Vending Machine Evolution – How have vending machines changed over the years?

Vending Machines have evolved over the years, and can now be found all over the world. But in the early 1880′s, that was not the case. The first coin operated vending machine was invented in the early 1880′s, and introduced only in London, England.

Over a century later, in 2005, a vending machine can be found almost anywhere worldwide, offering a wide variety of products. The first coin operated vending machine dispensed postcards, but it set the stage for the coin operated gum vending machine in America.

In 1888, Thomas Adam’s introduced the coin operated vending machine to America. The Thomas Adam’s Gum Company produced a coin operated gum vending machine, and first installed them on subway platforms in New York City.

Other late 1800′s vending machine inventions include:

A coin operated book vending machine, invented by Richard Carlisle
An animated figurine included with gum vending machine, invented by Pulver Manufacturing Company

In the early 1900′s the coin operated vending machine began to really evolve.

In 1902, a coin operated restaurant named Horn & Hardart was opened in Philadelphia, and stayed open for six decades.

Coins were inserted into each coin operated vending machine, making a glass casing come open, permitting access to food and beverages.

The coin operated vending machine was filled with fresh food items and cold beverages each morning. As the early 1920′s approached, the first soda vending machine came to be. This coin operated vending machine dispensed the soda into cups.

The can dispensing vending machine was invented shortly after, then bottle dispensing ones. Today, all types of the coin operated soda machine are available, with many added features.

These features include:

coin changers

dollar bill changers

credit card swipers

The vending machine has really evolved over the years, as people find them more convenient than going into a gas station or corner store. From a simple beginning of vending post cards, the vending machine has now evolved to vending all types of products from soda and snacks, to newspapers and cigarettes.