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Newspaper vending machines are used worldwide, especially in Germany and they are often one of the main distribution methods for newspaper publishers.

The coin operated newspaper vending machine was invented in 1947 by inventor George Thiemeyer Hemmeter. 

In the United States, publishers have said that the distribution of newspapers by means of street racks is “an essential method of conveying information to the public”.

Fun Facts about Newspaper

• In China, early government-produced news sheets, called tipao, circulated among court officials during the late Han dynasty (second and third centuries AD).
• The first modern newspapers were products of western European countries like Germany (publishing Relation in 1605), France (Gazette in 1631), Belgium (Nieuwe Tijdingen in 1616) and England (the London Gazette, founded in 1665.
• According to the Guinness Book of Records, the daily circulation of the Soviet newspaper Trud exceeded 21,500,000 in 1990, while the Soviet weekly Argumenty i Fakty boasted the circulation of 33,500,000 in 1991.
• Americans look to Facebook as a news source.
• CNN pioneers 24-hour news format, which debuted in 1980 and challenged the dominance of CBS, ABC, and NBC, which each aired 30-minute nightly newscasts. Mocked at first as the Chicken Noodle Network, CNN hit its stride with its live coverage of the Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986, the three-day-long rescue of toddler Jessica McClure from a well in Midland, Texas in 1987, and live reports from the Persian Gulf War in 1991.
• More than any medium, advertising in newspapers is considered most believable and trustworthy. Consumers find newspapers to be more believable and trustworthy (26 percent) and look forward to newspaper advertising (22 percent) more than sources like the internet, TV, radio, catalogs, magazines and mail.
• The Financial Times (founded in 1888) was first printed on pink paper in 1893 to distinguish it from its rival the Financial News- the Financial News was eventually merged with the Financial Times in 1945.

Source

• Factpages
• Stacker
• Post Bulletin
• Historic Newspapers

Other Vending Machine Applications

A pajamas vending machine offers a unique and convenient solution for purchasing comfortable sleepwear on the go. While not as common as other types of vending machines, these specialty machines cater to specific needs or spontaneous purchases, reflecting an innovative approach to retail. Here’s what you might expect from pajamas vending machines:

Features:

• Variety of Options: These machines can offer a range of pajama styles including full sets, nightshirts, shorts, and tops. They may also provide options suitable for different seasons, like lightweight fabrics for summer and warmer materials for winter.
• Sizes and Fits: To accommodate a wider audience, such machines could potentially stock various sizes, though the selection might be limited compared to traditional retail outlets.
• Compact Packaging: Pajamas in vending machines are likely to be compactly packaged to fit within the machine’s dispensing mechanism, making them easy to vend.
• Payment Flexibility: Like many modern vending machines, pajama vending machines probably accept multiple forms of payment, including cash, credit cards, and mobile payments.

Benefits:

• Convenience: Offering a quick and easy way to purchase pajamas, ideal for travelers who forgot to pack their own or for those in need of immediate replacement.
• Accessibility: Can be placed in locations such as hotels, airports, train stations, and shopping malls, where potential customers may find themselves in need of sleepwear unexpectedly.
• Novelty: The uniqueness of buying pajamas from a vending machine can attract curious buyers looking for a novel shopping experience.

While it might seem unconventional, the concept of pajamas vending machines taps into the growing trend of specialized vending solutions aimed at providing convenience and catering to immediate needs. This approach highlights how vending technology continues to evolve, offering products that were traditionally only available in dedicated stores or online.

Other Vending Machine Applications

A business card vending machine represents an innovative solution for distributing business cards in high-traffic or event-based locations, catering to the needs of professionals and businesses looking for quick and easy access to their contact information. These machines can be particularly useful at conferences, trade shows, and other networking events where exchanging business cards is essential.

