National Cash Register Machine Restoration - Can It Still Print Receipts?

In this video, I restored an old National cash register that was made in Augsburg and used in 1952 by a woman for her small business in Schwetzingen. This project was both demanding and rewarding, teaching me a lot about the intricate and fascinating mechanics of cash registers. I was driven by the desire to see if I could bring it back to life and watch it issue a stamped receipt once more. This restoration demanded nearly a month of dedicated effort, filled with tackling rust, mending cracks, and replacing broken parts.
More details about the cash register:
This particular model was manufactured sometime between 1930 and 1950. Thanks to some registration documents I found hidden under the drawer, I could pinpoint the exact year of registration, which interestingly differs from the year it was made. I was thrilled to discover the original keys and to find that it still contained loads of paper inside. The drawer held many bills dated November 15, likely marking its last day of active use. Some of these bills had printing errors, hinting at mechanical failures. To get it operational again, I replaced several broken and worn-out springs and cleared away debris from shattered glass. The rest of the restoration went smoothly.
At the video's conclusion, I conduct a test to demonstrate how the register now works flawlessly, issuing new bills. If you're curious to learn more about this beautiful antique cash register, I encourage you to watch the full video. Should you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment-I’ll be sure to respond! Cheers, Johnny.
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[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hi folks! It was a pleasure to restore this classic cash register, even though I was almost about to give up at some point, but I'm glad I didn't! I hope you will enjoy the video! Thank you for your support! Johnny

[@patrickcorcoran4828]

FYI this shows up as a blank thumbnail in my feed, its the youtube rounded rectangle, but with three dots in gray instead of a red play button. I've never seen that before, but I assume thats what shows up if there is no thumbnail picture. When I mouse over it, it shows you putting the cash register down on the bench.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks for letting me know! I will contact the support team.

[@JuvenalMartinez-so9pf]

​@@patrickcorcoran4828😊😊⁹9😊

[@misoman]

Any chance on getting a longer version? I love watching register/slot restorations

[@ronz101]

I know this was a lot of work. I remember the 1200/1500 and 1900 crank/electric models. Of course the 100 and 200's too. Next time, the larger bank models or coin sorter/counter. 🎉

[@Dan.d649]

We need more brainiacs like you. This is absolutely fabulous how you restored this old cash register, piece by piece. It must've taken a lot of time to figure something like this out and make it become like it was just purchased. Its always great to see something very close to being thrown away, to become something brand spanking new by great hands like yours. Kudos!!!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm very happy to know that you enjoy my work. Thank you!

[@sidwallace6053]

Another work of art mate,that’s restoration on another level,thanks for sharing Love and peace from Ireland

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed the video! Cheers 🍻

[@nathalieartuso3098]

Quelle belle mécanique 🥰 cette machine a des décennies mais trois gouttes d'huiles trois nouveaux ressorts (zéro plastique) et c'est reparti pour d'autres décennies 😮 increvable ! J'adore bravo 👏👍 . Bye Nathalie 🇫🇷

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Merci beaucoup, Nathalie! 🙂

[@WastrelWay]

That's how things were made to last -- "zéro plastique". It's a shame that everything is built these days to have a short useful life and then get thrown away.

[@crabtonia]

These Registers were truly works of Industrial Art...I used the NCR/UK version of this model for some time and never had a problem with faults or breaking down...and that satisfying 'Ting' as the drawer opened!...a grand job you have done, again, so Thank You...dgp/uk

[@PaulFellows3430]

A great restoration. I can clearly remember when cash registers very similar to this were in use across the UK, although of course ours registered pounds and pence after 1971 and pounds, shillings, pence and farthings before then. Now though, they are nearly all gone and you only see them in museums. For your sake I am glad you did not have to dismantle all the mechanism down to the last nut and bolt. That would have been INSANELY complicated to reassemble! May I offer you one tip which I hope will help you - such an old machine could well have contained lead paint. If I had been you I would have done lead detection tests on the painted surfaces before stripping it off.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! I always do the lead check, but I stopped filming it in each video. Especially when I have big projects like this one. Thanks again!

