The rise of railroading during the last half of the 19th century led to the widespread use of pocket watches, and even a vending machine in Berlin, Germany during the 1960s designed specifically for these timepieces. Did you know that the first vending machine in the US was built in 1888 by the Thomas Adams Gum Company? It sold gum on New York City train platforms. The idea of adding games to these machines as a further incentive to buy came in 1897 when the Pulver Manufacturing Company added small figures, which would move around whenever somebody bought some gum from their machines. The birth of slot machines and pinball is ultimately rooted in these early devices. Continue reading for more.
