• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dayton Vistas

A Look at the Past, Present, and Future of the Gem City

Connect with Dayton Vistas

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • TikTok
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • Contact Me
  • Hire Me
    • Dayton History Presentations
    • Walking Tours
    • House and Building Histories
    • Social Media Collaborations
  • Browse Articles
    • Historic Homes
    • Commercial Buildings
    • Industrial Buildings
  • Historic Dayton Building Catalog
  • My Dayton Book
  • Events

James Ritty

NCR: A Then and Now History in Dayton

February 1, 2026 By Andrew Walsh 1 Comment

national cash register aerial during its heyday

The National Cash Register Company (NCR) was one of the most influential corporations based in Dayton, shaping the city’s economy, landscape, and national reputation for innovation. From its transformation of James Ritty’s cash register into a global business under John H. … [Read more...] about NCR: A Then and Now History in Dayton

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Features, Hills and Dales, Industrial Buildings, James Ritty, John H Patterson, National Cash Register, Old River Park, University of Dayton

James Ritty’s Pony House Saloon

July 25, 2018 By Andrew Walsh 3 Comments

james ritty pony house dayton

We recently looked at James Ritty’s invention of the cash register, before John Patterson took the enterprise to greater heights with NCR. But Ritty also has another interesting story that connects to a present-day business. His original occupation was a saloonkeeper and he … [Read more...] about James Ritty’s Pony House Saloon

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Barney and Smith Car Works, Cash Register, James Ritty, John H Patterson, National Cash Register, NCR, Woodland Cemetery

Who Invented the Cash Register? Meet James Ritty, a Dayton Saloonkeeper

June 20, 2018 By Andrew Walsh Leave a Comment

james ritty cash register

The invention of the cash register began not with a major corporation, but with a Dayton saloonkeeper confronting a very practical problem. In 1879, James Ritty created the first mechanical cash register as a way to prevent employee theft, a simple idea that would ultimately … [Read more...] about Who Invented the Cash Register? Meet James Ritty, a Dayton Saloonkeeper

Filed Under: Historical Dayton Tagged With: Callahan Power Plant, Cash Register, Inventions, James Ritty, John H Patterson, Lost Dayton, National Cash Register, NCR

Primary Sidebar

My book explores a diverse selection of retail, industrial, entertainment and residential sites from Dayton's disappearing legacy.
Read More

Get New Articles via Email


Browse Historic Dayton

newcom tavern daytonA Catalog of Historic Dayton Buildings (with years, pics, type, area, etc.)

  • Historic Dayton Homes
  • Dayton Commercial Buildings
  • Dayton Industrial Buildings

 

Browse Our Article Archives

Search the Dayton Vistas Archives

Latest Posts

Benjamin Kuhns, Farmers Friend Manufacturing, and the Wheelhouse

Amtrak and All Aboard Ohio’s Plan to Bring Passenger Rail Back to Dayton

The Hewitt Soap Company: Rise, Fall, and the Future Hewitt District on Linden Ave

the 8 downtown dayton sports bar

New Downtown Sports Bar and Restaurant The 8 Now Open

newcom tavern dayton

Newcom Tavern: Saved From Demolition, Then Survived the Great Flood

The Wise Building Downtown: Dragon’s Lair Books, Vintage Shops, and More

Recent Comments

  • History of the Kuhns Building and the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention? on Dayton’s Lost Union Station and Early Train History
  • History of the Kuhns Building and the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention? on The Callahan Building and Its Clock
  • The People Behind the Buildings: Who Were Kuhns, Reibold, Lindsey, Conover? on History of the Kuhns Building and the Office Mail Chute, a Dayton Invention?
  • The People Behind the Buildings: Who Were Kuhns, Reibold, Lindsey, Conover? on Two Saved Historic Facades Downtown

Articles By Topic

Architecture Auto Industry Bars Churches Clubs and Societies Commercial Buildings Dayton Arcade Dayton Culture Dayton Daily News Delco Demolition Downtown Dayton East Dayton Features Fire Blocks District Great Flood of 1913 Historic House Histories Hotels Huffman Industrial Buildings John H Patterson Museums NCR Old Dayton Maps Old North Dayton Oregon District Preservation Rare Dayton Photos Restaurants Retail Rike's Sanborn Maps South Park Sports Then and Now Transportation History University of Dayton University Park Urban Planning Urban Renewal Wayne Avenue West Dayton Windsor Companies Wright-Dunbar Wright Brothers

Hire Me | Dayton Local History

  • Dayton History Talks
  • Dayton Walking Tours
  • House Histories and Building Research
  • Social Media Collaborations

Copyright © 2026 · News Pro On Genesis Framework · Affiliate Disclosure and Privacy Policy · WordPress · Log in