The first modern coin-operated vending machines were born in London in the early 1880s, dispensing postcards. Thanks to their inventor Percival Everitt, vending machines became a quintessential feature of post offices and railway stations. But some believe that vending machines date back to ancient Greece, when the engineer Hero Of Alexandria made an invention that took coins and dispensed holy water.
The rest is history and today the world is full of vending machines, each one ingenious and crazier than the last. From very on-demand face covering gumball dispensers and a colorful cake vending machine for your late-night sweet tooth cravings to a salmon ATM that dispenses… you guessed it, a piece of salmon, to a biblio-mat that hands out a totally random book for $2, it seems like everything on this planet deserves its very own vending machine.
So get your coins ready, ‘cause Bored Panda compiled this collection of the coolest and most unusual vending machines ready to dispense… you name it!
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I Found A Vending Machine In Japan That Puts Your Face On Figurines. I Always Wanted To Be A Ninja
Refillable Detergent In Prague, Czech
This Vending Machine Dispenses A Random Book For $2.00
Lisa Yaszek, a professor of science fiction studies in the school of literature, media, and communication at Georgia Tech, told Bored Panda about the history and cultural significance of vending machines that we have grown so accustomed to, we rarely give them a second thought.
“Vending machines often feel like symbols of modernity—after all, they embody the efficiency, convenience, affordability, and novelty that consumers crave and merchants want to provide,” Lisa said and added that they are actually as old as civilization itself, “popping up in some form or another whenever large groups of people gather in urban spaces.”
My School Just Installed A CVS Vending Machine Full Of Medicine And Hygiene Products
Train Station In Paris Had A Machine That Printed Out Short Stories To Read While You Wait
My College Has A Vending Machine For Violin Strings And Woodwind Reeds
“People often credit Hero of Alexandria with inventing the first vending machine (for holy water!) in first-century Roman Egypt, and by the 1600s, English tavern patrons could expect to find portable, coin-operated tobacco dispensers at their local watering hole.”
But automated vending machines like the ones we use today really took off in the 1800s with the rise of industrial cities that were crowded with young people eager to spend some of the money they were earning in factories and department stores, Lisa explained. “While inventors tinkered with everything from machines that sold banned books to machines that offered stamps, the modern vending craze really took off when Englishman Percival Everitt introduced a machine for selling postcards in 1883—and when the Sweetmeat Automatic Delivery Company was founded just 4 years later to install and maintain such machines!”
And they weren’t popular just in England. Lisa said that vending machines were a global phenomenon: “the first American and Japanese vending machines (for gum and tobacco, respectively) were introduced in 1888, the first French machines (for beer, wine, and liquor) appeared in 1890, and the first German vending machine (for chocolate) debuted in 1893.”
I Found A Cake Vending Machine
A Sock Vending Machine
Here In Switzerland, We Have Vending Machines Just For Selling Cheese
Turns out, “Business people loved vending machines because they could sell bulk goods efficiently, without having to train and depend on another human, and consumers enjoyed the ability to purchase everyday necessities and small, trendy luxuries at their convenience and often at a reasonable price point.”
According to Lisa, twentieth-century vending machines sold all the same things as their nineteenth-century predecessors while adding new offerings that included newspapers, “mailing supplies, photographs, and even condoms and other forms of birth control! I think the strangest vending machines were those that sold life insurance in airports from the 1950s to the 1970s—it really takes the glamour out of flying to worry about your possible death while doing so! But maybe that felt glamorous in its own strange way….”
Cat Hat Vending Machines In Japan
The Hotel I Am Staying At Has A Vending Machine Strictly For Champagne
Found This Yarn / Crochet Hook Vending Machine At The Mall Today. Because You Never Know When You Might Need An Emergency Ball Of Yarn
These specialized vending machines that dispense all these particular and sometimes odd items emerged sometime about the turn of the millennium. They started selling “very specific products to niche markets (dog toys for pet owners, marijuana for recreational drug enthusiasts, bait supplies for fishing aficionados, original art and stories for culture buffs).”
The way they interacted with consumers was also way more specialized: “digital vending machines can track purchases across machines and offer consumers targeted goods based on past purchases, and they gamify consumption by tapping into buyers’ social networks.”
