History of Vending Machine

Vending Machine

As defined in Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia, vending machine is a mechanical or electro-mechanical device that dispenses an item when a coin or paper currency is inserted into a slot. This kind of machine has so many applications in the industry which brings profit and other benefits to mankind.

Example of Modern Vending Machines

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History of Vending Machine

Vending (or "automatic retailing" as it is increasingly known) has a long history. The Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria seems to have got the ball rolling in 215BC, when he invented a machine to vend holy water in Egyptian temples.

The first commercial coin-operated vending machine was introduced in London, England in the early 1880's. It dispensed post cards. Richard Carlisle, an English publisher and bookshop owner, invented a vending machine for selling books, around the same time.

Example of a Post Card Dispenser

In 1888, the Thomas Adams Gum Company introduced the very first vending machines to the United States. The machines were installed on the elevated subway platforms in New York City and sold Tutti-Fruiti gum.

Tutti Fruti Vending Machine

In 1897, the Pulver Manufacturing Company added animated figures to its gum machines as an added attraction. The round candy coated gumball and gumball (vending) machines were introduced in 1907.

Vending machines soon offered everything including; cigars, postcards, stamps, etc. In Philadelphia, a completely coin-operated restaurant called Horn & Hardart was opened in 1902 and stayed opened until 1962. In the early 1920's, the first automatic vending machines started dispensing sodas into cups. In 1926, an American inventor named William Rowe invented a cigarette-vending machine.

Horn & Hardart Restaurant

A company called Vendorlator Manufacturing Company of Fresno California made a series of classic vending machines during the 40s and 50s that mostly sold coca-cola and Pepsi. Famous Vendorlators included the VMC 27 and the VMC 33.

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Types of Vending Machine

 Candy, Gumballs, Jawbreakers, Bulk Vending
 Toy Capsule, Sticker, Tattoo, Super Balls Machines
 Snack & Soda Combination Vending Machines
 Snacks, Cold Food, Ice Cream Vending Machines
 Soda, Cold Drink & Hot Beverage Vending Machines
 Medical, First Aid, Personal Care Vending Machines
 Train tickets (like in LRT Purple Line), Amusement, Slot machines

Image Sources
http://www.bpvending.com/about.php
http://www.icollector.com/Pirates-of-the-Caribbean-original-postcard-dispenser_i21566914
http://www.icollector.com/ADAMS-PEPSIN-TUTTI-FRUTTI-VENDOR_i17863442
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/539165386616779049/

References
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vending_machine
Lexicon Universal Encyclopedia. Vol.19 (1995). New York: Lexicon Publications, Inc.
Bellis, Mary. The History of Vending Machine http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blvendingmachine.bltm. Feb. 09, 2005.