Tuesday, April 18, 2017
Delicate Victorians?
Latest item at KSHS is a 1902 gum vending machine.
First thing that caught my attention was the flavors of gum: Peppermint and Blood Orange. Do you think Blood Orange would be popular among today's snowflakes? Or even my generation? Not on your life.
Second thing is the total transparency of the mechanism. If such a machine had been around when I was a kid, I would have wasted my whole allowance every week just watching it work.
Needless to say, Youtube comes through with the real thing. A restorer made a video of a similar machine for sale:
The dispensing action is almost as shocking as the Blood flavor. No snowflakes need apply.
... Noticed something clever in the action. Each dispense pops the gum out toward your face, and simultaneously rings a bell. The two flavors have different bells. A little bit of synesthesia for brand identity. One more reason to keep coming back for more. Also an indication for the storekeeper, so he can semi-consciously keep track of stock without looking at the machine.
Labels: 1901
¶ 4:31 AM
