Before unusual vending machines started popping up, there was Keedoozle. It’s basically a vending machine-style supermarket from 1948 that was founded by Clarence Saunders. This store was ahead of its time and proposed to be the world’s first self-serving store.
Unfortunately, the logistics of such a process were not ironed out, as selecting an item required shoppers to have keys. Electric circuits caused perforations to be cut in a ticker tape attached to the face of the customer’s key. The customer then took the punched out tape to the cashier for processing. The cashier would insert the tape into a reading mechanism that would electronically read it. That set off electrical and electronic circuits which started the goods sliding down conveyor belts and did the cost tallying in the process.
- Versatile snack storage: This organizer is designed to store various types of bagged snacks, such as granola bars, protein bars, chips, pretzels,...
- Convenient grab-and-go: Placing this organizer on your countertop saves you time by making snacks easily accessible to everyone, allowing them to...
- Stylish and functional design: The tiered-shelf design adds a touch of style to your space, while the neutral color seamlessly blends with any...
The key-activated system wasn’t fully automatic, though. Your groceries were tucked away behind stockroom walls and chilly refrigeration units. Stockroom folks would grab your chosen items and place them onto conveyor belts by hand, sending them rolling toward the cashier for checkout. A clever little gadget added up your total, and once you paid, you’d pick up your groceries—neatly wrapped or boxed up, just the way you like it.