[@georgebrown8312]

Beautiful restoration job you did on that cash register. You cleaned it up thoroughly and it looks much better and it works like a charm too. Excellent work.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@todds2248]

My father worked for NCR (National Cash Register) almost 40 years. These machines were a marvel of mechanical computing. I had no idea they had a factory in Germany.

[@trashtrash2169]

Are you sure he wasn't traveling the wastlands in the not too distant future?

[@trashtrash2169]

*wastelands

[@toasterblep1643]

Is that a fallout reference (FO 3 better than NV)

[@SneakersKicksCreps]

That looks like a really fun restoration very well done. Great video mate👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙂

[@grahamturner5963]

Fantastic piece of machinery. I remember these as a kid. An aunt had the British version with pounds, shillings and pence. Lovely to see this restored

[@EfendiVadim]

Очень кропотливая и качественная работа. Молодец.

[@fritziepisarski8681]

Rusty, you always find the most amazing, unusual and antique pieces to work on and as always your workmanship is superb. I enjoy watching.🇺🇸 PS this looks to be the restoration with the most pieces ever.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm so glad to know that you are enjoying my work. It is probably one of the most complex items, indeed. 🙂

[@Austeration]

Monumental effort there. That certainly was a huge project to undertake. Well done 👍🦘

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks, buddy! It was a huge task, but luckily, I managed to fix it early, so I didn't have to dive deeper into the mechanism. That would’ve taken ages to put back together.

[@Austeration]

@@rustyshadesrestoration That's for sure. Very lucky indeed.

[@ladytron1724]

Beautiful work😍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much 💓

[@joeldierker5982]

gotta admit... when you first revealed the mechanical innards of it, my first though was "he's either incredibly brave & optimistic, or a complete masochist if he breaks this all down to components." Good compromise with the cleaning & repair (restores my faith in sanity) & Great job overall, keep saving the old things!

[@ct92404]

Ha, yeah I was glad to see he didn't take it apart down to that level! I've restored antique adding machines and typewriters, but mostly just cleaning and taking off a few external parts or maybe taking apart the carriage to clean it. I would NEVER try to take apart the mechanism, that's asking for disaster!

[@riikkaheikkinen6268]

Great! Nice to see!👍👍 As usual

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@tomswindler64]

Very nice,you did a great refurbishment of the old register.good for another 50 to 100 years for use or just display for a conversation piece.great video as always.just keep on doing what you do best.be safe 👍👍👍😎😎😎

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much for your kind words Tom!

[@alexanderalbach468]

Great item and fantastic work ❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much!

[@mskayla7747]

Beautiful. My grandfather had one in his little grocery store. I remember using it in my youth. He'd let me wait on customers, every now and then. Brings back memories. 👍

[@skovbeats1929]

Send greetings to your grandpa!

[@mskayla7747]

@@skovbeats1929 he passed away in 2000.

[@skovbeats1929]

@@mskayla7747 im very sorry to hear that!

[@LightbulbSunStudios]

Fantastic work. I love seeing these old mechanical things brought back to life.

[@atrizMEAFANASM0]

moi🥰

[@lyndseybeaumont7301]

You are so clever. I’d never remember where all the parts went lol. xxx

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hahaha. Thanks a lot. In the beginning I was taking pictures, but now, for this project, I didn't have to. I can remember visually where and what, but if I'm not sure I'm consulting the footage.

[@skovbeats1929]

Right? The guy is just a genius!

[@lyndseybeaumont7301]

@@rustyshadesrestoration yeah, handy to have film of it I guess lol xx

[@donaldgreathouse6611]

The sound of the bell makes me happy 😊

[@namkumureronat1496]

Olağanüstü bir çalışma, kutlarım sizi..

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Teşekkür ederim.

[@JoLowden-oz9no]

All I can say is OMG, you are awesome my friend.

[@fairwayeichhorn9930]

I am astounded by your talent. These are so fun and inspiring. Not only the restoration of the parts, but your engineering prowess. Thanks from Connecticut, US!

[@billseymour-jones3224]

And, as in every good video, just before the end credits comes the money-shot!

[@MissLady-pq4hc]

Very interesting video, thanks for sharing .

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like it! 🙂

[@pprawl]

great job as always! your most complicated job yet. I learn so much from you. thank you for sharing!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you found it inspiring!

