With 12th-15th century technology, is a “vending machine” possible?












26














Say that I own a business from around the 12th-15th century. My country uses a Silver (or, if you so wish, Gold) currency in the form of coins. I want to make a secure "vending machine" to give out objects in exchange for a certain number of these coins.



Here are the specifics:




  • The objects can be of any shape, size, or weight


  • The machine should preferably work with multiple coins, but one would be okay


  • The machine should be able to determine whether or not the coin is the right coin, which has a standard weight and size. It should be secure against most types of fakes.



My question is: Is this possible, and if so, how would it work?










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  • I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
    – user6760
    Dec 9 at 5:04






  • 9




    ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
    – James
    Dec 9 at 8:23






  • 1




    15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 9:39
















26














Say that I own a business from around the 12th-15th century. My country uses a Silver (or, if you so wish, Gold) currency in the form of coins. I want to make a secure "vending machine" to give out objects in exchange for a certain number of these coins.



Here are the specifics:




  • The objects can be of any shape, size, or weight


  • The machine should preferably work with multiple coins, but one would be okay


  • The machine should be able to determine whether or not the coin is the right coin, which has a standard weight and size. It should be secure against most types of fakes.



My question is: Is this possible, and if so, how would it work?










share|improve this question
























  • I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
    – user6760
    Dec 9 at 5:04






  • 9




    ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
    – James
    Dec 9 at 8:23






  • 1




    15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 9:39














26












26








26


6





Say that I own a business from around the 12th-15th century. My country uses a Silver (or, if you so wish, Gold) currency in the form of coins. I want to make a secure "vending machine" to give out objects in exchange for a certain number of these coins.



Here are the specifics:




  • The objects can be of any shape, size, or weight


  • The machine should preferably work with multiple coins, but one would be okay


  • The machine should be able to determine whether or not the coin is the right coin, which has a standard weight and size. It should be secure against most types of fakes.



My question is: Is this possible, and if so, how would it work?










share|improve this question















Say that I own a business from around the 12th-15th century. My country uses a Silver (or, if you so wish, Gold) currency in the form of coins. I want to make a secure "vending machine" to give out objects in exchange for a certain number of these coins.



Here are the specifics:




  • The objects can be of any shape, size, or weight


  • The machine should preferably work with multiple coins, but one would be okay


  • The machine should be able to determine whether or not the coin is the right coin, which has a standard weight and size. It should be secure against most types of fakes.



My question is: Is this possible, and if so, how would it work?







science-based medieval






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edited Dec 8 at 21:53









a CVn

21.6k1190174




21.6k1190174










asked Dec 8 at 20:53









Redwolf Programs

9271721




9271721












  • I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
    – user6760
    Dec 9 at 5:04






  • 9




    ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
    – James
    Dec 9 at 8:23






  • 1




    15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 9:39


















  • I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
    – user6760
    Dec 9 at 5:04






  • 9




    ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
    – James
    Dec 9 at 8:23






  • 1




    15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 9:39
















I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
– user6760
Dec 9 at 5:04




I suppose the profitable ones are manned...
– user6760
Dec 9 at 5:04




9




9




ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
– James
Dec 9 at 8:23




ANY shape, size and weight? Well then...a trebuchet vending machine it is.
– James
Dec 9 at 8:23




1




1




15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
– AlexP
Dec 9 at 9:39




15th century maybe, in a city with a particularly well-developed economy. 12th century no way; there were simply not enough coins in circulation to make the proposal worthwhile. As for shape -- have you ever seen pre-Renaissance coins? While they did have uniform weight, their shape was considered quite unimportant.
– AlexP
Dec 9 at 9:39










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















43














Vending machines are actually quite ancient. Heron of Alexandria invented them a couple thousand years ago. Tobacco dispensing machines came about in the 1600s. Put a coin in the slot, the machine opens a valve and dispenses a product.



End of story, really.



There is no mathematical or engineering or fabrication reason why your medieval-esque society could not do something similar.



enter image description here



The only issue I foresee is in counterfeit detection. In medieval times, I think counterfeit detection by weight will be your only viable alternative, if magic or a money changer is not available. If they have magnets of some kind, then they could be added to weed out iron slugs at least.



