Search  for anything...

Vending Machines: An American Social History

  • Based on 6 reviews
Condition: New
Checking for product changes
$31.12 Why this price?
Save $12.82 was $43.94

Buy Now, Pay Later


As low as $7 / mo
  • – 4-month term
  • – No impact on credit
  • – Instant approval decision
  • – Secure and straightforward checkout

Ready to go? Add this product to your cart and select a plan during checkout.

Payment plans are offered through our trusted finance partners Klarna, PayTomorrow, Affirm, Afterpay, Apple Pay, and PayPal. No-credit-needed leasing options through Acima may also be available at checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Selected Option

Free shipping on this product

This item is eligible for return within 30 days of receipt

To qualify for a full refund, items must be returned in their original, unused condition. If an item is returned in a used, damaged, or materially different state, you may be granted a partial refund.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.


Availability: Only 3 left in stock, order soon!
Fulfilled by Amazon

Arrives Saturday, Jun 7
Order within 23 hours and 23 minutes
Available payment plans shown during checkout

Format: Paperback


Description

Although the 1880s are considered the beginning of the vending machine era, these devices have existed for a couple of thousand years. The earliest reference to a vending machine was made by Hero--a Greek mathematician, physicist and engineer who probably lived in Alexandria during the first century a.d.--who described and illustrated a coin-operated device to be used for vending sacrificial water in Egyptian temples. Completely automatic, the device was set in operation by the insertion of a five-drachma coin. This work traces the history of the vending machine from its inception to its current place in popular American culture, with the eight chapters covering significant eras. Successes and failures of the machines, economic factors influencing the popularity (or lack thereof) of vending machines, and the struggle of industry to become a dominant, large-scale method of retailing products are discussed. This text is richly illustrated and includes appendices on vending dollar value, vending sales by location type and vending statistics. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ McFarland (July 26, 2002)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 290 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0786413697


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 90


Reading age ‏ : ‎ 18 years and up


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.58 x 9 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #2,661,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #833 in Retailing Industry (Books) #2,600 in Anthropology (Books) #2,967 in United States History (Books)


#833 in Retailing Industry (Books):


Frequently asked questions

If you place your order now, the estimated arrival date for this product is: Saturday, Jun 7

Yes, absolutely! You may return this product for a full refund within 30 days of receiving it.

To initiate a return, please visit our Returns Center.

View our full returns policy here.

  • Klarna Financing
  • Affirm Pay in 4
  • Affirm Financing
  • Afterpay Financing
  • PayTomorrow Financing
  • Financing through Apple Pay
Leasing options through Acima may also be available during checkout.

Learn more about financing & leasing here.

Top Amazon Reviews


  • Four Stars
Holy molly this is detailed. Having said that, I would have appreciated more context, both culturally and politically.
Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2014 by James Davis

Can't find a product?

Find it on Amazon first, then paste the link below.