Ghost of a flea: Vending

January 05, 2004

Vending

The history of vending, or "automatic retailing," is a venerable one.

Vending machines, otherwise known as �automatic retailing� machines, have a long history. The earliest documented existence of the world�s first vending machine dates back to 215 B.C. in Alexandra, ancient Egypt, where the Greek mathematician Hero, invented a device to dispense holy water in temples for ritual cleansing.

Worshippers would insert coins through an opening at the top of the device, which would then fall on and depresses a pan below. The depression of the pan would in turn lift up a valve and allowed water to flow out. As the pan tilts, the coins would fall off and the reduction in weight to the pan forces the pan back to its original position. This action then causes the valve move in the opposite direction and shut down the channel for the water to flow.

There are plenty of things on sale in vending machines aside from newspapers, cigarettes, food and drink (and the machines can be interesting too). Unicorn coins are an odd choice but ready-made poached eggs strike me to be a bad one. The lobster-catching game machine down and the left on this page suggest others are less squeemish about their vending food options. It may be a cultural difference. Most of the fun to point at vending machines are Japanese where there is apparently one vending machine for every 23 people. And, because I know someone will ask, Snopes has the scoop on the panty machines. Of course, vending is not just about lobster, poached eggs and underwear. Sometimes automatic retailing equals death!

Posted by Ghost of a flea at January 5, 2004 07:10 AM

Comments

My favorite vending machines in the world are the "Live Bait" vending machines all around town in Kenosha, WI.

You put in your couple of bucks and out comes a plastic container filled with live worms.

What CAN'T they do these days?

Posted by: Chaos Overlord at January 5, 2004 02:12 PM