The machine you were showing was a National Vendors 20 column cigarette machine. My father was one of the first vending operators in Connecticut. back in the 40's and 50's. We had approximately 360 National vendors cigarette machines throughout central CT in bars, restaurants and gas stations. We primarily had 22 column machines but back in the 50's and 60's we also had 7, 9 and 11 column machines as well. When my dad passed in 1984 I continued to run the company until 1999 when I sold the remainder of the stock to 2 other local vendors. When cigarette sales from machines were banned, I scrapped over 150-200 machines at the local scrap yard. I did save one 7 column machine from the early 50's which remains in excellent condition, both mechanically and physically. The name of my dad's vending company ironically was National Vendors Inc. I do remember at the height of our cigarette sales from machines in the mid 60's, we were selling over 40,000 packs per week. My job as a kid working for my dad was to refurbish the machines before putting them back out on location. One of our cigarette machines was used in the Robert DeNiro movie Jack Knife" which was in a restaurant/bar in New Britain, CT where some of the movie was shot. Thank you for sharing this video. Of note: Cigarette machines are not illegal but selling cigarettes from them is. Dave from CT
Yes I remember these. I live in Holland. In the 80's you even got your change back: Cigarettes priced 3.85 you had to put 4 Guilder coins in it, pulled out a pack and 15cts worth of coins were taped on the pack 😃
Most establishments you could just order over the counter too hardly anyone was enforcing age restrictions back then. "a 1992 article in the journal Tobacco Control reported that minors obtained 71 percent of their tobacco from over-the-counter sales, 19 percent from friends, 7 percent from parents, and just 3 percent from vending machines." The good ol' days! :)
I live in Western Pennsylvania, and the Bar I go to still have a working cigarette machine in their establishment. Never outlawed here. They are 10 Dollars a pack for any brand. Patrons are able to smoke in the bar while enjoying their drink. I've gone to several bars in my area, and they have them as well. I quit smoking about 15 years ago, but if others want to smoke, it dosen't bother me. The only thing with these machines is if they need repaired. Vending Companies still have "old machines" in their shops to take parts from if one needs repaired. I remember as a kid these machines were everywhere (even hospitals) and I remember when you could smoke in a hospital room with no problem. Even in restaurants there were ashtrays on the tables. How times have really changed. I know it's a state by state difference now.
"In 1989, Utah became the first state to enact a total ban on cigarette vending machines in locations accessible to minors. This focus on vending machines was a bit odd since a 1992 article in the journal Tobacco Control reported that minors obtained 71 percent of their tobacco from over-the-counter sales, 19 percent from friends, 7 percent from parents, and just 3 percent from vending machines." As a youth who smoked in the seventies and eighties I can confirm that in Philly, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey I rarely ever had a problem buying cigarettes over the counter. Vending machines were certainly an option as a matter of convenience too, like they are for anyone. But the vast majority of cigarettes I bought were over the counter. It was the norm very few cashiers enforced age restrictions.
Several years ago I brought one for $100.00 for my game room. I had a friend that worked in a bar and saved me all different cig packs. I would fill them with paper towels to make the shape and tape the top. I filled every slot with all kings of brands. I have it in my game room with a Joe Camel clock above it, It works, but no real cigarette's inside. These machines are very heavy. Have it with my pool table, Juke box, and a 1955 wooden phone booth and lots of toys. I think it was set at $2.50 a pack.
Great video man. Boy this brings me back to my childhood ( 70s ). I don't know how it was in the big city but In the country my dad would often bring me with him inside the local bars. I would drink soda pop of course.These machines were usually at the entrance. My dad would always complain about how expensive these machines were.
I remember as a kid playing with one of these in a bar. I just pulled on the knobs but nothing happened. The metal clunk sound was playing in my mind when you mentioned it. If I had one of these I'd load it up with candy cigarettes and gum cigarettes and make it free.
@@coondogtheman Yes, I realize that. I just thought I'd mention, that the candy bar machines I used back then, had the same handles and sound that the ciggy machines did. 🚬
@@oldiesgeek454 Oh, I see. They must have just used the same machines for candy instead of cigs. I used to buy those candy cigs back in the day and when you blew through them the white powder comes out and it looks like you lit one up.