35-Cent Surprise Soda Machine
A Vending Machine Inside A School
There Is A Cigarette Vending Machine In Las Vegas That Now Sells Art Instead Of Cigarettes. For $5, You Can Have One Of Several Original Pocket-Sized Pieces Of Art
“And of course, vending machines can be a tool for public health and creativity as well! Vending machines in schools, public bathrooms, and outside pharmacies empower customers to acquire food and medicine when they need it, even if shops are not open, and they enable people to anonymously purchase items that they might be too embarrassed to buy from another human being.”
Lisa also explained that they “allow groups of people who have often been the targets of uncomfortable and unfair economic practices to exert greater authority as consumers. For example, as a woman, I hate being talked down to by men at car dealerships (I know this happens to men too—it’s really a people problem). But recently Carvana opened the first full-service car vending machine here in Atlanta, Georgia, where I live and I am already dreaming about how much fun it will be to go pick out a car without salesmen hovering over my shoulder!”
The professor concluded that it really does feel like the future that vending machines have always promised us.
A Book Vending Machine I Found In Romania
Vending Machine At Work Made An Error And Distributed Everything All At Once
machine was tired of being kicked and shaken for hung up items so it said "here-just take it all"
Healthy? Umm, no. Wealthy? Again, No. Wise? Not in the slightest. Funny? I'll take it!
this isn't a strange vending machine it's just a vending machine that had an error
I'm From The Netherlands And We Have Vending Machines For Eggs
Walking Japanese Robot Vending Machine
Best Candy Vending Machine Ever
An Umbrella Vending Machine In Japan
This Marijuana Vending Machine In Vancouver BC
Skittles Vending Machine That Lets You Mix Your Own Ratio
This Rest Stop Has A Vending Machine For Dogs
As I'm scrolling down through this article, I saw the title of this item before the picture, and I honestly thought I was going to see a machine with a lot of dogs for sale...
Orlando International Airport Has LEGO Set Vending Machines
So, My College Has A Pizza Vending Machine Now
A Vegetable Vending Machine Near My Hometown In The Netherlands
Japan Has Vending Machines For Nearly Everything
My University Has A Vending Machine That Gives Free Coke If You Hug It
And what do I get if I am willing to take our relationship to the next level? You do not want to know what I would do for free Coke.
A Meat Vending Machine Near My Hometown In Germany
In the meantime you can find them all over the place. And I don't get why some people think it's eww. It's just normal, packaged meat. Probably better than what you can buy in supermarkets.
A Vending Machine In Japan That Sells Solder And Resistors, For Your Late-Night Circuitry Cravings
I think that this is a machine selling stuff that you might need in case of an earthquake (or a tsunami). I've seen them all over Japan
Plant Vending Machine, Seen At Clampham Station In London
My Doctor's Office Has A Salad Vending Machine
Need This In Our Lives Asap
Just Saw This Giant Vending Machine In An Apartment Complex. It Has Everything
This Vending Machine Squeezes You Fresh Orange Juice
This Vending Machine In Greece Filled With Seeds For Growing Herbs, Vegetables And Flowers
A Mask Gumball Machine At The Dollar Store
After two weeks you make a huge installation out of plastic balls
My Town Has A Baguette Vending Machine
Jacket Vending Machine In Airport
This Flower Vending Machine In Seoul, South Korea
Vending Machine For Game Boy Games
This Driverless Roving Sales Vehicle In China
If this was in Britain, within 15 minutes the windows would be out, chicken stolen and hitched up on bricks, after 20 minutes it would be in flames and on Instagram and the daily Mail
My IT Department Has A Vending Machine For Computer Parts Which Charges The Cost To The Correct Department
This Machine That Dispenses Short Stories
This Vending Machine Outside A Guitar Store Sells Strings And Picks
Soccer Ball Vending Machine In South Africa
The Vending Machine In The Engineering Department Of My School Offers Fuses
This At The Mall: Cassette Tape Vending Machine
A Tasty Piece Of Salmon From This Salmon ATM In Singapore
"ATM"? That suggests that you must have an account full of salmon, and that you can deposit salmon into your account as well...
