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Inventor of the Week: Archive |
 | | James Jacob Ritty, inventor of the first working version of a mechanical cash register, was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1837. |
 | | Ritty, who called himself a "Dealer in Pure Whiskies, Fine Wines, and Cigars," is said to have attracted a number of famous customers to his saloon, including Buffalo Bill Cody, prizefighter Jack Dempsey, and bankrobber John Dillinger. |
 | | One of the biggest problems Ritty had at his bar was that some of his employees were dishonest, and would take the customersê money and pocket it, rather than despositing the cash that was meant to pay for the food, drink, and other wares. |
| web.mit.edu /invent/iow/ritty.html (659 words) |
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