a single copy vending machine for newspapers , magazines or the like which employs a separation device attached to the door of a conventional appearing newspaper vendor to separate the topmost newspaper from a stack thereof subsequent to the insertion of proper coinage and the opening of the door . a sequentially selective elevator mechanism is provided to insure that the topmost newspaper of the stack on the elevator is in the path of the fully retracted separation device . a novel newspaper display chamber is provided to first , facilitate the proper adjustment of the separating device and its relationship with its gauging slides and , secondly , to hold remote , from purchaser access , content of the display chamber until the elevator supply has been exhausted .