If the coin is determined to be too heavy or too light (and thereby either actually fake or else clipped (a common practice in the days of precious metal money)), then it would be dumped into a return slot. A coin (or slug) of correct weight and dimensions will be accepted. Whether real or fake!



A fairly foolproof system. Faking coins is, of course, big business and back in the day carried a hefty penalty for those caught doing it. A relatively simple detector will keep all but the most advanced counterfeiters from using the machine.



A final note: unless your vending machine is dispensing title deeds to large plots of land or luxury waggons, chances are gold coins will never see the inside of one. Probably not silver either. Most likely copper or brass will be used to buy relatively inexpensive items or services.






share|improve this answer



















  • 12




    This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
    – dmckee
    Dec 9 at 0:33












  • you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 12:32






  • 5




    @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 13:27










  • Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:53






  • 3




    @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 22:09



















5














Clearly quite intricate mechanisms are possible with sufficient understanding.



Karakuri Japanese Clockwork
https://youtu.be/q8L3Iydv3AY?t=62



As has been pointed out by @elemtilas, large gold and silver coins are unlikely to be used for the sort of items that would be dispensed by a vending machine.



If you insist on gold and silver then the machines would have to accept very small coins (tricky even by modern standards) or ...



Employ trusted peasants to sit inside the 'machine' and do the transaction whilst hidden from view.






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  • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
    – BentNielsen
    Dec 9 at 13:07










  • Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:56



















1














Tech-wise while it might be possible (and certainly on the later end of this) historically there wouldn't have been enough coin available to do such a thing.



For this to work, it's going to take intricate metal parts. So in building your world, you are going to have to take tech in a different direction. Toothed gears have been around for a very long time, and while the mechanisms for this CAN be very basic, (weights and levers instead of gears) it's not something that's going to be common unless you have more of an industrialized society.



That's why Vending machines weren't actually widespread until the 1800s. While it WAS mechanically possible, it wasn't practically viable, even though this is an old, old invention.



So why did it take so long? When the earliest mention of something like this was in in the first century A.D.? You asked how it would work, and as far as the mechanics, I think you've been answered nicely, so I am going to add how it would work on world-building and social level--as in problems you need to look at and solve though the mechanics are there.



It's like a lot of other inventions--seen as a novelty, not good enough to be practical.



You'd need a big audience and the right product. Vending machines are an automation. They are practical when you have product, an audience to sell to, but you don't have people. And in this time period, merchants wanted control over their business. This is going to be a little expensive to make, so it has to be worthwhile. In an age of artisans, when consumers wanted to touch, weigh and examine what they were getting, most products would not fit into this. If you're thinking food, consider that there are many, many laws on the books during this period about serving rotten or counterfeit food. So this was an issue of the day. The earliest vending machine had the right audience and the right product. Holy water. It's water, so no need for quality control as far as a Medieval person is concerned, and it's trusted because it's sanctioned by the church. They've got the audience because the faithful are flocking in (church tourism was a big, big thing in Medieval times, so this is the one place it WOULD absolutely work.)



Preventing Theft. Having your machine inside a church might prevent theft. Leaving something full of money unattended, especially during more desperate times (plague, famine) is quite idiotic. An attendee might be a good idea. Theft from vending isn't such a big deal in a society that isn't starving.



A Culture Shift Take a look at this answer on how Medieval shops worked. Notice that this sort of hands on selling was ingrained in Medieval culture. I've linked the answer to dispel any notion you might have that stores worked back then the way that stores work now. There is no "browsing" as we know it. There is no wandering through a store.



A widespread, consistent monetary system, in low demonination This, alas, is something that wasn't present through much of the time period you are considering. So, when you build your world, you might want to look more towards the Renaissance than Medieval times. And actually, what most people think of as Medieval is actually Renaissance. (Rome also did pretty well with that, but not great. They liked changing up coins in celebration of events). You want everyone to have coin, you want that coin to be consistent and difficult to counterfeit, so that your machine can determine the weight and size of the coin. Even in Rome and even in the early Renaissance, the sort of consistent shaped coins that a machine like this would need...those are in short supply. I can actually see people having to buy a slug from a merchant to use in the machine just to take care of this.



