Paperback Vending Machines - a photo on Flickriver

Left
The Penguincubator appeared in London in 1937. Conceived by Allen Lane, the founder of Penguin Books, the Penguincubator dispensed classic literature in paperback form for about the same price as a pack of cigarettes.
Sir Allen may have succeeded in changing English reading habits, but the Penguincubator had little to do with it. Specifically, it was never manufactured in sufficient quantity to make an impact on the market.

Middle
In June 1947, Popular Science featured an early book vending machine called the Book-O-Mat which offered a selection of 50 books published by Pocket Books, any one of which could be purchased for a quarter.

Right
In the early 1950s Avon Books created the VendAvon, a coin-operated book vending machine, found in airports, hospitals, and ferry terminals. Avon installed 210 machines, each containing 24 of the latest Avon titles, across several states.

Check out this modern one: www.youtube.com/watch?v=jeVf23w79zs

The Biblio-Mat is a random book dispenser built by Craig Small for The Monkey's Paw, an idiosyncratic antiquarian bookshop in Toronto. Biblio-Mat books, which vary widely in size and subject matter, cost two dollars. The machine was conceived as an artful alternative to the ubiquitous and often ignored discount sidewalk bin. When a customer puts coins into it, the Biblio-Mat dramatically whirrs and vibrates as the machine is set in motion. The ring of an old telephone bell enhances the thrill when the customer's mystery book is delivered with a satisfying clunk into the receptacle below.

Camera: James Cooper
Editor: Nick Goso
Coding: Dan Donaldson

Taken on: May 25, 2022

Tags:

paperback collecting

vending machines

book-o-mat

vendavon « less

Sets appears in: • Most-Favourited • Collecting Paperbacks more » • Pop Culture • Avon Books • Penguins - Miscellany • Pocket Books « less

Groups appears in: • Penguin Paperback Spotters' Guild • *Book Sniffers* more » • Pop culture • Old-Timey Paperback Book Covers • PULP • 1950s • Pulp Fiction • books! • vintage paperback • 1940s • A+ Book Covers • retro america • Retro Cool! • Vintage Book Illustration • My Vintage Addiction • Vintage Books • 6,000 Views Unlimited 6000 • Digital Hoarders • Books . Papers* . Readers . Libraries « less

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