip-Share recommended you but so glad they did. Your videos are relaxing and intriguing. I appreciate no music and just being able to hear the sounds of you and the machines working. This is. BEAUTIFUL cash register
Nothing is made nice like this anymore. That is a piece of art.
Big shout out to the engineers that made that masterpiece over 100 years ago. It is cool to see what is inside! Beautiful work on the restoration!!!
This is mind-boggling. I am in awe of your attention to detail and your mechanical ability.
Watching this is a refreshing change to all the negative drama and nonsense out there. Thank you ❤
It's a beauty! You have elite skills. Amazing to go into the mechanisms of it all and have springs, keys and crank all working again. It just needed your craftsmanship and talent. What an outstanding machine glow!
So classy. Everything was so beautiful back in the day; tons of character and craftsmanship! Beautiful work. How heavy is the cash register?
This restoration before and after made it all worth it. The details in this piece is phenomenal.
I found a National cash register in salvage condition which I wanted to restore. But after watching this video, I was appalled at the level of intricacy, precision, engineering, and not to mention patience and elbow grease needed to take on such a humongous task. I wouldn't know how to put together all the parts once they're disassembled. That alone would make me abandon the project. Thanks for doing this restoration. You brought back a piece of history to full glory and it's amazingly, jaw-dropping beautiful!
Write down each step and take lots of pictures/videos so you know what piece goes where. C’mon you can do it!
@Tamlynn Good idea! Thanks for the encouragement :)
Hey you can shoot a video of your disassemble and just rewatch it when its time to assemble them
You took the words right out of my mouth. I was thinking the same about all the parts but if you recorded yourself taking it apart, I think you could do it. 😉👍
The perks of restoring old things are, they are much simpler to put back together than they look. So go ahead. It won't be that difficult. Just be ready to put a lot of man hours into the project.
I cant believe you can remember where everything goes after you've taken it apart. You must really be satisfied at the end of the day. Good job
To me, that's the most impressive part. He probably has some sort of system to keep track of it all. I guess that's a trade secret....lol.
Every time I see restorations, I think that they just play the disassembly phase in reverse
Equipamento mecânico bem complexo.achei uma das melhores restaurações das muitas que assisti. Definitivamente isso não é para amadores, parabéns 👏👏👏👏👏👏🇧🇷🇧🇷
just looking at the unrestored register makes you think how easy our electronical stuff is compared to this. the engineering on the inner mechanics is just mind blowing.
But this modern electronic devices perform much better... You cant watch youtube on the mechanical computer :) Inside of your phone processor you can find more more times complex engineering with billions small parts, the only difference is that you cant touch it with your hands and see without a microscope...
@Thomas Gephard Modern electronic devices perform better for as long as they still work... you won't be able to restore your smartphone to working order in 100 years like this, because all the digital data & software engineering will be long gone. That's the difference - mechanical devices can always be repaired & restored to working order... electronic & digital devices, not so much.
The way they made things before were well-crafted, made with utmost care and sincerity. The quality is just perfect!
Agree !
This register is one beautiful piece of equipment. You done an amazing job at restoring it back to it's glory! The color is just beautiful! I bet it weighs a ton!
У меня нет слов для восхищения! Обожаю смотреть такие ролики по восстановлению старых антикварных вещей! Супер!!! 👋👋👋💯💯💯
I hope you’ll talk with the pharmacy and see if they’d like to buy that back from you. I’m sure they would absolutely love the historical background that this amazing machinery provides. You have an awesome talent for preservation and not taking it too far into the new.
I can't believe how pretty this machine is under all those years of rust and neglect. Fantastic job.
I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous at the start of a restoration. I hadn’t seen your channel before and this was such a beautiful machine - I so wanted the craftsmanship of the restorer to match that of the machine. Fantastic job - really lovely work.
Maszyna z duszą, dzięki.Uwielbiam gdy stare maszyny wracają.
I love how much attention to detail was given in its construction.
It wasn't just functional, it was beautiful.
