What was the first vending machine launched 20 centuries ago?

Vending machines are probably something that is so familiar with our lives. People can buy all kinds of items with this machine, from soft drinks, candies to . condoms.

It is hard to deny the convenience that this small refrigerator machine offers, such as reducing labor and store costs. However, few people know that the vending machine was born about 2000 years ago, in the first century AD.

According to Smithsonian.com, the first vending machine was invented by Hero of Alexandria, also known as Hero, who built the first steam engine and syringe cylinder in the world. gender.

Drawing the first vending machine.

This item sold is . holy water . Buyers can put coins into the slot of the machine, then the coin will fall into a disc connected to the need to open the water. Based on the mass of the coin, the machine will pump out the corresponding amount of water. This disc is designed so that the coin can slide slowly down to need to open the water without bearing the force of the coin and close the flush valve. With this design, buyers can only receive the amount of holy water corresponding to the money they spend.

One of the interesting things around this machine is the reason Hero created it . It is known that before this machine came out, too many people came to the church to get more holy water than the money they spent, making the holy water a great loss.

Modern vending machines today.

Although the way this machine works is quite interesting, it is not widely available. In the 1880s, the first vending machine was released to the public, it sold postcards (postcards) and then singum candy.