A Snapshot History of Vending Machines

vending has taken on different forms from specialised products to bulk vending. Drinks and snacks vending machines being the most popular.

When we think of vending machines we think of electronic machines that will dispense your favourite drink or snack but actually the first vending machine was invented by the Greeks in 215BC. It was an urn which dispensed a measured quantity of holy water within Egyptian temples.


Many centuries later, London became the next focus. In the 1880s, vending machines sold postcards or books. Vending machines in the USA were first introduced by the Thomas Adams Gum Company in 1888.

They sold chewing gum. The vending machines were located in a New York City Subway station.Since then, vending has taken on different forms from specialised products to bulk vending.

Drinks and snacks vending machines, being the most popular. You will see them located in convenient locations where people meet or gather.

Aidan Doran is a freelance author who writes about vending machines.