RETAIL TRADE: Silent Salesmen

U.S. coffee drinkers, who down some 94,000,000,000 cups a year, might drink a lot more if they could get it simply by pushing a button. And Chicago's Bert E. Mills Corp. (automatic vendors) thought the idea worth trying. So' last week it unveiled its newest gadget—an automatic coffee vendor. From piped-in water and powdered coffee, the machine makes an electrically heated brew, for 5¢ Its four buttons serve a paper-cupful with cream or sugar, both, or neither.

The coffee dispenser is the latest gadget in the slot-machine industry, which has rapidly expanded...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!