“Why yes,” I said, “I am interested in that free cash register you saw on your neighbourhood marketplace this morning” …and thus a two-month journey for parts began…

Lucky for me my husband came with me to Warman to try and dismantle the cash register before we brought it back to Saskatoon. We’d been told it was heavy, which was a bit of an understatement as it took four strong guys to get it into the car to the pick-up point Three and a half hours and not many parts off later we somehow managed to power lift it onto the back of my husband’s truck. That day I learned that my feet can get injured from heavy lifting. And that my husband is smart and helpful and an all-around good guy (but really I already knew that part).

“Let’s drop it from the truck to the pavement” I said when we got home, “maybe that will break the base off?” Nope. Still hanging on. A big crowbar and three or four good husband whacks with a sledgehammer did the trick.

Luckily, the two of us managed to lift it onto a wheeled table in the garage and I set to work.

I learned that the cash register was mostly held together with clips and pins. I learned that it was a fascinating machine. I learned that it was remarkably similar (but much more complex) than the 1903 adding machine I took apart years earlier. I learned that sometimes I had to cut things and drill things and that I was quite good at wrecking blades and tools.

I learned that easy-off oven cleaner was an accessible way to get parts clean. I learned that the cash register was probably made in 1957 and was definitely made with the utmost precision. I learned that I am blessed with people helping me with my key project. I learned that I am extremely excited to make keys with these parts!