Featured Character Register

Betty Bruin, Bear Cashier

Betty Bruin is a hugely popular battery operated vintage collectable. Betty works the register and moves things along  the conveyer belt. The front says "Vote for your favorite cashier Betty Bruin." The working versions are worth well over $200, but I got this for a steal at $35 because it's not functional, although it could probably be fixed. Linemar, Made in Japan.

This is rare, and usually sells for about $100, although I have paid as little as $10 for one of mine. What is truly unique is the absolutely stunning tin lithography. This is one of the "hand grabbing the coins" banks which makes it doubly a kewl item. 

*A Top Ten Favorite

Side 1 View

Rear View

Side 2 View

The box is also a mastery of design and fun. The most interesting aspect is that nowhere does it mention that this is a Richie Rich toy, which surely is the most important selling point! Unusual graphics include cats chasing mice and odd adult female hands. I included the inside of the box because you can see the design outline leaked through the cardboard making for an interesting interior.

I am absolutely fascinated by this toy because the designers really went all out in creating a unique toy cash register. Almost 100% of American toys are designed in primary colors, but this is a lovely gold like goldfish. Also the scanner is a sunglasses clad goldfish, and the buttons are goldfish shaped. Wonderful design! 2003, Made in China.

*A Top Ten Favorite

Besides being fairly rare, this item is unique in that it teaches children to fit the shaped pieces on top into their matching holes. The register "handle" on the right side is a Snoopy. Child Guidance, 1950, 1958.

Betty Bruin is a hugely popular battery operated vintage collectable. Betty works the register and moves things along  the conveyer belt. The front says "Vote for your favorite cashier Betty Bruin." The working versions are worth well over $200, but I got this for a steal at $35 because it's not functional, although it could probably be fixed. Linemar, Made in Japan.

Rear View

This Tottoko Hamtaro Japanese Anime is a big thing right now. It looks like s squirrel to me (there's an acorn) but could just as well be a hamster. I guess I'll have to ask a ten year old for the scoop. This is a Tokyo, Japan anime item, but it's made in China! 2000. 

Betsy Clark is Hallmark's "house" brand of items. They're real cute girly girl "each day is a treasure" type items. Nicely designed price tabs. Occasionally available on eBay; worth about $25. LJN Toys, 1973, Made in Hong Kong.

Blues Clues are a contemporary character. No unusual value aside from the fact that this register has remarkably annoying sounds, lights, and movements. I just love the little register though because it has a happy face on it. Too bad I can't remove the register from the rest of the contraption. Viacom International, 1999, Made in China.

Peter Pan Miniature Antique

This miniature is unusual because it's named for the character "Peter Pan" but there's no clear reason for that. It's not a miniature designed for doll houses, and frankly seems a bit delicate and small for real children. The design and makes suggests it was made in the early 1900's but that's just conjecture.  

This is a slightly older McDonalds toy cash register. Shelcore also makes another toy cash register which has a key and unique attribute in common with this one. That is that the prices are "revealed" as a window shade drops DOWN, rather than a tab popping up like most cash registers. Shelcore, 1999, China. 

Here's the current electronic version which is particularly interesting because it is the same exact design as the Disney Princesses register (see the Disney page), only in different colors. CDI, 2003, Made in China.

Look closely and you will see a stylin' fifties guy driving a convertible. It has a cash register in the back filled with tiny coins. When you "drive" the car along a surface, the coins jump like Mexican jumping beans. This item is part of a set that McDonalds gave away as premiums. This is doubly unusual because there is no commercial tie in or McDonalds logos on the item, unlike contemporary prize items. TM & Warner, 1992, Made in China.

*A Top Ten Favorite

Wendy's Premium

A wee cash register made by Playskool for Wendy's Hamburger chain as a premium in 2002. Not a particularly exotic specimen but unquestionably a rare find. Even more so in its original wrapping as shown below.

Not only is Big Bird featured on this adorable register, but it also has some similar components to a slot machine. When you press a key, the numbers "roll" up into the window. Jim Henson Productions, Illco, Made in Macau.

Very creative design with talking Bert, Ernie and Grouch teaching numbers in their real voices. The "scanner" is also quite unusual because it's activated by the shaped blocks which have a "key" on the bottom which causes the register to respond specifically to that item. Jim Henson Productions, 1998, Made by Tyco in China.

Toppie the Elephant

Top Value Yellow Stamps were popular in the 1950's & 1960's, not unlike "Green" Stamps. This register features their mascot Toppie the elephant. According to Kovels this register is worth $450 which is bizarre considering I paid $15 for mine on eBay.  It's a nice item, but hardly all that rare. They show up on eBay about once a month, and usually sell for well under $100.

More....

1966 Top Value Stamp Saver Book

1955 Top Value Product Catalogue Front

Page showing the Kamkap Register which you can see on my Musical page

This came out after 2000, and is particularly interesting because it is the same exact design as the newer McDonalds register (see Character page), only in different colors. CDI, 2003, Made in China.

"Cash"  the Converter Cash Register 

This it is a robot that turns into a cash register. Made in Japan 1984. The drawer actually opens. Converters came after the Transformers craze was dying out. The Converters did not become as popular as the Transformers. This ones name is CASH. Made in Taiwan.