in Inventions, Weird

50+ Weird Vending Machines That Provide Nontraditional Items From The Past

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The first modern vending machine was developed in England in the early 1880s, and since then, these machines are providing snacks, beverages, lottery tickets, and several other everyday items. Some specialized vending machines also provide non-traditional items. Below, we have compiled a list of vending machines from the past that provided almost everything from books and music records to bouquets and bikinis. Vote your favorites, and don’t forget to share.

#2 That’s actually Harpo Marx surprising someone on Candid Camera from inside a Coca-Cola vending machine.

That’s actually Harpo Marx surprising someone on Candid Camera from inside a Coca-Cola vending machine.

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#3 This machine actually sold already lit cigarettes for a penny.

This machine actually sold already lit cigarettes for a penny.

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#5 Enjoy your music with this 45 rpm record vending machine.

Enjoy your music with this 45 rpm record vending machine.

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#6 Forget your bikini? That’s what this vending machine is for.

Forget your bikini? That's what this vending machine is for.

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#9 A vending machine for bouquets of flowers in Berlin.

A vending machine for bouquets of flowers in Berlin.

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#10 You can have your tea however you like it. As long as you like it with milk and sugar.

You can have your tea however you like it. As long as you like it with milk and sugar.

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#13 A woman in London is able to continue her grocery shop thanks to a vending machine which says it dispenses fruit but seems to offer kitchen cupboard essentials such as Oxo cubes, tins of food, matches and Colgate products, 1920.

A woman in London is able to continue her grocery shop thanks to a vending machine which says it dispenses fruit but seems to offer kitchen cupboard essentials such as Oxo cubes, tins of food, matches and Colgate products, 1920.

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#14 A woman buys fruit from a coin operated machine at Paddington Station in London, ca. 1920s.

A woman buys fruit from a coin operated machine at Paddington Station in London, ca. 1920s.

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#15 A woman uses The Maiwarm Company soda machine in 1928. It was the first of its kind not to require a soda squirter.

A woman uses The Maiwarm Company soda machine in 1928. It was the first of its kind not to require a soda squirter.

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#16 A man uses the cafeteria vending machine called ‘Automat’, ca. 1940s.

A man uses the cafeteria vending machine called 'Automat', ca. 1940s.

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#17 A woman also purchases a pair of nylon stockings from a machine, ca. 1950s.

A woman also purchases a pair of nylon stockings from a machine, ca. 1950s.

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#18 A woman purchases fresh eggs from the machine in Derbyshire, 1963.

A woman purchases fresh eggs from the machine in Derbyshire, 1963.

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#19 A man purchases fresh eggs from the machine in Surrey, 1963.

A man purchases fresh eggs from the machine in Surrey, 1963.

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#20 A woman is operating the first potato vending machine in Britain in Chelsea, 1962.

A woman is operating the first potato vending machine in Britain in Chelsea, 1962.

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#21 A woman in Berlin, Germany uses a coin-operated device to buy a clock, ca. 1960s.

A woman in Berlin, Germany uses a coin-operated device to buy a clock, ca. 1960s.

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#22 The Sixties saw the rise of self-service booze, a woman buying a whisky, ca. 1960s.

The Sixties saw the rise of self-service booze, a woman buying a whisky, ca. 1960s.

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#23 Coffee is one thing but creepy crawlies? This temperature-controlled machine sells worms to be used as bait for fishing at 50 cents a tub, 1965.

Coffee is one thing but creepy crawlies? This temperature-controlled machine sells worms to be used as bait for fishing at 50 cents a tub, 1965.

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#24 Buying flight insurance used to be so much easier. Here’s a machine selling air insurance at Newark Airport.

Buying flight insurance used to be so much easier. Here’s a machine selling air insurance at Newark Airport.

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#25 Just 25 cents a book, such a bargain.

Just 25 cents a book, such a bargain.

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#26 Why pick apples when you can get them from a vending machine?

Why pick apples when you can get them from a vending machine?

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#27 Not too certain what Ark Pie is, but I want some.

Not too certain what Ark Pie is, but I want some.

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#29 Only 10 quarters for flight insurance? That seems like a bargain.

Only 10 quarters for flight insurance? That seems like a bargain.

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#30 Get all your grocery shopping done without having to talk to a single soul.

Get all your grocery shopping done without having to talk to a single soul.

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#31 Why bring lunch when you can have vending machine soup!?

Why bring lunch when you can have vending machine soup!?

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#32 A vending machine selling Calpis, a Japanese beverage.

A vending machine selling Calpis, a Japanese beverage.

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#35 Not the most exciting vending machine — dispensing lumps of coal in France — but still useful once upon a time.

Not the most exciting vending machine — dispensing lumps of coal in France — but still useful once upon a time.