[@reuben9213]

Johnny , you did a very fantastic professional job in restoring this time piece . I'm fascinated how you put every little screw back in it's proper place . 😂

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video 🙂

[@LadyLeigh]

When you were about half way through I thought, “no way is he going to be able to pull it all apart and put it back together” and my heart sank! Thank goodness you cleaned all the inner parts without pulling them apart! My next worry was how you knew which screws went where! You amaze me with your thoroughness and attention to detail. This truly is a masterpiece! 🤗🇦🇺

[@kmartcarol48]

I actually wanted to see him do a full restore.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

@kmartcarol48 For what to pull apart everything if I managed to repair it already and there was no rust? Just for fun?

[@Newberntrains]

@@kmartcarol48 the inner parts just needed a degrease and oil service these machines are actually pretty simple to work on if u dont mess up the clocking of the system and thts likely why they never took it completely apart as it can be a pain to get it clocked right

[@kmartcarol48]

@@rustyshadesrestoration hehehe yea....its fun.

[@DB4KK]

I mean i can restore stull like electronics and macines, but nothing so mechanically complex as this! Amazing work, I applaud your craftsmanship.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks a lot!

[@Highlordratick]

All I can say is either you have to be highly intelligent and dedicated or totally insane to take on a project like this, I know I could never do it.

[@johnwolffe8473]

Then go away

[@MrsIsmena]

Beautiful restoration ❤ Ending very satisfying 😮

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! I'm happy you enjoyed the video.

[@makkeymann]

Было очень интересно смотреть на эту работу потому, как сам работал механиком по ремонту подобных советских аппаратов 70-х - 80-х годов, потом переходили на электронику. Интересно было смотреть и искать знакомые механизмы изготовленные по другим схемам. Очень интересно было смотреть как этот аппарат "раздевался"! В наших аппаратах это был цельный корпус, который снимался сразу весь. Вместо рычагов были кнопки, которые после пробивки чека возвращались в исходное положение. Был еще электромотор, но можно было работать и без него. Огромное спасибо за это видео! Вроде как вернулся на 40 лет назад!

[@cynthiablanton9106]

Absolutely fascinating to watch!!!

[@jamesriordan3494]

Well done 🙌

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! 🙏

[@kandarthecougar]

Such a beautiful item and a very nice work. Thank you for showing this. 👍👍👍👍

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@cooookiemonster]

Хорошая реставрация 👍

[@John-we7qr]

Amazing ❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed the video! 🙂

[@markedis5902]

Looks like you wanted to make a longer video. I’d have no problem with that.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I cut a lot. Many parts always result in longer videos usually. I hope you enjoyed it! 🙂

[@Ecila-Samerberg]

So nicely done. I love it, and can still remember the sound of the bell when I was young. Best wishes from Germany 🤗

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@McCavity2]

When I was a kid these (or rather their a tad more modern siblings) were still quite common place in small shops - in Germany affectionately called „Tante Emma Läden“ (literally: „Aunt Emma Stores“) - although already in the process of being phased out. I always admired these mechanical wonders and wanted to own one but, alas, it didn’t come to pass, yet. Thanks for bringing back fond memories and sharing knowledge about these types of registers I never dreamt of seeing ❤️

[@LorettaRice-d6v]

Very cool. At my very first public job we had a register somewhat like this. The crank handle let us use it when the electricity would be down for some reason or another. This brought back great memories! You do great work.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks! I'm glad that I could bring back those beautiful memories to you.

[@jeffcicale]

Amazing work once again, thank you for sharing your talent with us!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

My pleasure!

[@jamesfield5346]

You truly do exceptional work. Always a pleasure.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you kindly!

[@pascaldespinois9722]

Fantastique restauration !!! 👍👍👍

[@cristianosiqueira9838]

Excellent work my friend. You are a person very dedicated to restoring old things.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much! I love doing it! 🙂

[@AnonVideos]

Truly a testament to the incredible skills required to make this machine - and its apparent biggest benefactor, the screw industry 😂 Great work! I always wonder how to make the decision to either restore it and potentially lose value, or to have it operational again and be able to enjoy that. I think I prefer the latter but only as you have done - you didn’t re-fabricate big sections, you kept it the same parts and refinished them to preserve as much as possible. That’s some amazing work! Thanks for sharing 😊

[@nineteenandfortyone]

Great Job! It's as ready to do the work as well as an electronic unit!

