This 1950 model Fruit-o-matic fresh fruit-dispensing machine was touted as “A fully automatic fresh fruit merchandiser”. Made by the Fruit-o-matic Manufacturing Company, this machine dispensed chilled, fresh fruit. A coin was dropped in the slot corresponding with the row of fruit displayed in the window above the slot, and the fruit automatically dropped into the dispensing chute for it to be retrieved.
Features listed for the Fruit-o-matic are:
Hermetically sealed noiseless refrigeration unit
Standard coin mechanism with a slug rejector
Fluorescent light on front panel
Baked enamel finish
And in addition, the Fruit-o-matic incorporated “all the features that make Fruit-o-matic the ideal fresh fruit merchandiser for new fields, diversification and year ‘round profits.” The ad that appears here includes two testimonials regarding the popularity and dependability of these machines. One review is from the Executive Secretary of the YMCA of Hollywood, CA and the other is from the UCLA store manager. The photos here show the Fruit-o-matic being used in schools, at the Y and at bowling alleys. There is also an ad from a vending machine trade publication informing those who will attend a trade show to be on the lookout for the Fruit-o-matic in room 730!
A video of Jane Mansfield using the Fruit-o-matic can be viewed at YouTube:
Manufactured by:
Fruit-o-matic Manufacturing Company
5225 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
Have you, or anyone you know ever used a Fruit-o-matic? Email us and let us know. We here at Vintage Vending have seen many vending machines over the years, but have never run across one of these.
9 responses so far ↓
1 Martha Burr // Feb 26, 2009 at 3:53 pm
I have a deep Proustian memory of this machine when I was growing up in my Middle School in New Paltz, NY. Every day I’d drop a dime into the machine and get an ice cold, deep red Red Delicious apple out of it. It was my daily snack that was my daily re-boot. What I wouldn’t give to have one at my six-year old son’s elementary school in LA today!
2 fruitomaticfan // Mar 14, 2009 at 10:45 pm
They had one at my middle school in Los Angeles in the late 1970’s. I would get mostly apples, golden delicious–or oranges. They cost 10 cents!
3 LB_FruitOMaticFan // Jul 10, 2009 at 12:42 pm
My high school (Millikan in Long Beach, CA) had one in the late 1980s. I always enjoyed the chilled and crispy apples from the machine!
4 dan // Aug 24, 2009 at 10:38 am
What ever happened to them? Seems like such a great concept. Especially with all the healthy eating trends now.
5 Ellen Mykins // Oct 29, 2009 at 3:37 pm
We had one in the cafeteria at St Agnes High School (Rochester NY) in the late 70’s! I loved it…my favorite snack!
6 John // Feb 4, 2010 at 10:16 pm
My high school in Salem, Oregon had a fruit-o-matic in the main foyer across from the office and next to the auditorium entrance. Cold crisp red delicious apples were sold out daily for 25 cents each. I bought apples once or twice every day. I would love to see these things in our schools today. I know my grandkids would love them.
7 paul // Feb 20, 2010 at 4:39 pm
I have a Fruit-O-Matic.
8 Mark Virden // Mar 23, 2010 at 8:22 am
My dad had one of the largest Fruit-O-Matic vending routes in the country in Kansas City. At one time, he had over 200 machines. I still have one that works and is in excellent condition, including the original working air conditioning unit. He was called “the fruit man” and had many friends in many schools througout the area.
9 Chris Haley // Jun 29, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I had a Fruit-O-Matic at my highschool, Uni (University) Highschool in Los Angeles (1991)
I believe it was 75cents and was the best, coldest and juceist fruit ever.
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