215 B.C.

Device to dispense holy water used in the temples of Egypt, described by the mathematician Hero who lived in Alexandria.

1886

U.S. grants several patents for coin-operated dispensers

1888

Thomas Adams company installs Tutti-Frutti gum machines on New York elevated train platforms.

1902

Horn and Hardart Baking Company opens Automat restaurant in Philadelphia.

1905

U.S. Post Office begins to use stamp vendors

1926

First commercial cigarette vending machines come on the market.

1930s

Invention of the first slug rejectors facilitates large-scale application of retailing through vending machines.

1930s

Bottled soft drink machines cooled with ice appear on the market

1936

National Automatic Merchandising Association is founded

1946

Invention of the first coffee vendors leads to use of vending machines for coffee break.

1947

First NAMA National Expo

1950

First refrigerated sandwich vendors expand lunch menu

1957

U.S. Public Health Service approves Model Vending Sanitation Code, and NAMA establishes industry's first evaluation program to certify vending equipment

Ice served for the first time in cup soft drink

1958

Milk shake vending machine introduced

1960

Dollar bill changers are added to vending banks

Single cup coffee vending machines introduced

First NAMA Western Expo

1961

Canned Soft Drink vendors offer customers a new beverage option

1963

Vending companies begin furnishing microwave ovens to heat refrigerated foods

1968

Term "OCS" for Office Coffee Service introduced

Electric data retrieval system for machines introduced by International Totalizing System

Electronic components applied to vending machines by Wurlitzer & RMi

1983

French fry machines introduced

1985

Credit card/debit card devices for vending machines introduced

1986

100^th Anniversary of vending in U.S.

1987

First hand-held computers electronically capture vending data

1987

Frozen food vendors introduced

1988

First bean-grinders introduced in coffee machines

1991

Flavored coffees, espresso, cappuccino introduced in machines

1992

NAMA approves industry-wide Data Transfer Standard.

1992

Bag-in-box syrup containers installed in cold beverage machines.

1993

First remote wireless transmission of data from machines to warehouses.

1999

National Coffee Service Association merged with NAMA

New dollar coin introduced by U.S. Mint

2005

NAMA launches its Balanced for Life Health and Wellness Initiative to educate people about the importance of a balanced diet and physical activity.