Despite the fact that first mechanical vending machines appeared in electricity age electronic vendors were put out a little bit later than the mechanical ones – right after electrification of the cities and electronic equipment development.

The history of vendors is in close association with slot machines. In the early 1900s a lot of slot machines (gaming machines) emerged in the USA and Great Britain. However it was a half-legal business and soon it was declared illegal (because no taxes were paid on winnings and coins inserted into machines) on account of anti-gambling law adoption. To prevent slot machines from standing idle they were redesigned into gum and candy vending machines. Instead of a game they dispensed a chewing gum to “a player-buyer”. The buyer had the right to pull the arm setting the drums in motion and to win prize money in addition. As it was playing machines the drums presented the most popular flavors of the chewing gum – plum, orange, lemon, pepper mint, cherry and water melon. Their combination determined the prize of the buyer. Fruit that we can see even now on the drums are nothing else but a reminder of difficult relations of slot machines with law (by the way, drum playing machines are simply called “fruit machines” in Great Britain).

The fact that the term “slot machine” was originally used for both vending and playing machines is evidence of the connection between them (slot is a slit to insert money). Both playing and vending machines had identical slots. But later the term was assigned only to machines that in exchange of money don’t dispense goods but give the opportunity to play a game. At present a slot machine is a playing machine.

But let’s return to the history of vending.

In Philadelphia, a first completely coin-operated restaurant called Horn & Hardart was opened in 1902 and managed to stay open until 1962.

In 1920 the first automatic vending machines started dispensing sodas into cups. A man inserts a coin into a slot and the machine fills a container (a glass, a can) placed by the buyer with a quantity of syrup or soda water. This process serves per se as a basis for modern coffee vending machines operation – a fixed ratio of ingredients of coffee or other hot beverage is poured into a glass through dispensers.

In same 1920 vending machines dispensing tampons were invented. Today such vendors can be seen everywhere next to vendors selling cosmetics and baby goods.

In 1926, an American inventor named William Rowe invented a cigarette-vending machine. Vendors dispensed packs of cigarettes. Soon match-vending machines stood out next to them. The popularity of smoking in the USA at that time boosted their development. Today there are a lot of law regulations against street vending of smokables. It is allowed only if a cigarette and lighter vending machine stands in bars or clubs where non-adults don’t have access.

During the Great Depression vendors dispensing cigarettes by the piece appeared. People could not afford the whole pack, but a piece for a penny - at any time. At the same time lotion vending machines emerged – one could sprinkle a fragrant lotion for a penny.

After the Depression another type of vendors appeared – machines vending cigarette packs together with matches (two-in-one or separately). That reduced operators’ expenses for purchase of two individual vendors. And this stimulated invention of combo vending machines such as “gum and toy”, “coffee and snack”, “beer and nuts”, etc.

Right after postcard vending machines stamp vendors emerged at first dispensing stamps by the piece then by whole blocks. Today we can see a machine vending stamped envelopes, i.e. according to distance a buyer chooses a number and type of stamps and having inserted a coin gets stamped envelope.

A highly amusing vendor was invented in 1930. It was a fruit pie vending machine. One could buy a piece of fresh fruit pie for some cents. At present cakes and doughnuts are specially packed and vended everywhere by snack vending machines.

In the early 1930s ice-cooled bottled soft drink vendors were invented and became widespread. After a time refrigerators replaced ice.

A first hot coffee vending machine was produced in 1946. It was a beginning of new era of vending machines. With the advent of coffee machines a number of vendors grow all over the world.

1950s brought a new wave of vendors. It was time of extreme importance of appearance. Shaving cream and after shave lotion vending machines gained wide popularity. They worked on the following principle: having inserted a coin the door of the vendor opened and a buyer gained access to a shaving cream portion and a razor attached to the machine by a lace or a chain. Having finished a shaving process a man returned the razor into the vendor and only after that an after shave lotion was dispensed. Next shaving razor and shaving-set vending machines appeared. For women handkerchief and sanitary napkin vendors were designed. A first ball pen vending machine emerged at the same time.

The same period marks appearance of the machines vending cold sandwiches.

In 1960 bill acceptors were invented, since then vendors could accept bills as well as coins.

Development of electronics, computer-aided technologies, and mobile communications stimulated further evolution of vendors in the 80-es and 90-es. The vending machines integrated computers, GSM connection, finger-tip control, etc. In fact, it is these vendors that present modern age and future of vending.