the first vending machines in the early 1880's dispensed postcards.
the first vending machines in the early 1880's dispensed postcards.
what did the first vending machines in the early 1880's dispense?
postcards
bulk vending dates back at least to the late 19th century. vending machines were widely used in europe before they became popular in the united states. in the early 1880s, the first commercial coin-operated vender was introduced in london and stocked with postcards. in 1888, the thomas adams gum co. introduced bulk venders to america, using the machines to sell tutti frutti gum on elevated subway platforms in new york city. in 1897, the pulver manufacturing company added animated figures to its gum machines. in 1907, the round, candy-coated gumball, a staple product in vending machines of the late 20th century, was introduced . in 1909, emerson a. bolen formed the northwestern novelty company, selling the yankee, a penny matchstick vending machine; bolen's company later became one of the most prominent bulk vending machine manufacturers. in 1913, ford mason leased 102 machines and placed them in stores and shops of communities in western new york state; he would eventually found the ford gum & machine company, an empire of over 500,000 vending machines . in 1948, oak manufacturing opened its doors; it would become one of the largest equipment manufacturers in the industry. in 1963, josef schwarzli founded beaver machine corporation, designing and manufacturing his own equipment that eventually sold into over 100 different countries worldwide. in 1949, roger c. folz purchased his first vending machine; folz vending was the largest operator of bulk vending equipment in the united states, owning and operating over 150,000 machines nationwide  at their peak.
bulk vending
gold to go is a product brand made by the tg gold-super-markt corporation designed to dispense items made of pure gold from automated banking vending machines. the first gold-plated vending machine was located in the lobby of the emirates palace hotel in abu dhabi, dispensed 320 items made of gold, including 10-gram gold bars and customized gold coins. there are currently six vending machines installed across europe and peru. the first vending machine in the united states was installed in boca raton, florida in december 2010. the "gold atms" are designed to be placed in shopping malls and airports and are meant to make ordinary people comfortable with the idea of investing in gold. the vending machines update their prices to market value every minute over an encrypted internet connection.
gold to go