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#36 Cream cheese and jelly sandwich anyone? Two sandwich vending machines from circa 1945.

Cream cheese and jelly sandwich anyone? Two sandwich vending machines from circa 1945.

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#37 A Macy’s vending machine that sold men’s shorts for only 97 cents!

A Macy’s vending machine that sold men’s shorts for only 97 cents!

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#38 A German “Feinkost” vending machine mounted on a shop’s wall, circa 1955.

A German “Feinkost” vending machine mounted on a shop’s wall, circa 1955.

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#39 Warm lunch vending machine at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

Warm lunch vending machine at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.

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#40 Milk vending machine in U.K. from circa 1960.

Milk vending machine in U.K. from circa 1960.

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#41 A new refrigerated vending machine called the “5 Star Microdine Hot Meal Service”.

A new refrigerated vending machine called the “5 Star Microdine Hot Meal Service”.

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#42 Mid adult couple purchasing ice cream from a vending machine, ca. 1930s.

Mid adult couple purchasing ice cream from a vending machine, ca. 1930s.

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#43 This coffee machine was released by the National Automatic Merchandising Association at the World’s Fair Of Vending Machines, 1947.

This coffee machine was released by the National Automatic Merchandising Association at the World's Fair Of Vending Machines, 1947.

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#44 The sandwich dispenser was shown for the first time at the Chicago Exhibit, ca. 1950s.

The sandwich dispenser was shown for the first time at the Chicago Exhibit, ca. 1950s.

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#45 A woman demonstrates a multi functional vending machine that dispenses both cold drinks including Coca Cola, Canada Dry and orange juice along with hot soup, ca. 1950s.

A woman demonstrates a multi functional vending machine that dispenses both cold drinks including Coca Cola, Canada Dry and orange juice along with hot soup, ca. 1950s.

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#46 Three women enjoy soup from a Campbell’s Soup vending machine in their office, one of the woman opens a can of soup using another nifty gadget, a floor-mounted can opener, ca. 1950s.

Three women enjoy soup from a Campbell's Soup vending machine in their office, one of the woman opens a can of soup using another nifty gadget, a floor-mounted can opener, ca. 1950s.

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#47 A vending machine at the Post Office allowed customers to buy stamps without having to queue, ca. 1950s.

A vending machine at the Post Office allowed customers to buy stamps without having to queue, ca. 1950s.

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#48 Vending machines were already able to refrigerate and heat liquids but the ice cream vending machine ensured items were kept frozen, 1952.

Vending machines were already able to refrigerate and heat liquids but the ice cream vending machine ensured items were kept frozen, 1952.

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#49 The market for vending machines was beginning to expand. This couple have a choice of sandwiches, hot soup or hot chocolate, coffee, cold drinks, fresh milk and chilled fruit from a series of automated vendors – arranged under a natty striped awning, 1959.

The market for vending machines was beginning to expand. This couple have a choice of sandwiches, hot soup or hot chocolate, coffee, cold drinks, fresh milk and chilled fruit from a series of automated vendors - arranged under a natty striped awning, 1959.

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#50 A woman buying a soda and another dispensing a pint of beer, ca. 1960s

A woman buying a soda and another dispensing a pint of beer, ca. 1960s

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#51 Shoppers could pick up household essentials from this machine. Goods available include Heinz Spaghetti and vegetable soup, Tetley tea, Sugar Puffs, Fray Bentos, Oxo Cubes, soup, light bulbs, mayonnaise and cocoa – all of which could be placed in housewives’ own bags, ca. 1960s.

Shoppers could pick up household essentials from this machine. Goods available include Heinz Spaghetti and vegetable soup, Tetley tea, Sugar Puffs, Fray Bentos, Oxo Cubes, soup, light bulbs, mayonnaise and cocoa - all of which could be placed in housewives' own bags, ca. 1960s.

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#52 This woman is now able to use a credit card to pay for one of a selection of coffees from this self-serve machine, ca. 1960s.

This woman is now able to use a credit card to pay for one of a selection of coffees from this self-serve machine, ca. 1960s.

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61 Comments

  3. In 1955, John Gilbert Graham bought a life insurance policy on his mother from a vending machine as she boarded a flight at Stapleton Airport in Denver. He knew it was a sound investment, as he placed a bomb in her luggage. The bomb exposed shirt after takeoff, killing everyone on board.

    Shortly thereafter, they stopped selling life insurance from vending machines in airports.

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  4. When I was a little girl in the 1970s, my dad‘s office building had a coffee vending machine. It also dispensed hot chocolate and chicken broth. It was free because it was for employees, and though the quality was probably not great, my brother and I thought it was a real thrill to get a hot (lukewarm?) drink from it.

    I wonder if coffee vending machines exist anywhere today?

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