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Notable people · Inventor · Mechanic

John Ritty

John Ritty was a skilled mechanic in Dayton who worked with his brother James Ritty to build the first mechanical cash register, patented November 4, 1879 (US 221,360). He is entombed at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton.

At a glance

Born
1834
Died
1913-12-28
Known as
Inventor, Mechanic
Organizations
Ritty's Incorruptible Cashier

Life story

John Ritty, born around 1834, was a skilled mechanic in Dayton. His brother James ran a saloon there.

James got the idea for a counting device on a steamboat trip to Europe in 1878, and worked with John on the design. The 'Cash Register and Indicator' was patented on November 4, 1879.

The machine showed amounts on a dial but had no receipt printer or cash drawer. The brothers made registers in Dayton, and James sold the business in 1881 to investors including John H. Patterson.

John died in December 1913. He is entombed at Woodland Cemetery in Dayton with his brother James and James's wife Susan.

Timeline

  • 1834: Born (circa) ((not stated)) source
  • 1871: Brother James opens a Dayton saloon (Dayton, OH) source
  • 1878: James conceives the register on a steamboat trip (Europe) source
  • 1879-11-04: Patent for 'Cash Register and Indicator' (Dayton, OH) source
  • 1881: Business sold to investors including John H. Patterson (Dayton, OH) source
  • 1913-12-28: Dies (Dayton, OH) source

What John is known for

  • Co-inventor of the cash register, Dayton, 1879
  • Cash register, patent US 221,360 (1879)

Inventions and firsts

All Ohio inventions and firsts

Honors and things named for them

  • National Inventors Hall of Fame (existing record)

Family

Places in Ohio to see

Ohio places

Where John Ritty was born, lived, worked and is remembered, with the ZIP code, town and county pages for each.

Further reading

Sources

Confidence. High: the main facts were confirmed in sources we opened.

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