Beautiful. Both the craftsmanship of the item itself as well as your expertise bringing it back to life. I wish things were made this well today.
That’s a beautiful piece of true craftsmanship. You always do wonderful restorations, thank you for sharing your art.
I've seen quite a few antique National brass cash registers, yours is an excellent example of a very ornate "optioned out" cash register. It was high tech for 1914 keeping track of users and inventory. Additionally it was a secure way to keep cash, checks and other paperwork, as it was difficult to get into without being unlocked and when it was opened a loud bell sounded. Also, it wasn't easily carried off due to it's weight.
As a former Ohioan, the register was manufactured in Dayton, northern Ohio was a hot bed of manufacturing. In Toledo there was Toledo Scale, major scale manufacturer. Dayton, NCR. Cincinnati, Proctor and Gamble. Columbus, there were several major safe manufacturers plus many other manufacturing concerns. Akron/Canton, Goodyear Tires, Hoover vac., Timkin roller bearings. Youngstown/Warren, GM, Packard electric. Lots of steel, Youngstown Sheet and Tube, Wean United and others. Also General Fire Proofing. Then Cleveland, Standard Oil and etc...... The list goes on and on.
Exceptional restoration! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely stunning. Amazing to see how beautiful they were when new.
A machine, gorgeous in every way. Of course it works and is also beautiful: that’s the way they made things in the old days. So well worth restoring. Thank you.
The build quality of these old mechanical things is just incredible. Must have cost a fortune back then.
Trabajé para NCR 40 años en el departamento de servicio técnico, es un orgullo ver la restauración de tan hermoso modelo de caja registradora, gracias
Just beautiful. I love seeing the inner workings of things and it is nice to see someone who can do this kind of work without ending up with a dozen leftover pieces!
Had me dying how you ate the pretzel sticks with dirty gloves on, then proceed to work without the gloves with your clean hands in the next shot 😂
From the days when everyday items like cash registers were made like works of fine art. The perfect blend of engineering, art and functionality👌
Great video! More please 👍
If Mr Matschinger saw it today.He would be so happy.Thank you to all that helped on this restoration.I loved that you saved a Beautiful piece of History.I get so teary eyed when a Beautiful piece like this is restored back to it's Former Glory.
Such a beautiful piece of history, you did an amazing job. How do you remember where each bit goes back in? There were so many pieces. 10/10 .
Beautiful machine. The intricate details are amazing. The fact you could take it apart and put it back together with repairs is insane! Sand blasting is so satisfying. Looks great!
Потрясающий старинный кассовый аппарат! У вас золотые руки!!! 💖💖💖
I'm surprised the wiring circuit schematic is still there after ever 100 years! I loved back then when they gave clear instructions to anyone on how to use it easily, including where to pinpoint a certain area. Love this restoration! :D
Amazing restore! This was built to last a long time, unlike many things today.
Это не касса, а просто произведение искусства! За столько лет там, в принципе, ничего особо и не сломалось. Делали на совесть! Реставратору респект!
Превосходная работа! Заслуживает высшей оценки реставрации !
Сам кассовый аппарат по своей механизации и красоте даже не сравниться ни с одним современным компьютером !
Wow! What an incredibly complex restoration. Amazing skill. Amazing patience. I really would like to know how long the total restoration took. I’m very impressed.
Muito lindo, parabéns pelo trabalho tão minisioso e os cuidados ao restaurar essa linda caixa registradora.
I used to repair typewriters (as a hobby) so I have a good feeling what you went through to get that beautiful register gleaming again. A job, respectfully well done. Thanks for the video. Too bad I can only hit the like button once!
I've refurbished a few things myself. Things that were basically worthless in their current state so I had nothing to lose, but never would I dare to go so deep into a cash register like this one. So complicated. Hats off to you for making it new again. But I was hoping to see the printing mechanism working and an actual printout of the receipt. I bet you can't find the right paper for it. Ever think of cutting a larger size down? We used to do it a printshop I worked at for our web presses. They're similar to what you always see newspapers being printed on in the movies. Only problem then would be the inside diameter of the spool. But I think it could be possible, don't you think?
