Rumour has it that the first vending machine was a holy water dispenser in a Greek temple, placed there over 2,223 years ago. Now I know that it can’t claim to be a drink dispenser as holy water is not strictly for drinking, but I think we can count it as a defining moment for vending.
It then took almost two centuries for the next breakthrough in vending and this time it was a first for the UK! In 1880 commercial coin-operated vending machines were launched in London and dispensed postcards for the growing tourist industry. The U.S. soon caught up and, in 1888, the Thomas Adam Gum Company introduced vending machines to the Americans which sold chewing gum.
During the 20th century the vending machine market dramatically grew, dispensing all manner of things: from gumballs to music; from toothbrushes to hair straightening. Basically if you can sell it, you can most likely vend it. Vending is now part of an international culture, and its beautiful simple concept – put money in, get product out – is what makes vending so brilliant.
So there are Russian vending machines supplying Caviar; Dutch vending machines supplying Frikadellen (sausages); and Mars Drinks’ (http://www.marsdrinks.co.uk/
