Vending machines: Epitomes of convenience, these automated wonders empower consumers to satisfy their diverse needs with a simple insertion of coins or a tap of a card.
The first known modern vending machine graced the streets of England in the early 1880s, offering an assortment of postcards.
Vending Machine’s History
The earliest known reference of vending machine can be traced–back to ingenious mind of Hero of Alexandria, an Egyptian-Roman mathematician in the 1st Century AD. His creation was using a system of levers & counterweights, then enabling it to dispense a measured amount of libation upon the insertion of a coin. This groundbreaking invention served a crucial purpose in the religious practices of the time, providing a convenient and automated means of offering wine during temple ceremonies.
The Presence of Modern Vending Machines
In the bustling heart of London during the early 1880s, a technological marvel emerged, forever transforming the way people interacted with everyday necessities. This groundbreaking invention, the first coin-operated vending machine, was the brainchild of Percival Everitt, a visionary inventor who recognized the need for convenient access to essential items.
In the wake of Percival Everitt’s groundbreaking vending machine, the year 1887 witnessed the establishment of Sweetmeat Automatic Delivery Company, the first enterprise dedicated to the installation and maintenance of these automated machine. This era marked a surge of innovation in vending machines, as their product offerings expanded to encompass a diverse array of items, including chewing gum, cigarettes, chocolate–even soap.
The evolution of vending machines reached its pinnacle in Japan, where these automated vending machine became deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric. The early 1900s saw the introduction of vending machines dispensing stamps and postcards, alongside sake dispensers that quenched the thirst of patrons. The 1920s ushered in the widespread adoption of candy vending machines, while the late 1950s and 1960s witnessed the meteoric rise of juice vending machines, transforming the Japanese landscape with their refreshing offerings.