The Singer-Friden 908 cash register, part of the 900 series, was one of the first electronic point-of-sale systems to capture the attention of the tech world. Developed in the late 1960s after Singer acquired Friden, this line of cash registers was often found in large department store chains like Sears (900/902) and JC Penney (925).
The Singer 908 boasted only 2KB of RAM. The display was numeric; operational instructions were provided via illuminated buttons in program sequence. The back-end system for this register was the Singer System Ten. The cash register initiated all communication with the System Ten, communicating over a two-wire twisted pair connection at 1200 baud.
Many locations utilized magnetic tape storage and forwarding devices. All calculations were performed locally at the register; the back-end system provided credit authorization options and collected all data from the terminal. Data was traditionally transmitted at the end of the day, but busier locations could schedule periodic reporting to the back office.
The Singer system was the first complete electronic point-of-sale system used by Sears. Some images suggest that Walmart also used the Singer system. The first generation of electronic registers at Walmart were manufactured by a number of different manufacturers, NCR and Data Terminal Systems, and apparently, Singer as well.
These vintage cash registers are easily recognizable with their sleek, “science fiction” inspired design. There were some minor variations in the register versions. Some machines had a small “friden” logo and lowercase “data terminal,” while others dropped the “friden” logo and instead had uppercase “Data Terminal.” Still other versions had no “SINGER” branding at all.
Below is an example of a receipt from a Singer cash register at Sears. These registers were used by the chain well into the early 1980s.
Detailed images of a vintage Singer cash register found on worthpoint.com showcase the classic beauty and intricate mechanics of this device.
The robust construction, mechanical keys, and simple display are hallmarks of this register line, offering a nostalgic glimpse into the retail technology of past decades.
Today, the vintage Singer cash register is not just an obsolete piece of calculating equipment but a sought-after antique by those who appreciate vintage aesthetics and historical significance.