I've filled these machines time and again back when in high school, and under aged to boot. That one is a 20 column high capacity machine, holding a whole lot of packs. We used the NV brand only, and had 9, 11, 13, and 22 column machines in service as well, and 2 oddball 9E electric models, which were huge, and did nothing the standard non-electric 9 column didn't do better. We had a few old 7 column machines in the warehouse, but none deployed. When I took off to college the last thing I did was set the machines on $0.60/pack, which was also end-of-life on all sliding coin chute type coin counters. The newer ACMR style counters would carry on many more years, but we closed up shop before ever needing to deploy bill accepters. There was never a more dependable vending machine ever made, as the NV brand would vend forver, rarely ever mis-fed, and didn't need any power to work. My grandfather and a business partner had about 250 machines back when cigarettes were still good for everybody. I also had to put all the Texas tax stamps on as the product arrived from the manufacturers. When I left in May of 1980, TX tax was $0.185 per pack, and I have no idea how much it is now. Each one of those stamp rolls cost $55,550.00, and we handled them like toothpicks. At the time I thought I'd want to carry on with that family business, but by today I'm glad that didn't work out for me. J. F. Tate and Son; Comanche TX USA; closed/sold in 1984.
Well in the 1980s, as a child I would see these things at a restaurant, hospitals, bars, clubs and lounges also at laundromats. This was when my father would smoke cigarettes until he stopped during the 90s.
When I was a teen in mid 80s North of Boston, MA, my Mother would give me 6 quarters, and Id go to the Bingo Hall at the end of the street, and get her a pack of Parliament Light 100's out of one of those exact same machines.
The price makes me think it’s not that old, I’d assume it’s modernized..in Vermont, when i help the school move things into storage I found several vending machine they’d used to have for student and teachers lounge. The cigarettes machine were 50 cents and 75 cent price point. I’ve tried to purchase them after I graduated, but they wanted to keep them.
The only story I heard of cigarette machines is when my mom said that when she was little her uncle and aunt gave her money to get a pack of cigarettes from a machine and then it just started to dispense all of the packs so then her uncle and aunt got a bag, since they were in a grocery store, and left with a bag full of cigarettes for the price of one pack.
In Connecticut there was one in the foxwoods casino in the rainmaker. Since the Springfield ma casino opened, that part of the rainmaker closed due to lost business
WTF all I wanted to hear was this machine Vend a pack of cigarettes for Nostalgia and he tells us the whole freaking history of cigarette vending machines without putting some damn money in it and pulling the handle?
I have coins jammed up inside the body of the coin mechanism. I took the acceptor off, but cant figure out how to reach the main part of the coin mech where the coins are jammed. Does the body come out of the cabinet in some way?
I got allot of free cigarettes back in the day before they disappeared in 2010 . I used to slide a coat hanger through the drop door 😂. I also got allot of money selling them to under aged minor's. I would end up with like $50 a day my senior year of High School i was 18 every single time the Police asked to see my identification they couldn't do shit . The school knew what i was doing and it pissed them off. I had the system figured out 100 feet from school grounds and nobody could do shit about me making $50-$75 a week 😂.
I sell collectible card games like Magic & Pokemon. Tracks in those machines could likely easily fit booster packs of trading cards or handmade discount packs with no age restrictions. I would definitely consider such a machine if my store was not strictly online sales. 💵
It is there cause there is someone there watching over it. I remember the dad and uncle scrapping these things out when the laws came after these things 30 years ago. Somewhat as a shame now that I think about it and I am a non smoker. We really should have saved a lot of those 1970's models that got scrapped which there was also the snack and food machines that had the big green buttons.
In most of the US you, by law, can’t smoke anywhere; we Yanks hate smokers even more than we hate the French. In the US you can’t smoke in restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, apartments, sporting events, theaters, parks, schools, malls (indoor or outdoor), offices, etcetera, etcetera. In fact, not by law but by their (owner & management) choice, you can’t smoke in casinos - Vegas and Reno. And with everything else, here in California, there’s an over 60% tax placed on a box of cigarettes. And, because we hate smokers, there is absolutely no sympathy for smokers.
