Clement Garrett's & BMR cigarette vending machines

[moonriver]

I knew that emoji would come in handy again

[coppinpr]

Here is the caption that goes with that photo:

24th June 1937: A canned beer machine being tested out in London. The customer inserts 6d, waits for the coin to drop and pulls out a sealed can of beer. A woman is using the opener on the right hand side of the machine. Experiments are being made to make the machines automatically self-locking and opening in accordance with the licensing laws.

A closer look at the photo shows the man is in fact removing an unopened can. There seems to be a choice of six different beers. The clock on the top makes sense if the auto lock was introduced.

The woman looks a little confused, but not to worry, it says on the top of the can, "instructions on the bottom". On the bottom it says, "open other end".

This 17th cent (more like mid 18th cent to my mind) coin-op gin dispenser is thought to be the oldest coin-op vending machine from the UK, although coin-operated is stretching a point. (That brand of gin is still available today).

[badpenny]

….. it tastes like cat's what?

[pennymachines]

Doing a little research:
The first patent I found was 1901, when Clement Garrett was residing at Gothic Arcade Birmingham (at that time in the County of Warwick).
Improvements in Money Tills.

Then we have one in 1929, at which time Julian Clement Garrett is at Foreman Works, 13 Jessop Street, Sheffield.
Improvements in or relating to Coin-freed Mechanism

Then on 29th June 1939 a patent is applied for under the name of Clement Garrett & Company Ltd., 8 Leyburn Road, Sheffield.
Improvements for Delivering Tickets and the like
The National Archives tell us this was when company was founded.

Also Improvements relating to Coin-freed Mechanism in 1941 and Improved Coin-operated Vending Machine in 1942.

The National Archive records the company as closed in 1940, but this is contradicted by a patent for securing cash boxes filed under the company name as late as 1960.

And now there's a Garrett metal-cased three column 1930s Cigarette vendor (with raked top) of a slightly different design in the Museum.

Clement Garrett cigarette vendor badged with 1929 patent 324623