Article Did Pharaohs Vend?

How long do you think vending machines have been around?  Most people think vending is a late 20th century phenomenon, but the truth is amazing:  vending is over two thousand years old!

The earliest known vending machines operated in Alexandria, Egypt around 215 B.C.  The mathematician Hero described the devices, located at places of worship.  When a coin was deposited, the gadget dispensed a small quantity of holy water.  We wonder if the customers ever requested a different brand of water!

American vending is generally recognized to have started with the Adams Gum Company.  In 1888, Thomas Adams installed penny gum vending machines on the platforms of the elevated train in New York. 

Snacks have a long history, too. Pretzels were invented by a monk in 610 A.D. Not only did pretzels arrive with the Pilgrims, but popcorn was eaten at the first Thanksgiving as well. Potato chips were invented in 1853 by a chef who was told “his French Fries were too thick!”

The first food cooked by microwaves was a candy bar. In 1946, an engineer was testing the new invention and discovered the candy bar in his pocket had melted! Next, he tried popcorn, with great success. Then an egg ...