Novelty vs. widespread Widespread is a real shift in culture away from the Medieval times as it is historically known. Vending machines became widespread because there was a NEED FOR THEM. So you are going to have to build a reason why as you worldbuild. Not simply because you want to stick them in. But because they fulfill an actual need and solve a problem. What that need is, and what problem they solve is up to you. If they are a novelty or just in one place, that's a whole different thing, and might be an attraction for a specific business to market a product--people might want to buy from them not just because they want the product but because they want to see the mechanism work. And if it is a novelty, the elements might even be exposed so people can see them work, which will mean you will still need an attendant...






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    3 Answers
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    3 Answers
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    43














    Vending machines are actually quite ancient. Heron of Alexandria invented them a couple thousand years ago. Tobacco dispensing machines came about in the 1600s. Put a coin in the slot, the machine opens a valve and dispenses a product.



    End of story, really.



    There is no mathematical or engineering or fabrication reason why your medieval-esque society could not do something similar.



    enter image description here



    The only issue I foresee is in counterfeit detection. In medieval times, I think counterfeit detection by weight will be your only viable alternative, if magic or a money changer is not available. If they have magnets of some kind, then they could be added to weed out iron slugs at least.



    If the coin is determined to be too heavy or too light (and thereby either actually fake or else clipped (a common practice in the days of precious metal money)), then it would be dumped into a return slot. A coin (or slug) of correct weight and dimensions will be accepted. Whether real or fake!



    A fairly foolproof system. Faking coins is, of course, big business and back in the day carried a hefty penalty for those caught doing it. A relatively simple detector will keep all but the most advanced counterfeiters from using the machine.



    A final note: unless your vending machine is dispensing title deeds to large plots of land or luxury waggons, chances are gold coins will never see the inside of one. Probably not silver either. Most likely copper or brass will be used to buy relatively inexpensive items or services.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 12




      This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
      – dmckee
      Dec 9 at 0:33












    • you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 12:32






    • 5




      @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
      – AlexP
      Dec 9 at 13:27










    • Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:53






    • 3




      @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 22:09
















    43














    Vending machines are actually quite ancient. Heron of Alexandria invented them a couple thousand years ago. Tobacco dispensing machines came about in the 1600s. Put a coin in the slot, the machine opens a valve and dispenses a product.



    End of story, really.



    There is no mathematical or engineering or fabrication reason why your medieval-esque society could not do something similar.



    enter image description here



    The only issue I foresee is in counterfeit detection. In medieval times, I think counterfeit detection by weight will be your only viable alternative, if magic or a money changer is not available. If they have magnets of some kind, then they could be added to weed out iron slugs at least.



    If the coin is determined to be too heavy or too light (and thereby either actually fake or else clipped (a common practice in the days of precious metal money)), then it would be dumped into a return slot. A coin (or slug) of correct weight and dimensions will be accepted. Whether real or fake!



    A fairly foolproof system. Faking coins is, of course, big business and back in the day carried a hefty penalty for those caught doing it. A relatively simple detector will keep all but the most advanced counterfeiters from using the machine.



    A final note: unless your vending machine is dispensing title deeds to large plots of land or luxury waggons, chances are gold coins will never see the inside of one. Probably not silver either. Most likely copper or brass will be used to buy relatively inexpensive items or services.






    share|improve this answer



















    • 12




      This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
      – dmckee
      Dec 9 at 0:33












    • you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 12:32






    • 5




      @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
      – AlexP
      Dec 9 at 13:27










    • Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:53






    • 3




      @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 22:09














    43












    43








    43






    Vending machines are actually quite ancient. Heron of Alexandria invented them a couple thousand years ago. Tobacco dispensing machines came about in the 1600s. Put a coin in the slot, the machine opens a valve and dispenses a product.



    End of story, really.



    There is no mathematical or engineering or fabrication reason why your medieval-esque society could not do something similar.



    enter image description here



    The only issue I foresee is in counterfeit detection. In medieval times, I think counterfeit detection by weight will be your only viable alternative, if magic or a money changer is not available. If they have magnets of some kind, then they could be added to weed out iron slugs at least.



