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Vending machines contain many surprises

By Katie Nichols (Contact) | Selma Times-Journal

Published Friday, September 5, 2008

I think vending machines are, well, neat.

I vaguely recall seeing the first one that impressed my child’s mind. It was the one that dispensed a cup and then pours coffee into it.

Then, there are the ones that have a carousel feature with windows to see the food.

The lure of the vending machine doesn’t make much sense to me. I don’t particularly buy from them often, but the idea is what seems so odd.

Here is a machine that dispenses mostly food items. It is a simple yet brilliant idea.

If you think that vending is relatively new like I did, then boy were we wrong.

Vending started technically in 215BC when Greek mathematician Hero of Alexandria invented a machine to dispense holy water.

The first coin-operated ones started in the early1880’s in London. Two machines were created around the same time. One sold postcards and the other books.

1888 marked the first American vending machine. It sold tutti-frutti gum in the New York City subways.

There was even a vending machine restaurant that lasted 60 years in Philadelphia.

Driving around town, I’ve seen new vending machines of a sort. They appear to be small buildings, but it actually sells ice through a vending machine type of process.

Vending machines can sell everything from toys to cigarettes and sandwiches to live bait.

The most interesting vending machine I’ve seen online is basically a claw-game. Yet, it takes its name quite literally. The object of the game it to catch a live lobster using a claw or crane arm. The winner gets to keep the lobster.

My personal favorite machine has to be the art-o-mat. They are converted cigarette machines that now dispense art. There are 79 machines that provide art in the form of small paintings to plastic sculptures.

I think the art-o-mats are like an enormous cracker jacks box. You know there is a surprise, but the question is what will it be.

Wow, I just realized, the art-o-mats combine two great things into one. Vending machines and surprises.

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