This lot is closed. Bidding ended on 7/8/2004.
Thomas Adams (1818-1905) was a New York glass merchant and inventor with the distinction of inventing in the 1870s the popular confection known as chewing gum! "Chicle" was the key ingredient in Adams' invention, which had been made available in large quantities to him for the purpose of making rubber, by General Antonio de Santa Anna of Mexico, who was in exile in Staten Island at the time. By 1888, Adams' gum known as "Tutti-Frutti" became the first chewing gum to be sold in vending machines, located in New York City subway stations. Adams' greatest success in gum was the product still sold today as "Chiclets." This is a collection of two vintage Adams Chewing Gum vending machines that were originally placed in NYC subway stations. The first is a 16" x 10" x 4-1/2" Mills Automatic Merchandising Corp. penny gum vending machine, circa 1936. It has a polished metal exterior, shows some wear but is in fantastic condition for its age. Serial # 36498 is on plaque, which also has a penny slot. The window advertises Adams Gum (Beemans, Chiclets, Dentyne). The second machine measures 22-1/2" x 9-3/4" x 3-3/4", green metal with no other markings, likely earlier than 1936. There are four pull-buttons to dispense gum, the window reads "Adams Chewing Gum" in white letters on red oval, and underneath is printed, "A Flavor For Every Taste."