    If the coin is determined to be too heavy or too light (and thereby either actually fake or else clipped (a common practice in the days of precious metal money)), then it would be dumped into a return slot. A coin (or slug) of correct weight and dimensions will be accepted. Whether real or fake!



    A fairly foolproof system. Faking coins is, of course, big business and back in the day carried a hefty penalty for those caught doing it. A relatively simple detector will keep all but the most advanced counterfeiters from using the machine.



    A final note: unless your vending machine is dispensing title deeds to large plots of land or luxury waggons, chances are gold coins will never see the inside of one. Probably not silver either. Most likely copper or brass will be used to buy relatively inexpensive items or services.






    share|improve this answer














    Vending machines are actually quite ancient. Heron of Alexandria invented them a couple thousand years ago. Tobacco dispensing machines came about in the 1600s. Put a coin in the slot, the machine opens a valve and dispenses a product.



    End of story, really.



    There is no mathematical or engineering or fabrication reason why your medieval-esque society could not do something similar.



    enter image description here



    The only issue I foresee is in counterfeit detection. In medieval times, I think counterfeit detection by weight will be your only viable alternative, if magic or a money changer is not available. If they have magnets of some kind, then they could be added to weed out iron slugs at least.



    If the coin is determined to be too heavy or too light (and thereby either actually fake or else clipped (a common practice in the days of precious metal money)), then it would be dumped into a return slot. A coin (or slug) of correct weight and dimensions will be accepted. Whether real or fake!



    A fairly foolproof system. Faking coins is, of course, big business and back in the day carried a hefty penalty for those caught doing it. A relatively simple detector will keep all but the most advanced counterfeiters from using the machine.



    A final note: unless your vending machine is dispensing title deeds to large plots of land or luxury waggons, chances are gold coins will never see the inside of one. Probably not silver either. Most likely copper or brass will be used to buy relatively inexpensive items or services.







    share|improve this answer














    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer








    edited Dec 8 at 21:34

























    answered Dec 8 at 21:10









    elemtilas

    10.9k22553




    10.9k22553








    • 12




      This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
      – dmckee
      Dec 9 at 0:33












    • you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 12:32






    • 5




      @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
      – AlexP
      Dec 9 at 13:27










    • Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:53






    • 3




      @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 22:09














    • 12




      This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
      – dmckee
      Dec 9 at 0:33












    • you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 12:32






    • 5




      @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
      – AlexP
      Dec 9 at 13:27










    • Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:53






    • 3




      @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
      – John
      Dec 9 at 22:09








    12




    12




    This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
    – dmckee
    Dec 9 at 0:33






    This. You have four controls in a simple system. (A) Slot width. (B) and (C) Two holes in the rail (the first—which it should not fall though—sets minimum radius and the second—which it should fall through—sets the maximum). (D) One or two roll-through balance(s) sets a weight range. The result measures geometry (A-C) and mass (so effectively density) and give you a reasonable ability to reject slugs.
    – dmckee
    Dec 9 at 0:33














    you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 12:32




    you will actually run into the problem of the non-standard size of the legal coins, coins were often only roughly the same size and shape. often they were only vaguely round, the tamp was round but not the entire coin. A coin did not have a standard value the weight of the coin determined its value.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 12:32




    5




    5




    @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 13:27




    @John is right. Pre-Renaissance coins do not have uniform shapes; it just wasn't a design goal. Uniform weight, yes, it's important. Uniform shape? Why? We don't have vending machines, so we don't care.
    – AlexP
    Dec 9 at 13:27












    Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:53




    Necessity is the mother of invention. A vending machine that dispenses something needed by everyone, be it holy water or flour, will cause people to gripe about legitimate coins not working. Someone will eventually devise the relatively simple method of making coins reasonably uniform in shape as well as weight.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:53




    3




    3




    @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 22:09




    @elemtilas No they will say this piece of junk doesn't work and if you are lucky never use it again, if you are unlucky they will break it trying to get their money back.
    – John
    Dec 9 at 22:09











    5














    Clearly quite intricate mechanisms are possible with sufficient understanding.