[@user-ns4qe2hz1h]

Добрый вечер. Это вам не топоры вышкурить и заточить... Спасибо огромное МАСТЕРУ за кропотливую хорошую работу❤

[@WastrelWay]

What a fabulous machine. And after nearly three-quarters of a century, it was still in reasonably good shape. Three busted springs, some glass, and the crank didn't work -- I didn't really see what you did to make it turn. I guess the drawer was stuck. It's really a pleasure to see something that was built to last in the first place. Now it's good for another half century, I like to think.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WilliamEllison]

We used to spray these things down with industrial degreasers, then we’d go back and oil everything afterward.

[@167curly]

What an amazing relic from pre-electronic days of shopping. No debit or credit cards!

[@alunjones4427]

I was Surprised by the date 10.09.1952 on the registration docs attached under the draw it looks older than that did not expect it to be a 1952 model. Well done nice job.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I think it can be older than the registration date, but 1952sis a fact, my guess can be wrong.

[@mbrombert]

Wonderful job! I think you could work on your decal and painting skills to really take your craft to the next level. All the best to you!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you. People's skills are getting better while practicing.

[@Newberntrains]

this one has to be the best restore yet awesome job

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it!

[@ct92404]

It looks beautiful! You really did an amazing job restoring it. It's great to see it working again, and it even prints the receipts correctly! I have a collection of antique adding machines. I want a register too, but I don't have any more space! 😂

[@ronm3245]

Yeah, he really went from 0 to 3pi on this one.

[@tonyenglish2061]

What an enigma; pure engineering beauty

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Indeed!

[@vinceianni4026]

Hello mister beautiful restoration beautifully restored good job well done

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@TDIMAXDIESEL]

Superb restoration and very interesting, as always 😊🇨🇦

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Many thanks!

[@AnEvPekS]

Очень сложный механизм, почти калькулятор, только механический 👏🏻

[@patbennett66]

Beautiful and meticulous restoration!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@JustinS.Noyes1995]

Awesome job restoring the cash register, johnny.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you!

[@nattycasper2022]

Soooo many parts! This is impressive!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video!

[@anthonykot]

Beautiful work ....

[@nunya3352]

Dude- badass work!!!

[@freezemanrjbr]

Wonderful work! I saw the video twice, to be able to understand everything. If I disassemble one of this, I would never be able to assemble again. A lot of parts...

[@jmlfa]

Astonishing !!! What a job !

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

I'm glad you like it!

[@timsebastian5758]

Excellent restoration!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@kimberg759]

So very cool! thanks for creating this content. Love from AZ ♥

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MichelMorinMontreal]

Welcome back! Wonderful work, requiring patience and precision: congratulations! To my great surprise, the wood was in very good condition...

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you very much! Yes, the wood was preserved well.

[@vanpenguin22]

I vividly remember the mechanical cash registers all tge supermarkets had when i was little. They didn't operate off of levers selecting numbers from collumns like this one. They had actual 10-key pads. But if im old enough remember fully mechanical cash registers being tge norm, and can still hear Walter Wanderly's "Summer Samba" over the store sound system, i must be a pretty old coot in deed. Just remember, If you can remember when there weren't any cars, You shouldn't be allowed to drive.

[@user-dw6fj1py1o]

Great Restoration!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@andrewgrace4410]

Impressive restoration 😊

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you like it. Thank you! Cheers!

[@badyherz]

Wonderful restoration, seems like it was a lot of work. I imagine it would be a cool novel item for someone running a small shop. Would have loved to see the original color whine red, as it said on the label. And maybe use some stencils and spray paint instead of Sharpie next time, it really sticks out. And since you spend so much work on it, I would love to see more of the finished product, and maybe some explanation on how it works :o

[@dannmann17]

That was amazing! 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@famamugue]

Meu pai trabalhou na NCR muitos anos, e consertava várias máquinas dessas em casa, Poxa que saudades do meu velho..., abraço a todos.

[@scorch33]

A brilliant job, sir.

