Vending machines are office rooms, subway part stations, and everyday convenience life. Stores These whereby are all the one machines that are often installed to place a coin in the slot and get a soda, snack, or coffee. However, have you heard that these unremarkable boxes have a rather intriguing story to tell? From providing holy water in the temples of ancient Alexandria to living crabs in contemporary China, the development of vending machines has been quite interesting. Let’s go back to the past.
The Origins: Holy Water in Ancient Alexandria
Ingenuity in Ancient Times
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Innovation in the 19th Century
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By the early part of the twentieth century, vending machines had already gained their reputation as the symbols of easy access. It didn’t matter if you required a treat or a piece of Gum. This equipment was there, and no one had to serve you. And so the vending machine revolution began.
The Modern Boom: Soda, Snacks, and More
As the 20th century came though, the vending machines became more sophisticated to meet the needs of the increasing demands of the consumers. They started offering items such as cold drinks, hot drinks, sandwiches, and even lottery tickets. Japan, however, took this concept of having vending machines to another level that the rest of the world had not seen before. Nowadays, Japan has the largest number of vending machines installed in different locations, one machine for every 23 people.
Technological Progress
These machines became not only a way to get what one needs with less also effort, a but perfect example of technological progress. They could have different kinds of coins that could be accepted, can give exact change and can even warm or cool the products. However, although the machines became very useful, the oddness remained the characteristic of the vending machines.
Some of the Strange and Wonderful Things That Have Been Offered Up
If you are still thinking that the products that are offered in vending machines are limited to food and beverages then you are wrong. Over the years, these machines have offered some of the most unbelievable products that will make you look twice.
Historical Oddities
- Cigarettes and Matches: In the middle of the 20th century, the most popular type of the vending machine was the one that provided cigarettes, especially in bars and clubs. Some also provided match sticks to light up the purchase.
- Shoe Polish Dispensers: If you need to use them the last time of the day, do you need to have your shoes polished? At the initial level, these machines were used to vend items that included shoe polishes.
Modern-Day Wonders
Live Crabs in China: Believe it or not, live crabs are also available in China’s vending machines! The machines store the crabs at an optimal temperature so that they remain fresh, and if your crab is not alive, you get three more for free.
Luxury Items: In the Emirates of Dubai, you can purchase Gold bars or diamonds from the vending machine. This is as risky as it can get!
Cars: Among the most creative ways of this industry, there is Carvana which provides its customers with the so-called car vending machines which are several-storey high and allow buying a car.
Umbrellas and Flowers: Get stuck in the rain or simply forget an anniversary? This is where vending machines come in handy in big cities.
Japan’s Eccentric Offerings
Japan, of course. Here, you will find all sorts of products in the vending machines, from ramen to anime merchandise. You will also get machines that offer canned bread, fishing bait, and fortune-telling papers. These unique products have made vending machines a part of the culture in Japan.
The Cultural Impact of Vending Machines
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Fun Facts
- The costliest item ever sold using a vending machine? A gold bar that is worth thousands of dollars.
- Japan’s vending machines sell about thirty million products a day, ranging from hot soups to ice cream.
Conclusion
Starting from the holy water dispensing machines in the temples of ancient Alexandria to the modern Chinese streets, the vending machines have come a long way. They have provided water, holy water, chocolate, and even live crabs, which prove their flexibility and effectiveness. The next time you purchase a snack or a drink from a vending machine, action. What will on be earth sure: worthwhile are it to these will take machines only a going be the moment to as to dispense strange reflect in as on their the future? Past. History One of thing such is a simpler past.
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