origin of the vending box?

[DaClyde]

The term "vending box" has always seemed odd to me, and so has the purpose of said item. Were they originally just intended to be loaded into trading card vending machines? If so, it seems they far out-lived that use, as growing up in the 80s, I don't ever remember seeing a card vending machine that was loaded with one set's worth of cards, rather they were always assorted cards from different years/brands.

Can anyone enlighten me on the origins of the trading card vending box?

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by DaClyde

The term "vending box" has always seemed odd to me, and so has the purpose of said item. Were they originally just intended to be loaded into trading card vending machines?

Yes, they were.

Originally Posted by DaClyde

If so, it seems they far out-lived that use, as growing up in the 80s, I don't ever remember seeing a card vending machine that was loaded with one set's worth of cards, rather they were always assorted cards from different years/brands.

The vending machines that I remember were on a stand and had 3 racks (columns or whatever they're called) that were loaded with cards. Each dispensed cards, so you would just put your coin in one of the dispensers, pull the lever and out came the cards.

I remember seeing them up to the early '90s. Some card shop somewhere probably still has one.

Here's a pic of a newer one.

[steve B]

The K mart near where I lived in Jr High had one of those machines. It was cool, but the cards were more expensive than buying packs. Plus it usually had non-sports in it and football cards well into summer.

I'm pretty sure the machines are still around as the machines that dispense stickers in a cardboard folder. The folder is about 2 cards thick. I don't recall how many cards we'd get but I think it was about 2-3 for a nickel.

Steve B

[frankbmd]

We still have a vending machine in town at the card shop. Several chase cards are added. The kids pump quarters into them. The parents empty their pockets. The owner smiles.

Question which is better? A $10 modern pack with nothing of value inside or a $10 roll of quarters put into the slot with the same result. I'm not sure, so I stick to vintage cards.

[GasHouseGang]

So were some of the earliest vending machines the Exhibit and Mutoscope machines? I bought a set of the Mutoscope pinup cards that came from a "vending" box. I assumed these cards were dispensed from a machine. Is that true?

[GasHouseGang]

Here's some pics of the exhibit machines being offered in Legendary's latest.
Was there anything before these?