I was doing some research on vending machines for an article I was supposed to write for college in my factual writing module.
I got a very decent pass mark and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. Here it is in full:
Today, most people take the convenience of vending machines for granted. We don’t think about their origins. The first known vending machine was created in the first century AD by Hero of Alexandria. This machine dispensed a preset amount of holy water when a coin was inserted. It was the only vending machine mentioned in history until the 1880s when vending machines dispensing post cards were introduced in London.
The post card vending machines proved to be popular and in 1888, the Thomas Adams Gum Co. introduced vending machines which sold gum on train platforms in the United States. Pulver Manufacturing Co. added small figurines which moved around when a purchase was made. These vending machines were the forerunners of pinball and slot machines.
Vending machines continued to evolve and offer more goods. By the 1950s, vending machines could be found almost everywhere. Vending machines offered the convenience of buying merchandise without having to deal with a clerk. Earlier vending machines required exact change. The digital age made it possible for vending machines to “read” money and offer change to customers.
Modern vending machines sell soft drinks, cigarettes, gum, snacks, candy, food and coffee. Those which sell food and drinks are often found in hospitals which are open 24 hours a day, but whose cafeterias often are only open 12 hours a day. The vending machines which offer hot beverages like coffee brew the beverage one cup at a time as it is ordered. Food and soft drink machines have self contained refrigeration units.
Vending machines are typically owned by a company or individual who empties the money and restocks the machines on a regular basis. Full service vending companies are moving toward machines that can transmit signals, either to a route driver or to the company office, indicating they need to be restocked or that they require more change. Customers are less likely to buy from machines indicating exact change is required, so this innovation is a plus for sales. Keeping machines fully stocked also improves sales.
In most states in the United States, cigarette machines have been banned in order to keep underage smokers from obtaining cigarettes. Cigarette machines are still in use in Europe, although some require identification to prove age. In some European countries alcoholic beverages are dispensed through vending machines. Vending machines dispensing feminine products and condoms are common in travel stop restrooms.
Vending machines are a fixture in our lives which we often take for granted. Everyone uses them and yet we rarely consider the ways in which they have evolved to meet our needs.
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