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The Vending Machine Prize Spectacular – 2004!

Wow, this one took way too long to finish. A few years back I did a tribute to vending machine toys, but recent trips to where the beastly machines are located told me that there was enough shite left to examine, so here tis: The 2004 Vending Machine Prize Spectacular! Everything from Dr. Mad's Blobs to the mysterious eggs of "The Chicken Machine," it's a two-page mess of quarter trinkets and button quails. Also, this is a work-from-home week due to the Republican National Convention ruining city transit. That more or less means it's a vacation week, so expect more updates soon. Not super soon, but soon.

Posted by Matt on 08/30/2004. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 93 comments

Correction: It was Showbiz, not Chuck E. Cheese.

Chestnuts roasted by FLyGrL @ 09/04/2004 12:42 PM

Crap. Posted about this article in the previous post. Crap.

Chestnuts roasted by Nachokhaki @ 09/04/2004 12:11 PM

I’ve seen that same model of Chicken Machine at the doors of a local drugstore. In fact, it might still be there. I’ll check by. :)

Chestnuts roasted by z-reserve @ 09/04/2004 4:39 PM

If you ever get a Chicken Machine, or even if you don’t, here’s where to go to fill it:

http://www.stickermachine.net

No word on whether eggs are included or not.

Chestnuts roasted by John @ 09/05/2004 10:23 AM

Wow. I suddenly feel so validated, so "no longer alone."

I LOVE vending machine toys!! Though, it is hard to find good ones. I originally came to post to clue you in on the blinky ring thing, but I see someone already has. They are a little tricky, but everything you dreamed they’d be once they’re on.

I got started on buying these (as an adult) with the little birds that would balance by their beak on a cone, so they looked like they were flying. But what hooked me were these little foam cube puzzles that were AWESOME!! The first time I tried to get one together the thing kicked my ass!! (okay, I may have been somewhat chemically impaired at the time, but, still!!) I bought a bunch of them, and used them as sort of an IQ test with my friends: seeing how long it took different people to put them together. In fact, since I would hand them to someone in pieces, saying, "It makes a cube," the first test was whether they understood what a "cube" was. (I know. I know. I really need a better class of friends. But I don’t hang out with the one or two who failed that part anymore…)

Anyway, great review! Cool site! First time I’ve been here, but I think I’ll be back!

~From a feline state of mind, DonnaCat

PS: I have a friend who worked for a while filling the machines and collecting the quarters. I can tell you for certain that, at least with his company, there is only ONE ring watch in each machine-full of assorted baubles.

Chestnuts roasted by DonnaCat @ 09/05/2004 6:43 PM

Heck’s, a department store that was in my town when I was a kid(not the mall store) had a chicken machine. The store went under years ago, and eventually became a Big Lots. Sure enough, the chicken machine is still there in all its glory.

Chestnuts roasted by Jason @ 09/06/2004 12:54 PM

http://forums.fark.com/cgi/fark/comments.pl?IDLink=1112299

Chestnuts roasted by Some Guy @ 09/07/2004 3:13 PM

You, Sir, are insane. And I mean that in the most complimentary way possible.

Chestnuts roasted by A Gentleman @ 09/08/2004 2:22 AM

Holy fucking shit that was funny.
Gives me a bunch of good ideas. Keep it up.

Chestnuts roasted by Rankenphile @ 09/08/2004 2:47 AM

Dude… you have no life, but you’re hilarious..

Chestnuts roasted by Vickie @ 09/20/2004 6:04 PM

Dude… you have no life, but you’re hilarious..

Chestnuts roasted by Vickie @ 09/20/2004 6:04 PM

Dude… you have no life, but you’re hilarious..

Chestnuts roasted by Vickie @ 09/20/2004 6:04 PM

there a 2 chicken machines in my area one is the regular chicken one and the other is the converted Flintstone dinosaur egg hatching one.

Chestnuts roasted by pikachulover @ 09/21/2004 1:33 AM

Those ninjas are the best thing ever. Everyone in my group of friends has one in their car, usually hiding in some ingenious fashion. We’ve done this since around 99 or so, and it’s one of my favorite quirks of our group.

Chestnuts roasted by Interociter @ 09/28/2004 4:56 PM

Okay, after reading this, I was in Wal-mart the other day, and I saw some of those blinky rings. So, I bought one, of course. Just to see. And mine worked! I was so happy! All I had to do was turn the little top part clockwise until it started blinking red and yellow. I don’t know if they are the same kind as yours, but just so everyone knows, the blinky rings in my North Carolina Wal-mart are blinking like crazy. So yeah.

Chestnuts roasted by Mallard @ 10/01/2004 11:50 AM

You have no idea what your exposé on the Chicken Machine meant to me. They populated my area in my childhood years and while I had long forgotten them, your review made me remember them like it was yesterday. If I were you, I would definitely get one. I hope I don’t come across one with excess cash in my pocket, because it WILL get spent.

Chestnuts roasted by Orson @ 10/08/2004 4:03 PM

I’ve still got a chicken machine at my local drug store, and yes they also have other less run of the mill toy machines so if you ever find yourself in Phoenixville Pennsylvania (which is a snowball’s chance in hell and if you do arrive there you’ll be wishing you were a snowball in hell just to end the misery) go to Gateway pharmacies to see this wonder of the world. And yes I know I use run on sentances. This Chicken Machine doesn’t look to great on the outside but the music plays and the chicken is well painted, moving easly in an endless circle as it drops its load of delight (which could be anything from an army man to one of those fake gold ring watchs) out for the world to enjoy for the low, low price of 25 cents.

Chestnuts roasted by Zanduar @ 10/10/2004 12:16 PM

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This entry was posted on Monday, August 30th, 2004 at 4:15 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.