There’s A Vending Machine For Milk Freshly Filled In Glass Bottles At My Local Dairy Farm (Salisbury, UK)
This fresh milk tastes so much better than the milk, you can usually buy in a grocery store. The only bad part is, that you have to drink it fast
This Graveyard Has A Candle Vending Machine
In my country it's very important to set a light on the grave - we do this every time we visit the graveyard. You can buy them in cemetery shop's but they not open all the time - I think that would work here. Especially on those smaller or nearly forgotten graveyards - I would use them
This Is A Pizza Vending Machine I Saw In Croatia. You Pick The Toppings And It Actually Bakes It For You Right There
This Floppy Disk Vending Machine. The Future Is Here
This Vending Machine Sells Thongs
Vending Machine In Germany
Bike Tube Vending Machine Seen In Luxembourg On One Of The Main Inter City Bike Paths
A Vending Machine That Time Forgot
A Meat Vending Machine Found In Rosenheim, Germany
Spare Part Vending Machines At IKEA
Saw This All-Mustard Vending Machine Yesterday
This Cheese Vending Machine In The Netherlands
Mask And Disinfectant Vending Machine In Bucharest
Saw This Vending Machine At An Audio Recording Studio In LA. They Have All The Essentials
Sriracha Vending Machine
you say one more hipster thing and I'll shove you in your vintage bassoon case
Raw Honey Vending Machine?
My Computer Science University Has Vending Machines For Spare Parts
In France, To Reduce The Number Of Customers In Bakeries, We Now Have Baguette Vending Machines
My City Has An Egg Vending Machine
My Son's School Has A Vending Machine For School Supplies. Great Idea
This Flower Vending Machine In Taiwan
This Vending Machine In Germany Sells WiFi Codes Valid For One Day
In Switzerland, You Can Buy Cheese 24/7 - From Vending Machines
A Vending Machine For Umbrellas
Covid-19 Test Vending Machine In Japan
Vending Machine In A Small Iowa Town That Sells Steaks, Bacon, Meat Sticks Etc
This Vending Machine At My Office Sells Keyboards For $10
Hi Internet, This Is A Cupcake Vending Machine I Found Today In Chicago
Have You All Seen These Cool Vending Machines Popping Up By Farmers Fridge? I'm Loving The Options For Fresh Salads And Clean Protein
University Library Vending Machine
This Old Cigarette Machine At The Local Library Has Been Repurposed To Dispense Artwork
We have one of these in the performing arts center in my hometown. It's a stocked with all local artists and it's super cool.
A Seed Vending Machine In Vienna
Honestly I think this would be a better use for all the cigarette machines.
There Exists A Vending Machine The Munich Train Station Just For Legos
This Vending Machine In This Russian Mall Is For Buying Likes On Your Instagram Pics
This Vending Machine At A Mall Near Me That Sells Masks, Hand Sanitizer, And Other Things Of The Sort
Vending Machine For Live Fishing Bait. What A Time To Be Alive
A Vending Machine That Sells Camera Film
Wow, film has gotten pricey! I think it's awesome they've included 120 for us large-format aficionados.
This Vending Machine Serves Slices Of Cake
Vending Machine For Hair Extensions At The Mall
For Whoever Who Wanted To See A Picture Of The Weed Vending Machine
You Can Buy Cheese From A Vending 'Machine'/Wall When The Shop Is Closed At This Farm In The Netherlands
Baguette Vending Machine. Spotted While Walking In France. Sadly, No Cheese And Wine Ones Close By, So We Carried On Walking
Pizza Vending Machine Cooks Pizza For You In 3 Mins
This Vending Machine Only Sells Bananas
This Vending Machine That Organizes Its Selections According To Health Recommendations
This Cologne Machine In The Men’s Room At A Truck Stop
Someone needs to write a C&W song about a trucker who squirts himself with a kind of cologne he doesn't normally use, gets home to find his wife busy in the kitchen, sneaks up behind her, covers her eyes and whispers "Guess who's home?" , only to be mistaken for her boyfriend
Singapore Has A Chilli Crab Vending Machine
Welcome To The Future. Coconut Vending Machines
This Vending Machine With Protective Products In
Awesome Vending Machine At The Local Hospital
Bought Fresh Baguettes From A Vending Machine Today
A Salmon Vending Machine
A Banana Vending Machine In An Underground Subway Station In Tokyo. The Trash Can To The Right Is For Only The Plastic Wrappers And Banana Peels
This Seed Vending Machine At Crete Airport
This CVS Pharmacy Vending Machine
Welcome To Wisconsin: A Mustard Vending Machine
There Is A Worm Vending Machine At This Gas Station
A Sausage Vending Machine. Welcome To Germany
A Vending Machine That Lets You Customize Your Skittles Mix
I live in a rather smal city in eastern France and we have vending machines for cheese, eggs and bread.... In Germany, where I work there is a machine where you ca buy potatoes
Surprised not seeing any Dutch fried snacks machines here. Maybe they have become too regular for this list?
my Jr high school had an apple vending machine...$0.35 got you a cold granny smith apple. It rolled down a chute and dispensed at the bottom. That thing was awesome....this was 20+ years ago
One of the best posts lately bp...I wish there was more of such good stuff here like it used to be😕
I'm disappointed I didn't see any machines with plushies in it, I case of an emergency need for something cute and fluffy :/.
