Escapeland

I Love Gumball Machines

12/04/2011

Remember the trill of gumball machines? The magic of finding the machine that has what you want and putting in a quarter only to have it pop out a tiny prize?

I LOVED them as a child and I have to admit that I still do. I still eye the quarter machines in the mall in case there’s a Blythe-sized treasure waiting to be found, I still pour yen into gashapon machines when I’m in Japan hoping for the cutest of the cute, and I still love every minute of it. They’re almost like little gambling machines that you win at every time. What could be better?

According to Wikipedia, vending machines were widely used in Europe before they became popular in the United States. In the early 1880s, the first commercial coin operated vender was introduced in London and stocked with postcards.

So this post is in honor of the gumball machine, quarter machine, gashapon (or gacha) and the chicken machine. Each of them have made my days a little brighter and a little more whimsical with their plastic, surprise balls. And you know how much I love surprise balls.

In fact, in honor of my love for the gumball machine I decided to craft my own cameo gumball rings and supply them to you in a plastic gumball capsule to remind you of those wonder-filled childhood days. I’ve also moved the shop here to stay (an economical decision!) so you don’t have to go far to browse. I hope you enjoy them!

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11 Comments

  • Reply Annika 12/05/2011 at 6:56 am

    I love them!!!!!! (Squee) But, I am wondering when you will put the next post of the art journals, I can’t wait.

  • Reply Brigitte 12/05/2011 at 10:04 am

    So cute! I absolutely love this idea!

  • Reply Amber Renée 12/05/2011 at 4:27 pm

    Annika: having some issues with a swap atm but as soon as it’s cleared up I will be hosting my swaps again! Also can’t wait!!

    And thank you so much, Brigitte!

  • Reply Tamz 12/05/2011 at 10:08 pm

    Such a cute idea! Feels like you’re winning a prize rather than buying a ring, haha.

  • Reply Lola 12/10/2011 at 4:21 am

    I remember that chicken/lucky egg from my childhood. What is a gacha machine? How is it different from the US machines? And have you noticed that a lot of the US machines are $0.75 or $1.00?! -hollychihuahua

  • Reply pocci 12/10/2011 at 10:49 am

    Awww, these are wonderful. I remember never eating so much gum as when I was trying to get a ring out of a gum machine 🙂 Sadly, most of them are gone today or look like they are only stocked every five years or so.
    PS: I think it’s quite funny, we got signed up again, for this blog swap, but I’m already looking at your blog regularly, so that’s fine with me.

  • Reply kraftykj 12/11/2011 at 7:08 am

    I am like you, love the small treasures the machine has to offer! My boys can’t pass a toy machine up ever! As always loving your blog!

  • Reply smilernpb 12/12/2011 at 4:11 pm

    Hi, ooh we have a similiar thing here in the UK but they don’t have gum in. More of a ‘win every time’ sort of thing. They are sometimes filled with toys, or small bouncy balls, but the concept is the same. Sometimes you can find them where you get something ‘hidden’ inside a coloured ball. My kids like those kind of ones.

    Your blog is very sweet.

  • Reply Candace 12/15/2011 at 9:46 am

    I still love to look at gumball machines too. I mostly now go for the candy, but occasionally I’ll see a small toy or sticker I like.

  • Reply Maggie 12/16/2011 at 10:26 am

    I remember these gumball machines, and still love them after all these years! I, too, can’t resist putting a coin in whenever I see something I like. Haha. I remember the times when I put in coin after coin just to get the item I wanted, and not knowing what to do with the rest. This brings back good memories (:

  • Reply evey 12/17/2011 at 11:32 pm

    I always get made fun of, being a 29 year old who can never resist putting coins in those machines. But, I don’t care. They were a staple of my childhood, and I never wanna grow up. 🙂

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