@@artdeco64 wow I had no idea. I mean in my country you can’t smoke in most indoor places, except some clubs and bars but basically you can smoke anywhere you want outside and no one cares, especially because there is a big proportion of smokers
What does the $11 price have to do with politics? Are you an idiot? I have 10 of these machines in bars in Central TX--maxed out at $12 a pack! TEXAS. Doesn't get any more conservative or "red" than that! But I never made the connection between politics and price of cigarettes.
I Accidentally almost bought a pack from one of these when I was like 9 years old it was at a club my dad was a member of and they had it right next to the change mancine I needed change for the arcade games they had and I put the dollar in the wrong slot
The machine you were showing was a National Vendors 20 column cigarette machine. My father was one of the first vending operators in Connecticut. back in the 40's and 50's. We had approximately 360 National vendors cigarette machines throughout central CT in bars, restaurants and gas stations. We primarily had 22 column machines but back in the 50's and 60's we also had 7, 9 and 11 column machines as well. When my dad passed in 1984 I continued to run the company until 1999 when I sold the remainder of the stock to 2 other local vendors. When cigarette sales from machines were banned, I scrapped over 150-200 machines at the local scrap yard. I did save one 7 column machine from the early 50's which remains in excellent condition, both mechanically and physically. The name of my dad's vending company ironically was National Vendors Inc. I do remember at the height of our cigarette sales from machines in the mid 60's, we were selling over 40,000 packs per week. My job as a kid working for my dad was to refurbish the machines before putting them back out on location. One of our cigarette machines was used in the Robert DeNiro movie Jack Knife" which was in a restaurant/bar in New Britain, CT where some of the movie was shot. Thank you for sharing this video. Of note: Cigarette machines are not illegal but selling cigarettes from them is. Dave from CT
Back in the early 70s they were 50 cents a pack. People got mad when they went up to a $1 a pack.
I can remember one of these machines at the front entrance of my local Denny's restaurant. Not anymore!
Yes I remember these. I live in Holland. In the 80's you even got your change back: Cigarettes priced 3.85 you had to put 4 Guilder coins in it, pulled out a pack and 15cts worth of coins were taped on the pack 😃
I smoked at the age of 11. In the summer we went to the Jersey shore. Cigarette machines were everywhere you looked. We put 50c in and got our cigs.
Damm do you still smoke?
Most establishments you could just order over the counter too hardly anyone was enforcing age restrictions back then.
"a 1992 article in the journal Tobacco Control reported that minors obtained 71 percent of their tobacco from over-the-counter sales, 19 percent from friends, 7 percent from parents, and just 3 percent from vending machines."
The good ol' days! :)
I live in Western Pennsylvania, and the Bar I go to still have a working cigarette machine in their establishment. Never outlawed here. They are 10 Dollars a pack for any brand. Patrons are able to smoke in the bar while enjoying their drink. I've gone to several bars in my area, and they have them as well. I quit smoking about 15 years ago, but if others want to smoke, it dosen't bother me. The only thing with these machines is if they need repaired. Vending Companies still have "old machines" in their shops to take parts from if one needs repaired. I remember as a kid these machines were everywhere (even hospitals) and I remember when you could smoke in a hospital room with no problem. Even in restaurants there were ashtrays on the tables. How times have really changed. I know it's a state by state difference now.
This is how I got my cigarettes as a kid for a long time
"In 1989, Utah became the first state to enact a total ban on cigarette vending machines in locations accessible to minors. This focus on vending machines was a bit odd since a 1992 article in the journal Tobacco Control reported that minors obtained 71 percent of their tobacco from over-the-counter sales, 19 percent from friends, 7 percent from parents, and just 3 percent from vending machines."
As a youth who smoked in the seventies and eighties I can confirm that in Philly, eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey I rarely ever had a problem buying cigarettes over the counter. Vending machines were certainly an option as a matter of convenience too, like they are for anyone. But the vast majority of cigarettes I bought were over the counter. It was the norm very few cashiers enforced age restrictions.