    Karakuri Japanese Clockwork
    https://youtu.be/q8L3Iydv3AY?t=62



    As has been pointed out by @elemtilas, large gold and silver coins are unlikely to be used for the sort of items that would be dispensed by a vending machine.



    If you insist on gold and silver then the machines would have to accept very small coins (tricky even by modern standards) or ...



    Employ trusted peasants to sit inside the 'machine' and do the transaction whilst hidden from view.






    share|improve this answer





















    • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
      – BentNielsen
      Dec 9 at 13:07










    • Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:56
















    5














    Clearly quite intricate mechanisms are possible with sufficient understanding.



    Karakuri Japanese Clockwork
    https://youtu.be/q8L3Iydv3AY?t=62



    As has been pointed out by @elemtilas, large gold and silver coins are unlikely to be used for the sort of items that would be dispensed by a vending machine.



    If you insist on gold and silver then the machines would have to accept very small coins (tricky even by modern standards) or ...



    Employ trusted peasants to sit inside the 'machine' and do the transaction whilst hidden from view.






    share|improve this answer





















    • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
      – BentNielsen
      Dec 9 at 13:07










    • Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:56














    5












    5








    5






    Clearly quite intricate mechanisms are possible with sufficient understanding.



    Karakuri Japanese Clockwork
    https://youtu.be/q8L3Iydv3AY?t=62



    As has been pointed out by @elemtilas, large gold and silver coins are unlikely to be used for the sort of items that would be dispensed by a vending machine.



    If you insist on gold and silver then the machines would have to accept very small coins (tricky even by modern standards) or ...



    Employ trusted peasants to sit inside the 'machine' and do the transaction whilst hidden from view.






    share|improve this answer












    Clearly quite intricate mechanisms are possible with sufficient understanding.



    Karakuri Japanese Clockwork
    https://youtu.be/q8L3Iydv3AY?t=62



    As has been pointed out by @elemtilas, large gold and silver coins are unlikely to be used for the sort of items that would be dispensed by a vending machine.



    If you insist on gold and silver then the machines would have to accept very small coins (tricky even by modern standards) or ...



    Employ trusted peasants to sit inside the 'machine' and do the transaction whilst hidden from view.







    share|improve this answer












    share|improve this answer



    share|improve this answer










    answered Dec 9 at 12:03









    chasly from UK

    11.6k351105




    11.6k351105












    • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
      – BentNielsen
      Dec 9 at 13:07










    • Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:56


















    • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
      – BentNielsen
      Dec 9 at 13:07










    • Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
      – elemtilas
      Dec 9 at 18:56
















    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
    – BentNielsen
    Dec 9 at 13:07




    en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Turk - though a little later in time than in the question. Trusted peasants.
    – BentNielsen
    Dec 9 at 13:07












    Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:56




    Basically an Automat! (The Automat was a fresh food vending system that required human workers behind the scenes.) Probably not a good fit for the 1100s, though.
    – elemtilas
    Dec 9 at 18:56











    1














    Tech-wise while it might be possible (and certainly on the later end of this) historically there wouldn't have been enough coin available to do such a thing.



    For this to work, it's going to take intricate metal parts. So in building your world, you are going to have to take tech in a different direction. Toothed gears have been around for a very long time, and while the mechanisms for this CAN be very basic, (weights and levers instead of gears) it's not something that's going to be common unless you have more of an industrialized society.



    That's why Vending machines weren't actually widespread until the 1800s. While it WAS mechanically possible, it wasn't practically viable, even though this is an old, old invention.



    So why did it take so long? When the earliest mention of something like this was in in the first century A.D.? You asked how it would work, and as far as the mechanics, I think you've been answered nicely, so I am going to add how it would work on world-building and social level--as in problems you need to look at and solve though the mechanics are there.



    It's like a lot of other inventions--seen as a novelty, not good enough to be practical.



    You'd need a big audience and the right product. Vending machines are an automation. They are practical when you have product, an audience to sell to, but you don't have people. And in this time period, merchants wanted control over their business. This is going to be a little expensive to make, so it has to be worthwhile. In an age of artisans, when consumers wanted to touch, weigh and examine what they were getting, most products would not fit into this. If you're thinking food, consider that there are many, many laws on the books during this period about serving rotten or counterfeit food. So this was an issue of the day. The earliest vending machine had the right audience and the right product. Holy water. It's water, so no need for quality control as far as a Medieval person is concerned, and it's trusted because it's sanctioned by the church. They've got the audience because the faithful are flocking in (church tourism was a big, big thing in Medieval times, so this is the one place it WOULD absolutely work.)



