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Vending Machine History

 

My guess is that you the only thought and/or action you have had about a vending machine is what to buy from the selection inside.

Am I right?

Look, I don't blame you. Who spends time thinking about a vending machine anyway.

But like most things in life it does have a history behind it. There is a story to tell about these commonplace machines.

My goal from all of this is to enlighten your understanding of a vending machine and maybe just maybe, you'll stop for a second the next time you see one and smile.

I found the simplest definition of vending to be automatic selling.

You have a machine that carries product that anyone can buy at anytime they have access to it. Simple.

So let us stick with that mental image of automatic selling.

A vending machine creates an opportunity for anyone to sell product and the owner does not need to be there. It is one of the ways you could clone yourself and be in many locations at one time.

Did you know that the Greeks had a vending machine way back in time?

Hero created a vending machine, even amidst limited resources, and sold water within the temples in Egypt.

Later vending machines appeared in London, England. And interestingly they sold books and post cards from them.

As the 1900's fast approached eventually vending machines arrived in America.

They were offered commercially and initially really pushed chewing gum.

So beyond water, books, and gum, other retailers in the United States began to realize that they could cash in on this movement and sell even more things from a vending machine.

All sorts of things made their debut.

Postcards, stamps, cigars, and more popped up everywhere.

I was amazed to discover that a vending restaurant was even created. It did not last of course because human interaction in certain industries is essential.

Music lovers are probably chomping at the bit as they wait for me to mention juxeboxes. Yes, juxeboxes vend music.

Up until this point, and as you read earlier, most everything was sold out of a vending machine but not music.

However, I was informed that the jukebox didn't start out the way they did. It had other devices that came before it and the jukebox used them to build on it's own success.

Do you remember the phonograph? Well it was created in 1889.

It was a machine that very simply played music through sound tubes after a coin was inserted.

This was no doubt annoying and the jukebox quickly arrived to retire the phonograph.

There were many advantages to the jukebox. It allowed for more music selection.

With the kinks worked out, jukeboxes boomed in America. It also gained swift popularity in other countries as well.

The vending industry created more jobs which in turn boosted the economy. All sorts of jobs were created.

From discounting vending to vending sales. From vending suppliers to vending services.

Vending machines had finally carved out it's own piece of the United States culture.

And they are still moving and shaking today. I just read that the Florida Lottery wants to adopt a business model of dispensing lottery tickets via a vending machine.

The vending machine industry continues to grows in many innovative ways, saving valuable time and money.