There were vending machines for every conceivable foodstuff and everyday essential from between the 1930s and 1960s.
1. Buying flight insurance used to be so much easier. Here’s a machine selling air insurance at Newark Airport.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhYZALDMwqw/VxKVGPiVTZI/AAAAAAACJ8w/sfqF8V-YlZYLcR9uRNYFiDXimuFGtPbdACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-1.jpg)
2. Just 25 cents a book, such a bargain.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVBpGFJLEI4/VxKVI5KGkHI/AAAAAAACJ9Y/mXB5WHpGwv4hSF2RvR0a6gz-C--eCKccACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-2.jpg)
3. Why pick apples when you can get them from a vending machine?
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/--ANB6rihvnw/VxKVKiDSHfI/AAAAAAACJ9s/8tiR7qESmh8SriZTLEaUk0VjUmi2MjK7QCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-3.jpg)
4. Not too certain what Ark Pie is, but I want some.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lC-sEM9QWow/VxKVKvXM5bI/AAAAAAACJ90/Px7BH0SaR5YTfXC19ce7-nTAqWTfUiQ_gCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-4.jpg)
5. This machine actually sold already lit cigarettes for a penny.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a0Kjd3vtB28/VxKVK09nY9I/AAAAAAACJ9w/gdeKNxLmm1MgqqinZZ1jVNLlpRHr8lgaACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-5.jpg)
6. Let’s hope this machine is selling hot dogs.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-efKphPFBowo/VxKVLoa1fxI/AAAAAAACJ94/NZUnPBFGLyEREKIU_8cGRE7vCe22GoNUwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-6.jpg)
7. A coin operated perfume dispenser.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mLVhf9DB60I/VxKVLtD8tDI/AAAAAAACJ-A/FSGf2T9sQIozR_pLz1ab9JUKt1A6eZd7wCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-7.jpg)
8. Only 10 quarters for flight insurance? That seems like a bargain.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6H0MZDVxKcY/VxKVLnESkAI/AAAAAAACJ98/Lk7gJpajUBEDrdfJBC0NqUG4K7LRV_RPQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-8.jpg)
9. Enjoy your music with this 45 rpm record vending machine.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rCaywcJJ7EE/VxKVMfRaOiI/AAAAAAACJ-E/pxMZQeTyldAJMWJ3PPKTNaXQ-PHc6T71wCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-9.jpg)
10. Get all your grocery shopping done without having to talk to a single soul.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-P5eUsW8ym0A/VxKVGH-0elI/AAAAAAACJ8s/1Al56SThDyURpcwsWbstE8smMRMq3lpCACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-10.jpg)
11. Forget your bikini? That's what this vending machine is for.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C6r03jf8csk/VxKVGDFsADI/AAAAAAACJ80/hl77LSNd6DcLRpdgaRVgKhMKUoOWUfNFQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-11.jpg)
12. For the fishermen on the go.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GEvEFx6hY3Q/VxKVGoe90fI/AAAAAAACJ88/xsrJgoC_lI8OTqKb1DFipGvQe1LEf0fnACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-12.jpg)
13. Why bring lunch when you can have vending machine soup!?
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lbtDOw-AXlI/VxKVG5LwVgI/AAAAAAACJ84/_-_jM53z4RIBiUTJ4oq42shgxOq9I_rwACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-13.jpg)
14. That’s actually Harpo Marx surprising someone on Candid Camera from inside a Coca-Cola vending machine.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GOfL3OipVo0/VxKVHFHlviI/AAAAAAACJ9A/1cIIDQEQ12o6dzSPJZceCqP73lnm68VIQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-14.jpg)
15. A vending machine selling Calpis, a Japanese beverage.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cXUWTf0evGo/VxKVHuQBTrI/AAAAAAACJ9I/HQZICyHPUVUYva43Mh0RAQGAwqVkPl1VgCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-15.jpg)
16. Lemonade vending machines in Moscow.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_rdH7awcvhY/VxKVHo3uLNI/AAAAAAACJ9E/hTt3zYzke7wfzrIUv-AURyjtSw-Vjt4HwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-16.jpg)
