Gumball machine facts for kids
A gumball machine is a special kind of vending machine. It gives you a single gumball when you put money into it. When they first came out in the early 1900s, a gumball usually cost just one penny. Today, in the United States, one gumball often costs a quarter.
History of Gumball Machines
Even though vending machines for regular gum appeared around 1888, the first machines that sold actual gumballs showed up later, in 1907. The Thomas Adams Gum Co. in the United States likely released them first.
In the 1930s, the Norris Manufacturing Company made their "Master" gumball machines. These shiny chrome machines were patented in 1923. They could take either pennies or nickels.
The Ford Gum and Machine Company started in 1934 in Akron, New York. They were another early company that made gum for gumball machines. Ford gumball machines were known for their bright chrome color. Money from these machines often helped local groups like the Lions Club and Kiwanis International.
The Northwestern Corporation began in 1909. They first sold kitchen matches. Later, they created gumball machines like the Northwestern Model 33 in 1933. They also made the Model 60 and Model 80, which you can still find today.
How Gumball Machines Work
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Most gumball machines have a clear round part, often made of plastic, filled with gumballs. This clear part sits on a metal base. The top is locked, so only the owner can open it to add more gumballs.
To get a gumball, you put a coin into a slot in the base. Then, you turn a handle all the way around. This drops your coin into the machine's base. It also lets one gumball fall into a small opening at the bottom. This opening is usually covered by a metal flap.
Many gumball machines have a very simple way of giving out the gumball. You might not even see the gumball move until it appears in the chute. But some machines have more exciting ways to deliver your treat!
For example, some machines use the gumball's own weight to make it roll down a spiral ramp. Others might have a series of slanted disks with holes. The gumball rolls from one disk to the next until it drops out. The most fancy machines even use electricity to power small lifts or pulleys. These move the gumball along ramps and drops before it reaches you!
See also
In Spanish: Máquina expendedora de chicles para niños