    Preventing Theft. Having your machine inside a church might prevent theft. Leaving something full of money unattended, especially during more desperate times (plague, famine) is quite idiotic. An attendee might be a good idea. Theft from vending isn't such a big deal in a society that isn't starving.



    A Culture Shift Take a look at this answer on how Medieval shops worked. Notice that this sort of hands on selling was ingrained in Medieval culture. I've linked the answer to dispel any notion you might have that stores worked back then the way that stores work now. There is no "browsing" as we know it. There is no wandering through a store.



    A widespread, consistent monetary system, in low demonination This, alas, is something that wasn't present through much of the time period you are considering. So, when you build your world, you might want to look more towards the Renaissance than Medieval times. And actually, what most people think of as Medieval is actually Renaissance. (Rome also did pretty well with that, but not great. They liked changing up coins in celebration of events). You want everyone to have coin, you want that coin to be consistent and difficult to counterfeit, so that your machine can determine the weight and size of the coin. Even in Rome and even in the early Renaissance, the sort of consistent shaped coins that a machine like this would need...those are in short supply. I can actually see people having to buy a slug from a merchant to use in the machine just to take care of this.



    Novelty vs. widespread Widespread is a real shift in culture away from the Medieval times as it is historically known. Vending machines became widespread because there was a NEED FOR THEM. So you are going to have to build a reason why as you worldbuild. Not simply because you want to stick them in. But because they fulfill an actual need and solve a problem. What that need is, and what problem they solve is up to you. If they are a novelty or just in one place, that's a whole different thing, and might be an attraction for a specific business to market a product--people might want to buy from them not just because they want the product but because they want to see the mechanism work. And if it is a novelty, the elements might even be exposed so people can see them work, which will mean you will still need an attendant...






    share|improve this answer




























      1














      Tech-wise while it might be possible (and certainly on the later end of this) historically there wouldn't have been enough coin available to do such a thing.



      For this to work, it's going to take intricate metal parts. So in building your world, you are going to have to take tech in a different direction. Toothed gears have been around for a very long time, and while the mechanisms for this CAN be very basic, (weights and levers instead of gears) it's not something that's going to be common unless you have more of an industrialized society.



      That's why Vending machines weren't actually widespread until the 1800s. While it WAS mechanically possible, it wasn't practically viable, even though this is an old, old invention.



      So why did it take so long? When the earliest mention of something like this was in in the first century A.D.? You asked how it would work, and as far as the mechanics, I think you've been answered nicely, so I am going to add how it would work on world-building and social level--as in problems you need to look at and solve though the mechanics are there.



      It's like a lot of other inventions--seen as a novelty, not good enough to be practical.



      You'd need a big audience and the right product. Vending machines are an automation. They are practical when you have product, an audience to sell to, but you don't have people. And in this time period, merchants wanted control over their business. This is going to be a little expensive to make, so it has to be worthwhile. In an age of artisans, when consumers wanted to touch, weigh and examine what they were getting, most products would not fit into this. If you're thinking food, consider that there are many, many laws on the books during this period about serving rotten or counterfeit food. So this was an issue of the day. The earliest vending machine had the right audience and the right product. Holy water. It's water, so no need for quality control as far as a Medieval person is concerned, and it's trusted because it's sanctioned by the church. They've got the audience because the faithful are flocking in (church tourism was a big, big thing in Medieval times, so this is the one place it WOULD absolutely work.)



      Preventing Theft. Having your machine inside a church might prevent theft. Leaving something full of money unattended, especially during more desperate times (plague, famine) is quite idiotic. An attendee might be a good idea. Theft from vending isn't such a big deal in a society that isn't starving.



      A Culture Shift Take a look at this answer on how Medieval shops worked. Notice that this sort of hands on selling was ingrained in Medieval culture. I've linked the answer to dispel any notion you might have that stores worked back then the way that stores work now. There is no "browsing" as we know it. There is no wandering through a store.



