Rare Victorian Mahgonay Cox’s Patent Till

A Rare Victorian Mahogany Cox’s Patent Till, with brass fittings, and inset with a brass plaque Cox’s Patent, fitted with patent  manufacturer, they were based 174 Queen Victoria Street, London, with two racks for stacking coins, either side of a slotted lever operated compartment for viewing coins, fitted with a bell which rings when a lever is operated, above two circular cut-out sections for small change bowls, either side of a drawer for the safe keeping of higher value coins, the original Queen Victoria penny remains still inlaid on the counter top. C1890

Cash till patented by J.C. Cox, serial number 8953, 1883-1901. Object dated as late 1800s but can be dated to between 1883 (when Cox obtained patent number 2986) and around 1900. In an 1896 advertisement, Cox claimed thousands of his cash tills had been sold which would match a serial number of 9106.

Cox was publican and owner of the Black Friar pub at 174 Queen Victoria Street, London from 1881 to 1911 and possibly beyond. Cox grew up in Dorset and originally began training as a violin maker but family circumstances resulted in him coming to London around the mid-1870s and becoming the first licensee of the Black Friar pub. Cox was also an inventor and patent holder, inventing devices to track “payments made over a public house bar, counter, or elsewhere.” These included a machine to change gold coins, and tills to register and store coins.

This is a superb piece of history, and very rare to find it all intact, remains in original condition, would make a great statement piece or as a shop display.

Dimensions: H: 40cm W: 64cm D: 21cm