5- Does your machine have a Top Sign or Name plate?
The single most important item to make a cash register complete is to have a top sign. The marquee or top sign sat atop the register held by screws. You can generally see if you machine had a top sign by looking for the screw holes at the top. They mounted by 2 screws on the ears at the top.
Sometimes an NCR did not have a top sign and it will not have the screw holes. Top signs had a variety of generic NCR statements on them the most common being “Amount Purchased” but very often the signs had store owner’s name on them.
Reproduction top signs are being made and if you can’t afford an original it is a great way to make your restoration complete.
Below is a table of NCR tops signs and some info.
Note signs shown can be in any of the 3 finishes (Brass, Ni, or CuO2)
| Name | Some model #'s | Pix | Mounting hole spacing (inches) | Rarity | Notes |
| Scroll | 2,3 |  | Rare | Fits several early models including woodies | |
| Fine Scroll | 6 and 12 |  | 8.25 | Rare | |
| Renn | 7,8 etc |  | 14.5 | Common | |
| 33 |  | Somewhat Rare | |||
| Art Nouveau (narrow) | 128, 129, 130 |  | 6 11/16 | Somewhat Rare | Usually Brass or Ni plated. |
| Art Nouveau (wide) | 135, 137, 138, 144, 147 |  | 11 13/16 | Somewhat Rare | Usually Cast Iron Ni plated |
| Bohemian (narrow) Cast Iron | 128, 129, 130 | No pix available | Somewhat Rare | Usually Cast Iron Ni plated | |
| Bohemian (wide) Cast Iron | 135, 137, 138, 144, 147 | No pix available | Somewhat Rare | Usually Cast Iron Ni plated | |
| 250 Scroll | 250, 251 |  | 8 1/8 | Somewhat Rare | Ni or brass finish (Ni shown) |
| Dolphin | 332, 333, 356 Many others |  | 13 1/8 | Very Common | Lots of reproductions out there! |
| 5 and Dime | 324, 325 |  | 10 | Very Rare | Same as Dolphin but has unique text for Woolworth's stores. |
| Empire | 80,82, 84, 410, 415, 416, 420, 442 Any 400 class |  | 10 3/8 narrow version (4 banks of push keys) 12 5/8 wide version for 5 banks of push keys) | Very Common | Lots of reproductions out there! |
| Empire | Any 500 class machine | | Same as above | Very Common | Lots of reproductions out there! |
| Western |  | 13.25 | Somewhat Rare | This is not a National sign. It is Cast Iron | |
| Michigan | 1 |  | 13 1/8 | Not Rare | This is not a National sign. It is Cast Iron |
You may click on pictures to see larger versions.
Name plates are special and customized
Take a look at my How to Spot a Reproduction Part Page!
Keep Going to learn more about your register…. (6) Special Features
or Return to (4) Principle/Mechanism
or return to overview page
I have a 1908 nce serial#689342 model 420 . I can’t find any information on it.
Hello, I have NCR models 135 and 130, both are the Bohemian nickel plated cast iron. I also have a model 144 Art Nouveau nickel plated. I need a few parts for all three registers. I also have Michigan models 1, 2,4,7. Western 15 key, Royal 15 key, large Premier, NCR model 211, (3) large American registers, (3) St. Louis registers. I also have several large and small NCR 300 series, 400 crank, 1,000 registers. Do you still sell parts for these machines? Also, several Autographic registers (most are NCR’s), NCR receipt boxes, NCR salesman award clocks, Celebrating the future clocks and several NCR collectibles. Right now I only need a few parts for the 130, 135, 144 registers. Yeah I know, I’ve got the cash register habit bad. My wife says to stop buying so now it’s time to finish repairs and let some things go. Thank you so much for your time. Rick
Hi,
I’m thinking of purchasing a NCR 37 (Nickel plated – 1898). There is no top sign or screw holes, do you know if this machind can be adapted for top sign and where to purchase an original/reproduction.
Thanks
I have a model 346. It has very unusual keys and flags. They say the number with the letter D or a fraction like 8d or 1/4
Any idea what type of cash register I have