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  • A little vending history
     Although the first commercial coin-operated vending machines were introduced in England, in the early 1880s, they quickly caught on in America and soon became a national craze. The first coin-operated machines dispensed post cards in London. Around the same time, Richard Carlisle, an English publisher and bookshop owner, invented a machine for selling books. Inventors and companies soon realized the vending machine's potential for selling small items to large crowds quickly and easily. Soon companies were building vending machines to sell everything from stamps and cigars to eventually soda and food. It was in 1888 that the Thomas Adams Gum Company first introduced the vending machine to the United States. America's first coin-operated machines were installed on the elevated subway platforms in New York City and sold Tutti-Fruiti gum. In the next ten years advanced technology added animated figures to vending machines as an added attraction. Attractive lights and catchy music would soon follow. The round candy coated gumball and gumball (vending) machines, that we are most familiar with, were introduced in 1907.

    America's love of the inexpensive and convenient vending machines quickly escalated. It wasn't long before an entire restaurant of vending machines called Horn & Hardart was opened in Philadelphia in 1902. It's remained popular for years and finally closed in 1962, mainly due to the advent of fast food restaurants. Fresh hot or cold beverages were made available to the public in the early 1920's when the first automatic vending machines started dispensing beverages such as soda and coffee into cups. By 1926 the cigarette-vending machine was invented by American William Rowe and became a staple in restaurants and bars until the mid 1980's. Vending machines are now located at most schools and offices selling everything from soda, candy bars, microwave popcorn, cold sandwiches to ice cream and fruit juice. Coin-operated vending machines also sell non-food items such as aspirin, calling cards and in some areas umbrellas and DVD's. The uses for vending machines are limitless.
  • Vending dictionary
    If you are going to be in the vending industry, you should know some of the terminology that is used.

     
  • Buyers guide
    In this buyers guide is a list and explanation of the many types of vending machines, gumball machines, Atm machines, coin counters soda and snack machines, capsule machines, sticker machines and more.

     
  • Vending faq's
    a list of frequently asked questions to help you get a better grip on some of the answers to commonly asked questions
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