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🧵 of weird vending machines I've run into. Starting with: The sock vending machine at the Sam's Town bowling cener in Las Vegas.

Also at Sam's Town: A vending machine that only sells those ink dabbers for bingo

In the Berlin subway: books available as well as snacks to pass the time. "Bored on the train? Dive in!" the machine beckons

In the Berlin Staatsbibliotek (state library), everything you need for a research session: clear bags (library policy), locks (for lockers), highlighters, notebooks, Stabilo pens, and more.

At the Jewish Museum in Berlin, kosher gummy bears

At a parking garage in Pisa, Italy I picked up one of these little city maps. Widespread use of $1+ coins in the U.S. would be great for things like this.

This machine at a church in Rome would play an audio recording over the two attached handsets. (IIRC a prayer or blessing)

I'm sort of obsessed and I have a lot more of these.

Ok, moving on to NYC: This machine on the street in Bushwick primarily services bicyclists with tubes and parts (and Red Bull).

Here's a closeup -- the Alf trading cards are killing me

The Brooklyn Public Library in Greenpoint has a machine that dispenses free tampons and pads

Dutch Kills in Long Island City has this little take-a-number machine. Complete with custom-designed tickets. It makes a very startling *ding!* sound when you hit the lever.

The NYPL's Stavros branch had this Short Story Dispenser on the 5th floor.

I recently spotted this cool sticker vending machine at Win Son bakery. It was surprisingly popular!