      A widespread, consistent monetary system, in low demonination This, alas, is something that wasn't present through much of the time period you are considering. So, when you build your world, you might want to look more towards the Renaissance than Medieval times. And actually, what most people think of as Medieval is actually Renaissance. (Rome also did pretty well with that, but not great. They liked changing up coins in celebration of events). You want everyone to have coin, you want that coin to be consistent and difficult to counterfeit, so that your machine can determine the weight and size of the coin. Even in Rome and even in the early Renaissance, the sort of consistent shaped coins that a machine like this would need...those are in short supply. I can actually see people having to buy a slug from a merchant to use in the machine just to take care of this.



      Novelty vs. widespread Widespread is a real shift in culture away from the Medieval times as it is historically known. Vending machines became widespread because there was a NEED FOR THEM. So you are going to have to build a reason why as you worldbuild. Not simply because you want to stick them in. But because they fulfill an actual need and solve a problem. What that need is, and what problem they solve is up to you. If they are a novelty or just in one place, that's a whole different thing, and might be an attraction for a specific business to market a product--people might want to buy from them not just because they want the product but because they want to see the mechanism work. And if it is a novelty, the elements might even be exposed so people can see them work, which will mean you will still need an attendant...






      share|improve this answer


























        1












        1








        1






        Tech-wise while it might be possible (and certainly on the later end of this) historically there wouldn't have been enough coin available to do such a thing.



        For this to work, it's going to take intricate metal parts. So in building your world, you are going to have to take tech in a different direction. Toothed gears have been around for a very long time, and while the mechanisms for this CAN be very basic, (weights and levers instead of gears) it's not something that's going to be common unless you have more of an industrialized society.



        That's why Vending machines weren't actually widespread until the 1800s. While it WAS mechanically possible, it wasn't practically viable, even though this is an old, old invention.



        So why did it take so long? When the earliest mention of something like this was in in the first century A.D.? You asked how it would work, and as far as the mechanics, I think you've been answered nicely, so I am going to add how it would work on world-building and social level--as in problems you need to look at and solve though the mechanics are there.



        It's like a lot of other inventions--seen as a novelty, not good enough to be practical.



        You'd need a big audience and the right product. Vending machines are an automation. They are practical when you have product, an audience to sell to, but you don't have people. And in this time period, merchants wanted control over their business. This is going to be a little expensive to make, so it has to be worthwhile. In an age of artisans, when consumers wanted to touch, weigh and examine what they were getting, most products would not fit into this. If you're thinking food, consider that there are many, many laws on the books during this period about serving rotten or counterfeit food. So this was an issue of the day. The earliest vending machine had the right audience and the right product. Holy water. It's water, so no need for quality control as far as a Medieval person is concerned, and it's trusted because it's sanctioned by the church. They've got the audience because the faithful are flocking in (church tourism was a big, big thing in Medieval times, so this is the one place it WOULD absolutely work.)



        Preventing Theft. Having your machine inside a church might prevent theft. Leaving something full of money unattended, especially during more desperate times (plague, famine) is quite idiotic. An attendee might be a good idea. Theft from vending isn't such a big deal in a society that isn't starving.



        A Culture Shift Take a look at this answer on how Medieval shops worked. Notice that this sort of hands on selling was ingrained in Medieval culture. I've linked the answer to dispel any notion you might have that stores worked back then the way that stores work now. There is no "browsing" as we know it. There is no wandering through a store.



        A widespread, consistent monetary system, in low demonination This, alas, is something that wasn't present through much of the time period you are considering. So, when you build your world, you might want to look more towards the Renaissance than Medieval times. And actually, what most people think of as Medieval is actually Renaissance. (Rome also did pretty well with that, but not great. They liked changing up coins in celebration of events). You want everyone to have coin, you want that coin to be consistent and difficult to counterfeit, so that your machine can determine the weight and size of the coin. Even in Rome and even in the early Renaissance, the sort of consistent shaped coins that a machine like this would need...those are in short supply. I can actually see people having to buy a slug from a merchant to use in the machine just to take care of this.