When I worked for NCR in 2003 we still had a contractor on payroll that worked this type of machine for large customers with specific support contracts, thanks for sharing this amazing work. Really took me back to my first job out of trade school.
I did not expect a seemingly mundane object like a cash register to be so ornate and complicated. It must've costa fortune back in the day. And it's built like a tank too. Even has special washers that prevent nuts from coming loose from vibrations. Nice to see this unusual piece of history back in working order, looking like new again.
That was the day when things were made to last and products Made In the USA lasted. It was Made in the USA in the late 60's to early 70's. In 1973 was when the President gave to China a lot of manufacturing and afterward manufacturing was being shipped off to other countries as well and the Made in the USA died. We have been running around 'servicing each other' since then which is why we have realized poor quality products and having to buy them more often. Even today, we can buy "Made in the USA" products such as stoves/ranges, but the parts are made in China or elsewhere. It was sad to see the industry in my area become a ghost town with all of those empty buildings rotting.
I don't think anything is built that well nowadays. Incredible job.
I can't imagine how much this machine would've cost to buy back then. But obviously built to last!
Absolutely amazing! I can’t say enough about the quality of your work. A Excellent job once again.
You are amazing!I’m 70+ and I have NEVER taken anything apart that all the pieces went back together. I always have “extra pieces.” And I couldn’t record my work for public viewing, because the censors would have to bleep my dialogue.
Beautiful restoration you've saved our history for future generations ❤ love the technology and the way you showed its workings beautiful and a great talking topic love it must be a keeper
Не кассовый аппарат а произведение искусств. Какую красоту делали раньше да и жизнь была интересной. Реставрация заслуживает особой похвалы. Прекрасная работа 👍👍👍👏👏👏
This is such an incredible piece of engineering. And so beautiful. Man, I wish we had more beautiful everyday items in our lives like this.
It comes down to individual taste.....But I prefer the original patina of the outer casing to the polished end result. Fantastic work! Thank you for taking the time to document this amazing restoration.
Wspaniala praca - pozdrowienia z Warszawy 😀
What a piece of engineering and serious craftsmanship here with this restoration! I wonder what this must cost to purchase originally!
A simply wonderful restoration, and I admire the patience and the skill necessary to bring this earlier work of art back to life. I only wish that the light on top would’ve been lit for the final photos.
I am absolutely blown away by your attention to detail. You make it look so easy, but this video shows that you really know so much about machinery, electronics and restoration. Absolutely beautiful. I am a new subscriber!
Amazing! How could you possibly remember how to put it back together. What a job! Beautiful.
Само по себе поражает воображение, как можно было придумать такой невероятно сложный механизм, плюс к этому тысячи деталей и каждая деталь, это произведение искусства.
that's just insane, what a work of art, and the fact that you put all those pieces back together again, and it works like it did back then.
Amazing that he can remember how to put it all back together again!
Beautiful job. When you opened it up and I saw all the parts inside I was like what a nightmare! That you were going to take all of that apart .
Amazing job, mate. Machines deserve love too. Greetings from Australia.
This was a fantastic restoration. You should be proud. I hope either you or whomever you might sell it to takes extra good care of it. I am 62 and I can remember a local hardware store owner using an old cash register similar to this one. Also, my cousin had a store in North Carolina and she used one similar as well. This would have been in the mid and late 60's. Take care and thank you.
The work you do is phenomenal.
You men and women who restore all these antiques are amazing
I’ve been to Como park! I used to love these old cash registers. Nice work!
You did a magnificent job! I am not surprised the The handmade sign on the cash register didn’t break it just shows the quality of work and that you were able to restore it to its original form also shows its original craftsmanship when it was built.👍🏻🇺🇸💯❤️🍺
Somewhere Mr.Frank
is thanking you for restoring his legacy
Beautiful craftsmanship
Thank you for your dedication
Шедевр!!!!! Наши внуки должны увидеть историю нашей цивилизации в музее своими глазами
Да ещё и действующую. Для них это будет просто ШОК!!!!! А ГДЕ ВЫ все это находите??
