Page 33 - Alan Blakeman Collection catalogue

Surely one of the most eccentric vending machines to survive. There were crude 17th century tobacco dispensers but the
first practical device was Denhams 1867 stamp dispenser.
The Price’s machine is cased in walnut and marked for the British Automatic Supply Syndicate Limited based at 143 Queen Victoria Street, London (the building was also the base for the Mineral Water Trade Review in the 1880’s). It utilises Wimbledon inventor Augustus Charles Argles’ coin feed Patent. An improved version (Pat. No. 17,109, 1901) was for dispensing timetables for use in “trains, tram cars, omnibuses, or the like”. They were also dispensing confectionary via their machines.
The Price’s machine is curiously basic with just four candles having to be set in the grippers and individually replaced. One might expect this to be in an ’out of hours’ need but in hotels one would be on each floor with Price having a shared contract with them. In case you are thinking of trying the candles at home notice the night lights had to be placed in water. The same caution is true with glass night lights. Many did not have candles but wicks floating on oil where candles were used they had solid heat insulating bases. If you put a tea light in your antique Vauxhall lantern don’t be surprised if it cracks!
In 1901, a proposal to Cheltenham Council offered cabinets with six compartments filled with an assorted packets of Fullers confectionery for a shilling in the slot. The council official would keep it filled from the stock to be purchased by the Council
with the council getting 20% of the profits. Cheltenham turned them down but they had contracts with railways and Burroughs Welcome.