139 years of ringing up the changes
1879: Cash register invented in Dayton, Ohio, by US saloon owner James Ritty to stop theft. 1884 Paper receipts added to tills. 1906 First till with electric motor. 1974 Again in Ohio, a pack of chewing gum becomes the first item ever to be scanned at a supermarket till. 1984 Self-service till invented in Florida by David Humble.