This machine is an example of the design, engineering and machining capabilities of those who came before us. You did a wonderful job of restoration too.
Wow so many parts to clean! You have done a wonderous job! What a Thing of beauty you tuned it back into! 😍
Your channel was an odd Clip-Share algorithm recommend. Glad it did, I subscribed.
Watching you restore puts a massive respect bomb for those who made these machines. Yes, we could build them now... but with advanced machines and robots. We shouldn't take for granted the effort and skill these crafsmen had.
Wow!! Was this sealed away in an air-tight glass case or something, because even without the restoration, it was already in absolutely beautiful condition!! The final result was incredibly beautiful. Gosh, they really just don't make things with such care anymore.
I did a little research and I found this:
“Cost of Class 400 new in 1909 ranged from $75 to $400, possibly higher depending on the options added.”
This is a 452 model and had all the bells and whistles so I’m sure it was in the higher range of $400+ which equates to $10, 920 in today’s dollars! Pretty fascinating!
Oh WOW 😂🤣👍🏼👍🏼✌🏼✌🏼💙💙
3/30/2022
I have always been fascinated by these "cash registers". the mechanics, the integrate and beautiful case work, and the history attached to each and every one.
You did a great job making a dirty, stuck old thing look like and work like new. ;-)
Thank you for taking us on this journey with you. Amazing job.
What a stunning piece! What a shame they don’t make ordinary things so beautiful like this anymore.
Amazing how complex that thing is considering it's 1914.
Amazing that such an intricate and old piece of machinery, still works so well after so long.
I thought this piece was in fantastic condition, as seen in the beginning of the video, with all of the patina and aging from it's 100+yr life span. I wasn't really convinced that it needed this level of restoration. After watching the video and seeing the care, skill and reverence put into this project, I'm am astounded by the effort and the result. This item could be considered a treasure BEFORE the restoration, but even more so now. You're equal parts historian, engineer, craftsman, guru and artist. Simply OUTSTANDING work! Please keep posting these projects!
My grandfather had one in his small grocery store. That thing lasted as long as he did. More then 80 years. I have no idea what happened to it but now looking to get one for nostalgia. Thank you for the flashback
I LOVE mechanical computers like this! Something about the brass gears and how everything works together in such beautiful clockwork just makes me so unexplainably happy!
Absolutely fascinating, my compliments to the person, or the people who did this amazing work.
Thank you! I really loved this video. I loved your dedication, your humour (oops 😂) and the project itself.
Before it was like the nice old cat-lady, a bit crooked, but kind at heart. After your restauration it got the lady of the town 😎
What a great restoration! Thanks for saving this piece of Americana from the brass scrap heap!! I looked up the proprietor and he was an interesting man. Keep the videos coming, sir! Are you able to say how many manhours it took and the cost of restoration?
I know that in 1914 it was merely a machine to tally up sales, but in 2023 it's a mechanical work of art. Great job restoring it.
This was an amazing restoration. Loved the history lesson as well. What amazes me is that someone long ago sat down at a drafting table and designed this beautiful machine by hand. That person then took it to a machine shop where every single piece of this intricate system was made……no computers, no CAD, no lasers etc. …..just craftsmen with knowledge that has, for the most part been forgotten until someone with a unique talent and desire brings it back to life. My hats off to you sir. Amazing job.
Watched this video start to finish with absolute amazement! The level of skill and craftsmanship this dude possesses is off the friggin scale!
you should win an Oscar for the depth of detail restoration you've done here I so enjoyed it thank you for doing it🥰
I live in Minnesota and my great great grandfather was from Bavaria Germany also. He immigrated to Wisconsin and opened the Regenfuss Brewery, they closed in 1933. It’s sad cause our family has no physical items from the brewery because it was all taken by collectors. I hope to one day get a beer crate or something with our name on it.