The vending machine was invented in Ancient Egypt, by a
Greek mathematician/engineer. It was designed to dispense holy water inside
Egyptian temples. In the 1600’s, small machines in English pubs exchanged
tobacco for coins. The country best known for its love of vending machines is
Japan, which boasts a machine for every 23 people. Japanese buy hot and cold beverages
from vending machines; sometimes both are available from the same unit. They can
purchase hot foods like burgers, soba noodles, and curry; refrigerated items
like sweet potatoes, sushi and bananas; or frozen treats like mochi, ice cream
or popsicles. Their use isn’t limited to food and beverages. In airports, train
stations and hotels, vending machines sell face masks, hand sanitizer, and
toothbrush/toothpaste kits. And in business districts, there are machines
offering socks, neckties, dress shirts and deodorant. There are even
solar-powered or hand-crank vending machines for use when the power goes out.
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