I can totally appreciate you going the vending machine route... you're just a bit of an anomaly in that regard, that's all. :)
Several years ago I brought one for $100.00 for my game room. I had a friend that worked in a bar and saved me all different cig packs. I would fill them with paper towels to make the shape and tape the top. I filled every slot with all kings of brands. I have it in my game room with a Joe Camel clock above it, It works, but no real cigarette's inside. These machines are very heavy. Have it with my pool table, Juke box, and a 1955 wooden phone booth and lots of toys. I think it was set at $2.50 a pack.
Great video man. Boy this brings me back to my childhood ( 70s ). I don't know how it was in the big city but In the country my dad would often bring me with him inside the local bars. I would drink soda pop of course.These machines were usually at the entrance. My dad would always complain about how expensive these machines were.
I remember as a kid playing with one of these in a bar. I just pulled on the knobs but nothing happened. The metal clunk sound was playing in my mind when you mentioned it.
If I had one of these I'd load it up with candy cigarettes and gum cigarettes and make it free.
I remember the candy bar machine had those same handles... But I'm sure you already knew that. 😃
@@oldiesgeek454 The one I saw WAS a cigarette machine.
@@coondogtheman Yes, I realize that. I just thought I'd mention, that the candy bar machines I used back then, had the same handles and sound that the ciggy machines did. 🚬
@@oldiesgeek454 Oh, I see. They must have just used the same machines for candy instead of cigs. I used to buy those candy cigs back in the day and when you blew through them the white powder comes out and it looks like you lit one up.
@@coondogtheman I don't ever remember seeing the candy cigs in machines, but you may be right. I the candy machines I used had candy bars and gum.
Kids had no trouble buying cigarettes for our patients from the local bodega or from the vending machines back in the day
I've filled these machines time and again back when in high school, and under aged to boot. That one is a 20 column high capacity machine, holding a whole lot of packs. We used the NV brand only, and had 9, 11, 13, and 22 column machines in service as well, and 2 oddball 9E electric models, which were huge, and did nothing the standard non-electric 9 column didn't do better. We had a few old 7 column machines in the warehouse, but none deployed. When I took off to college the last thing I did was set the machines on $0.60/pack, which was also end-of-life on all sliding coin chute type coin counters. The newer ACMR style counters would carry on many more years, but we closed up shop before ever needing to deploy bill accepters. There was never a more dependable vending machine ever made, as the NV brand would vend forver, rarely ever mis-fed, and didn't need any power to work. My grandfather and a business partner had about 250 machines back when cigarettes were still good for everybody. I also had to put all the Texas tax stamps on as the product arrived from the manufacturers. When I left in May of 1980, TX tax was $0.185 per pack, and I have no idea how much it is now. Each one of those stamp rolls cost $55,550.00, and we handled them like toothpicks. At the time I thought I'd want to carry on with that family business, but by today I'm glad that didn't work out for me. J. F. Tate and Son; Comanche TX USA; closed/sold in 1984.
In the US you can still have Cigarette Machines in places where there aren't people under 18.
There is one working cigarette machine in a bar in the town i live in new hampshire its the only one ive seen since the 90s
Well in the 1980s, as a child I would see these things at a restaurant, hospitals, bars, clubs and lounges also at laundromats.
This was when my father would smoke cigarettes until he stopped during the 90s.
So remember these They were everywhere in the 70’s and 80’s
Absolutely 😁
When I was a teen in mid 80s North of Boston, MA, my Mother would give me 6 quarters, and Id go to the Bingo Hall at the end of the street, and get her a pack of Parliament Light 100's out of one of those exact same machines.
The price makes me think it’s not that old, I’d assume it’s modernized..in Vermont, when i help the school move things into storage I found several vending machine they’d used to have for student and teachers lounge. The cigarettes machine were 50 cents and 75 cent price point. I’ve tried to purchase them after I graduated, but they wanted to keep them.
Was never a smoker, but definitely remember them. Haven't seen one in a while.
The only story I heard of cigarette machines is when my mom said that when she was little her uncle and aunt gave her money to get a pack of cigarettes from a machine and then it just started to dispense all of the packs so then her uncle and aunt got a bag, since they were in a grocery store, and left with a bag full of cigarettes for the price of one pack.
In Connecticut there was one in the foxwoods casino in the rainmaker. Since the Springfield ma casino opened, that part of the rainmaker closed due to lost business
WTF all I wanted to hear was this machine Vend a pack of cigarettes for Nostalgia and he tells us the whole freaking history of cigarette vending machines without putting some damn money in it and pulling the handle?