That would be really great for when you have a baby or child that's scared or bored or whatever. Let them pick out a new plushie and yay all better!! I think you just found your new business opportunity!!
Load More Replies...Disappointed, 100 entries and i still miss the dutch fried snack vending ma chine and the crab machine e09fb273c6...cbe2e8.jpg
I want a vending machine that sells vending machines....but it'd have to be really big! - Mitch Hedberg
I want a space shuttle selling vending machine,don't judge me
Load More Replies...Since it's not on the list, let me present to you the OYSTER VENDING MACHINE from a friend who is an oysterfarmer. (yes it is paté on the left, of course we eat oyster with paté, it's the best thing to do: raw oyster and a bite on good bread with paté) distri-hui...ea000b.jpg
Well, I live in California. I can't see any unattended machine staying in working order for very long... We have people here who will & can destroy everything. Makes me sad and ill!!
A bar near here in Wisconsin has a vending machine that sells worms; local fishermen find it to be very convenient.
Then there's this in Abu Dhabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMYy65CO7vk
Strange they didn't include the Live Lobster vending machines or the Smart Car vending machines or those (NSFW) japanese used undergarment vending machines, or the paper cell phone vending machines, Dutch Strawberry and Tulip machines, the FEBO wall, beer and canned coffee machines, etc, etc etc
😁 most of these are awesome, I'd love to find something of this sort myself.
I live on Vancouver island and the ferries to the mainland have Best Buy vending machines, you can get cameras, headphones etc
I thought our bait/worms-vending machine in Berlin/Germany would be special... And now seeing some of them here...
M a y be in Europe young people will want champagne to get high but I have yet to see that in the usa
I live in a rather smal city in eastern France and we have vending machines for cheese, eggs and bread.... In Germany, where I work there is a machine where you ca buy potatoes
Surprised not seeing any Dutch fried snacks machines here. Maybe they have become too regular for this list?
my Jr high school had an apple vending machine...$0.35 got you a cold granny smith apple. It rolled down a chute and dispensed at the bottom. That thing was awesome....this was 20+ years ago
One of the best posts lately bp...I wish there was more of such good stuff here like it used to be😕
I'm disappointed I didn't see any machines with plushies in it, I case of an emergency need for something cute and fluffy :/.
That would be really great for when you have a baby or child that's scared or bored or whatever. Let them pick out a new plushie and yay all better!! I think you just found your new business opportunity!!
Load More Replies...Disappointed, 100 entries and i still miss the dutch fried snack vending ma chine and the crab machine e09fb273c6...cbe2e8.jpg
I want a vending machine that sells vending machines....but it'd have to be really big! - Mitch Hedberg
I want a space shuttle selling vending machine,don't judge me
Load More Replies...Since it's not on the list, let me present to you the OYSTER VENDING MACHINE from a friend who is an oysterfarmer. (yes it is paté on the left, of course we eat oyster with paté, it's the best thing to do: raw oyster and a bite on good bread with paté) distri-hui...ea000b.jpg
Well, I live in California. I can't see any unattended machine staying in working order for very long... We have people here who will & can destroy everything. Makes me sad and ill!!
A bar near here in Wisconsin has a vending machine that sells worms; local fishermen find it to be very convenient.
Then there's this in Abu Dhabi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMYy65CO7vk
Strange they didn't include the Live Lobster vending machines or the Smart Car vending machines or those (NSFW) japanese used undergarment vending machines, or the paper cell phone vending machines, Dutch Strawberry and Tulip machines, the FEBO wall, beer and canned coffee machines, etc, etc etc
😁 most of these are awesome, I'd love to find something of this sort myself.
I live on Vancouver island and the ferries to the mainland have Best Buy vending machines, you can get cameras, headphones etc
I thought our bait/worms-vending machine in Berlin/Germany would be special... And now seeing some of them here...
M a y be in Europe young people will want champagne to get high but I have yet to see that in the usa