The Candy Machine: Pennies A Day
An icon of childhood, the candy machine can be found in almost any supermarket, convenience store, or even department store. Many children will immediately ask their parents for money as soon as they see one. The candy machine makes their money directly from the impulsive drive of instant gratification: the child sees something he or she may not have even thought of and immediately wants it. A few coins are placed in the slots, a wheel is turned, a lever pulled, button pushed, whatever action is necessary, and the child gets whatever prize or candy is available; an hour later, the whole event is forgotten.
A classic version of these candy machines is the gumball candy machine. Though these machines have undergone a few upgrades, including flashing lights, sounds and other similar attention grabbing gimmicks, the point remains the same: put in your quarter, get your gumball. This is one of the traditions of childhood, and so remains a classic in many memories and a beloved icon in our hearts. It is such a fond memory for some people that they go as far as collecting these treasured machines. Many retro themed diners and amusement parks stock gumball machines that may not even work just for the nostalgic feel they bring about.
The candy machine has undergone many revamps and price increases. At one time in order to get your sugar fix all you needed was a penny, you plugged it in the machine and pulled a lever and out came your candy. Prices have skyrocketed since, up to a quarter, and most recently to fifty cents even a dollar in some cases. However, the price is almost worth all the bells and whistles that come with the machines these days. It’s almost like watching a miniature circus as you see your gumball lifted up on a little conveyer up to the top, then slide down a little ramp, into a funnel just to slide down another ramp. All the while lights are flashing and music is playing.
Antique candy machines have started to become a new collector’s piece due to the nostalgia factor, everyone seems to want to relive their childhood. Of course, considering the place these machines have in American history, it’s not surprising that they would grow in popularity among the many collectors of so called Americana. The older machines do so often seem more along the lines of art rather than machinery, perhaps as a result of the marketing ploys of the time in which they were made. This is in total contrast to today’s modern bulk candy machine, which would seem to be more a feat of electronics rather than a work of art. But this is also to be attributed to the fact that these days children are more interested in electronics than anything else. Case in point: video games; the machines are now built to resemble video games more than candy dispensers in order to attract attention from the ADHD children of our day.