I have coins jammed up inside the body of the coin mechanism. I took the acceptor off, but cant figure out how to reach the main part of the coin mech where the coins are jammed. Does the body come out of the cabinet in some way?
I'm curious what something like this go's for.
Is it fully working? He should throw in the eleven bucks to show how it works.
japan have one
I got allot of free cigarettes back in the day before they disappeared in 2010 . I used to slide a coat hanger through the drop door 😂. I also got allot of money selling them to under aged minor's. I would end up with like $50 a day my senior year of High School i was 18 every single time the Police asked to see my identification they couldn't do shit . The school knew what i was doing and it pissed them off. I had the system figured out 100 feet from school grounds and nobody could do shit about me making $50-$75 a week 😂.
Last time i saw one of these machines was in 2003 or 2004. In a bar.
I sell collectible card games like Magic & Pokemon. Tracks in those machines could likely easily fit booster packs of trading cards or handmade discount packs with no age restrictions. I would definitely consider such a machine if my store was not strictly online sales. 💵
It is there cause there is someone there watching over it. I remember the dad and uncle scrapping these things out when the laws came after these things 30 years ago. Somewhat as a shame now that I think about it and I am a non smoker. We really should have saved a lot of those 1970's models that got scrapped which there was also the snack and food machines that had the big green buttons.
we had one in our local truck stop and it was really cool. i think it was a dollar a pack
They gave you a book of matches too
Is it legal for a bar to have them
Last time I saw one, they
were about $2.00 a pack.
I so remember cigs machines plus I remember pull out soda machines my daddy had one I think he had the coldest glass coke bottles in Raleigh NC
Uhhhh my grandma has this same one in her bar 😂
STILL???
@@thetruthhurtsyou147 yessir still runs and all
I’m from Europe and I’m a bit confuse. You don’t have cigarettes machines anymore? Here every café or bar have one
In most of the US you, by law, can’t smoke anywhere; we Yanks hate smokers even more than we hate the French.
In the US you can’t smoke in restaurants, bars, hotels, motels, apartments, sporting events, theaters, parks, schools, malls (indoor or outdoor), offices, etcetera, etcetera. In fact, not by law but by their (owner & management) choice, you can’t smoke in casinos - Vegas and Reno.
And with everything else, here in California, there’s an over 60% tax placed on a box of cigarettes. And, because we hate smokers, there is absolutely no sympathy for smokers.
@@artdeco64 wow I had no idea. I mean in my country you can’t smoke in most indoor places, except some clubs and bars but basically you can smoke anywhere you want outside and no one cares, especially because there is a big proportion of smokers
Why didn't you buy a pack to illustrate your point ? You didn't have to smoke them
Q, In the Movie Juice....There in high school and it's his turn to buy cigs..lol!!!
Late 70s, 75 cents a pack.
That's right. I remember it well.
$11 a pack???? lol Gotta love l1beral states.
12 dollars for marlboros is massachusetts
What does the $11 price have to do with politics? Are you an idiot? I have 10 of these machines in bars in Central TX--maxed out at $12 a pack! TEXAS. Doesn't get any more conservative or "red" than that! But I never made the connection between politics and price of cigarettes.
Can I get your contact
I want this type machine
Just saw one in florida. $8 a pack.
$1.25 in the early 80s
Still common in bars by me.
Do bars still have these?
Depends on the state I think. I live in Pennsylvania and they are quite common.
Holey shit..last one iv seen was the Earl 80s
lol im 16 i bought a pack of camels from a convince store last weekend
Who remember this
I thought it was candy when I was little
👍🚬
🚭
Could we please stop using the term "old school," people? YOU'RE NOT BLACK, FOLKS!!!!! 😠😠😠😠😠
?
That make completely no sense at all loll
This doesn't make sense.
Back then a pack of Marlboros was only a a $1.25
That's from the 70's
I Accidentally almost bought a pack from one of these when I was like 9 years old it was at a club my dad was a member of and they had it right next to the change mancine I needed change for the arcade games they had and I put the dollar in the wrong slot
It reminds me of chess ♟️ 20 cigs to box a king