Features:

• Customization Options: Users might be able to customize their business card order directly from the machine, choosing from various templates, finishes, and designs.
• Quick Printing: Equipped with on-the-spot printing technology, these machines can produce business cards rapidly, allowing users to receive their cards almost immediately after ordering.
• Digital Integration: Some advanced models may allow users to upload their own designs via USB drives, smartphones, or email, ensuring a personalized touch.
• Payment Flexibility: Accepting multiple forms of payment including cash, credit/debit cards, and mobile payments to facilitate ease of transaction.
• Stock Variety: Machines could offer different types of paper quality, finishes (matte, glossy), and perhaps even embossing or foil stamping options.

Benefits:

• Convenience: Provides a fast and efficient way to obtain business cards without having to wait for a traditional print shop’s turnaround time.
• Accessibility: Ideal for events or locations where attendees or visitors need immediate access to professional contact details.
• Cost-Effective: For small quantities or emergency replacements, using a vending machine can be more economical than placing an order with a professional printer.
• Marketing Tool: Businesses can use these machines as part of their marketing strategy by setting them up in strategic locations to increase brand visibility.

While not yet widely common, the concept of business card vending machines showcases how automation and digital integration can streamline everyday tasks, offering convenience and efficiency for professionals on the go. This approach highlights the potential for vending machines to evolve beyond snacks and beverages into more specialized services and products.

Other Vending Machine Applications

In Macau, there are a few prepaid mobile/telephone sim card vending machine when you exit out of the Macau Ferry Terminal.

In Hong Kong, you can buy SIM cards in Tsim Sha Tsui subway station on the Mass Transit Railway (MTR) in Hong Kong. It’s selling SIM cards for mobile phones, both the GSM and the CMDA variety (for those visiting China and wishing to have CDMA). Cards cost mostly HK $100, which is about US$13.

Almost all Hong Kong phones are sold ‘unlocked’ meaning you can switch SIM cards at will.

Interesting facts about Telephone

• The first phone call was between Alexander Graham Bell and his assistant, Thomas Watson.
• The conversation is “Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.”
• “Hello” came later On. Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, suggested using “ahoy” when answering the phone. It was actually Thomas Edison who suggested using “hello.
• The first phone book was only 20 pages long.
• One of the first people to have a telephone in their home was American writer Mark Twain.
• In the early years of the telephone, switchboard operators would connect calls between two parties. Over time, they were replaced by automatic switchboards.
• The first mobile phone available was released in 1983, and it was called the DynaTAC 8000x.

Other Vending Machine Applications

Apart from Japan, there is a similar system set up in France. Two hundred Perspex-fronted, coin-operated compartments are crammed with organic fresh fruit, vegetables, and eggs sourced from the Île-de-France area, no more than 50 kilometres outside of the city.

Producers take up to 50 percent of the proceeds, a far higher cut than what offered by many supermarkets. It was made possible thanks to self-service system and minimal staff expenses.

‘The big distributors have killed small producers in France in the last ten years,’ explains Julian, who began Au Bout Du Champ with friend Joseph. ‘Supermarkets like Monoprix demand cheap prices for food but the fruit and vegetables are not fresh and are imported from places like South America—they’re terrible and it’s not logical. Every weekend, I go to my parent’s house for a traditional Sunday lunch and we always buy well-priced, freshly picked produce from the farmer who has a stall close to the road. In the city there is nowhere to buy such food.’

‘My mum told me it was a bad idea because when she buys vegetables, she likes to speak with the seller. She also likes to touch the tomatoes to feel if they are ready to eat,’ says Julien. ‘I understand but imagine 100 people touching your tomatoes before you buy them—it’s not hygienic.’

‘After a month or so we noticed that because there was no specific relationship between us—the seller—and the buyer, a bond was born between the consumers,’ he adds. ‘The people entering the shop speak with one another about cooking, how the system works, and sometimes team up and divide the contents of each locker depending on what they want. It’s like a community.’

Julien and Joseph’s automats are supplied by not just one, but four producers. The seasonal fruit and veg is sent to the shops every day, equating to about 25 to 20 percent of each farmer’s overall production. Information displayed near each automat explains the farmers’ stories and the philosophy of supporting local businesses. Thanks to the self-service operation, the shops stay open seven days a week—a rarity in Paris.

It’s also about education and showing people how good food is grown, where it comes from, and the value of supporting local economies.

Julian

Other Vending Machine Applications