17. Instant books!
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJDW5FGIdzM/VxKVH7tZyeI/AAAAAAACJ9M/0ZK9vAXEdp4gpQeIWF-8j9fUfuj93MdoACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-17.jpg)
18. Pantyhose on-the-go in France.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VkyRwxctbnY/VxKVIWlzgaI/AAAAAAACJ9U/hZ-bqD9pCUA1mTpdKpsRo4D3ofJKncNPQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-18.jpg)
19. A machine dispensing handy lightbulbs.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XaQ1XH-EmQo/VxKVIk9DMMI/AAAAAAACJ9Q/bsCqkk6LZ08KzYabu097zhbxNI2Z4nblwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-19.jpg)
20. Not the most exciting vending machine — dispensing lumps of coal in France — but still useful once upon a time.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaXLVrd29jg/VxKVJaSWSVI/AAAAAAACJ9c/XewLzo-51uU4RzRl5hHO8X5z2kX0aDxcACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-20.jpg)
21. Cream cheese and jelly sandwich anyone? Two sandwich vending machines from circa 1945.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Y8RYzKEHwJA/VxKVJXyQ0oI/AAAAAAACJ9k/5uwjh6G0RfMHH0ry2qAd7UOsOY1qbZxOwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-21.jpg)
22. A vending machine for bouquets of flowers in Berlin.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8QPxxZjUPJA/VxKVJn4-ZLI/AAAAAAACJ9g/2iML7RyQuzY2p32Hrmac8WaDeK7Vq-pAwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-22.jpg)
23. You can have your tea however you like it. As long as you like it with milk and sugar.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FMtAzlVPtOA/VxKVKTvThdI/AAAAAAACJ9o/BDCKi4AqcMMsnp9dyi1qZX5M9FrErbbLgCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-23.jpg)
24. A Macy’s vending machine that sold men’s shorts for only 97 cents!
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VkOUeIsJ0BE/VxKfD3vVrUI/AAAAAAACJ-g/3Q8e0YLWGO8EIe2eEn6LHAAJoXJDXrvxACLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-24.jpg)
25. A German “Feinkost” vending machine mounted on a shop’s wall, circa 1955.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bLUuAI018u8/VxKfDwhAS1I/AAAAAAACJ-Y/vkaFkr8_qYAsiwGi3XcinUEMLefSGOwuwCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-25.jpeg)
26. Warm lunch vending machine at Zandvoort in the Netherlands.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3pmL6s1XwYc/VxKfDxxw3CI/AAAAAAACJ-c/plm36poHtYUq3oAfbcYhaUf9087bXM48QCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-26.jpeg)
27. Milk vending machine in U.K. from circa 1960.
![](https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dj4ROkFwgso/VxKfEnpBOTI/AAAAAAACJ-k/jv7C14Q2cWooXddotqnMWvh5K-ctX8WNQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-27.jpeg)
28. Milk vending machine in London.
![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SWzTNU_wGkU/VxKfEh_eeII/AAAAAAACJ-o/rurtMB6ELE8XRRjIdpo9VaHyhY1daFW3wCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-28.jpeg)
29. Coal machine distributor in England.
![](https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ddRTmYzzenw/VxKfEjKeGcI/AAAAAAACJ-s/1PZRQv8U50EWgZmkcKzVnDwPz1SfCnBvQCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-29.jpeg)
30. A new refrigerated vending machine called the “5 Star Microdine Hot Meal Service”.
![](https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1JGp_WJZnFA/VxKiCON6ZII/AAAAAAACJ-4/oD0zXhut9C0gB1yMdzPRZJT-bLWoQxxywCLcB/s1600/vintage-vending-machines-30.jpeg)