        Novelty vs. widespread Widespread is a real shift in culture away from the Medieval times as it is historically known. Vending machines became widespread because there was a NEED FOR THEM. So you are going to have to build a reason why as you worldbuild. Not simply because you want to stick them in. But because they fulfill an actual need and solve a problem. What that need is, and what problem they solve is up to you. If they are a novelty or just in one place, that's a whole different thing, and might be an attraction for a specific business to market a product--people might want to buy from them not just because they want the product but because they want to see the mechanism work. And if it is a novelty, the elements might even be exposed so people can see them work, which will mean you will still need an attendant...






        share|improve this answer














        Tech-wise while it might be possible (and certainly on the later end of this) historically there wouldn't have been enough coin available to do such a thing.



        For this to work, it's going to take intricate metal parts. So in building your world, you are going to have to take tech in a different direction. Toothed gears have been around for a very long time, and while the mechanisms for this CAN be very basic, (weights and levers instead of gears) it's not something that's going to be common unless you have more of an industrialized society.



        That's why Vending machines weren't actually widespread until the 1800s. While it WAS mechanically possible, it wasn't practically viable, even though this is an old, old invention.



        So why did it take so long? When the earliest mention of something like this was in in the first century A.D.? You asked how it would work, and as far as the mechanics, I think you've been answered nicely, so I am going to add how it would work on world-building and social level--as in problems you need to look at and solve though the mechanics are there.



        It's like a lot of other inventions--seen as a novelty, not good enough to be practical.



        You'd need a big audience and the right product. Vending machines are an automation. They are practical when you have product, an audience to sell to, but you don't have people. And in this time period, merchants wanted control over their business. This is going to be a little expensive to make, so it has to be worthwhile. In an age of artisans, when consumers wanted to touch, weigh and examine what they were getting, most products would not fit into this. If you're thinking food, consider that there are many, many laws on the books during this period about serving rotten or counterfeit food. So this was an issue of the day. The earliest vending machine had the right audience and the right product. Holy water. It's water, so no need for quality control as far as a Medieval person is concerned, and it's trusted because it's sanctioned by the church. They've got the audience because the faithful are flocking in (church tourism was a big, big thing in Medieval times, so this is the one place it WOULD absolutely work.)



        Preventing Theft. Having your machine inside a church might prevent theft. Leaving something full of money unattended, especially during more desperate times (plague, famine) is quite idiotic. An attendee might be a good idea. Theft from vending isn't such a big deal in a society that isn't starving.



        A Culture Shift Take a look at this answer on how Medieval shops worked. Notice that this sort of hands on selling was ingrained in Medieval culture. I've linked the answer to dispel any notion you might have that stores worked back then the way that stores work now. There is no "browsing" as we know it. There is no wandering through a store.



        A widespread, consistent monetary system, in low demonination This, alas, is something that wasn't present through much of the time period you are considering. So, when you build your world, you might want to look more towards the Renaissance than Medieval times. And actually, what most people think of as Medieval is actually Renaissance. (Rome also did pretty well with that, but not great. They liked changing up coins in celebration of events). You want everyone to have coin, you want that coin to be consistent and difficult to counterfeit, so that your machine can determine the weight and size of the coin. Even in Rome and even in the early Renaissance, the sort of consistent shaped coins that a machine like this would need...those are in short supply. I can actually see people having to buy a slug from a merchant to use in the machine just to take care of this.



        Novelty vs. widespread Widespread is a real shift in culture away from the Medieval times as it is historically known. Vending machines became widespread because there was a NEED FOR THEM. So you are going to have to build a reason why as you worldbuild. Not simply because you want to stick them in. But because they fulfill an actual need and solve a problem. What that need is, and what problem they solve is up to you. If they are a novelty or just in one place, that's a whole different thing, and might be an attraction for a specific business to market a product--people might want to buy from them not just because they want the product but because they want to see the mechanism work. And if it is a novelty, the elements might even be exposed so people can see them work, which will mean you will still need an attendant...







        share|improve this answer














        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer








        edited 2 days ago

























        answered 2 days ago









        Erin Thursby

        25.9k344122




        25.9k344122






























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