History of Vending Machines
Vending (or
"automatic retailing" as it is increasingly known) has a long
history. The Greek mathematician Hero 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 machines were introduced in London, England, in the early
1880s. They dispensed post cards. Richard Carlisle, an English
publisher and bookshop owner, invented a vending machine for selling
books, around the same time. 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. 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.
Famous Vending Machines
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.
Need
more information about the benefits of vending machines in your
business? Call us to find out more at 800-494-1766 or email us
at
info@friendlyvending.com
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