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[–] 85 points 6 months ago (5 children)

The earliest known reference to a vending machine is in the work of Hero of Alexandria, an engineer and mathematician in first-century Roman Egypt. His machine accepted a coin and then dispensed wine2 or holy water.3 When the coin was deposited, it fell upon a pan attached to a lever. The lever opened a valve which let some wine flow out. The pan continued to tilt with the weight of the coin until it fell off, at which point a counterweight snapped the lever up and turned off the valve.

Neat

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  • [–] 36 points 6 months ago (3 children)

    Shit we had wine2 back then and yet I'm still drinking wine1?

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