[@skovbeats1929]

Brilliant indeed, crazy crazy work

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you kindly!

[@oneshotme]

It looks great and you did a wonderful job restoring it as well!!!! I enjoyed your video so I gave it a Thumbs Up

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you very much!

[@WendysCove]

Brilliance just Brilliance

[@dlancello]

Nice restoration! If found that when I have to polish screws, I chuck them in my drill and then use the wire wheel with the drill turning.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

It is a good method for polishing

[@johanjanssens4530]

1965, Belgium. Europe. No Supermarkets. Q: What is more difficult to sell than cash register machines ? A: Second hand coffins.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Hahahha 😅 😅

[@marycollier1293]

It looks like this machine only prints out an amount instead of doing any addition or subtraction to come to a total. Is that correct?

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Yes, it doesn't count or divide :)

[@ronnengolombek8904]

That is beautiful!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@steverileyretired]

Great Job, well Done

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed the video.

[@Baystateboy125]

Once you started taking apart the inner workings, I said oh shit this is serious.

[@andreaboggia]

Great Job!!!!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you!

[@bulentiseri8468]

Thank you so much ❤❤❤

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

You're very welcome! 🙂

[@feynthefallen]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="119">1:59</a> That's curious! That piece of paper is the remainder of a seizure notice, so it was part of a levy at some point in its existence. If only these parts could talk...

[@feynthefallen]

We also can tell it was situated in Cologne at the time. The seizure seal bears the mark of the Cologne magistrate, and Bailiffs don't travel outside their area of responsibility in Germany. If the levy had been filed in another jurisdiction, an execution request would have been filed with the court where the assets to be seized were located at the time.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Oh, wow. That's so good to know. Thank you for sharing!

[@sternentigerkatze]

@@feynthefallen Kuckuck 🐦

[@feynthefallen]

@@sternentigerkatze Yes, these stickers are referred to as "Kuckuck" in Germany, although they are really supposed to depict the German federal eagle. There is however no equivalent colloquial term for seizure notices in the English-speaking work. I DID do my homework.

[@feynthefallen]

Unfortunately the records available online about seizure seals are thin, so I can't even begin to date that seal. We have part of the design and even part of the bailiff's name, so if someone went to the trouble to find a specialized collector or contacted the courts in Cologne, it might even be possible to date this seizure exactly.

[@jfulysse9629]

Very good job on a pleasant machine Congratulations from France ! Excuse my bad english

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Your English is very good.

[@haljitw2348]

Foam degreaser is also useful to clean internal mechanism. After spray it and sit for grease to bloat, then brush(to agitate stubborn grease), wipe it with rag, finally blow out with compressor.

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks for sharing

[@mrgodBG]

only thing i would do differently is use heavy thick paint for the wood, not the spray. very nice restoration 👌

[@1957caccavella]

Congratulations, you did a great job and the result rewards you. The only shame is that the graphics, retouched by hand, are a bit rough. Anyway; good like this!

[@raquelreis1959]

Excelente trabalho. Quantas horas dedicadas. Parabéns 🇧🇷

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Obrigado 👍

[@gregsochor]

Regarding the primer, that's very likely real lead-oxide primer. As you found out it works really, really well. Unfortunately it's very toxic.

[@gregsochor]

Oh and just to chime in with quite a few of the other folks around here: beautiful work, never thought I'd watch a restoration of an old cash register in one go...

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thanks for the information. Good that I used a paint strip gel 😌

[@sosaix]

Das ist gut. Danke.

[@guataco]

Beautiful

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@howardoller443]

Thank you for sharing this video with us. What wonderful work you did on that beautiful old cash register. Thank you for bringing it back to life. Please keep up the good work. My only criticism is that ridiculous tattooing on your arm. Ugh-ly!

[@rustyshadesrestoration]

Thank you so much!

[@drskelebone]

If it's not in this video (I'm only about halfway through), would you ever make a video about your part storage and tagging system? I assume they're linked into your raw video timeline ("these are springs E and F, and I detached them from those connectors at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3148">52:28</a>"), but is it just that and a well organized mess? Thanks for a super wonderful video this time!

[@ganikudul674]

Fantastik bro good👏👍👍👍👍👍👍