- Mold-A-Rama
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Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of vending machine that makes blow-molded plastic figurines. Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962 [1][2] and grew in prominence at the 1964 New York World's Fair.[3] The machines can still be found operating in some museums and zoos.[4]
Contents
History
American inventor John H. "Tike" Miller is credited with conceiving a free-standing, plastic molding machine in the 1950s. He licensed his mold-making patent[5] and related technology to the Automatic Retailers Association, a vending machine company, which operated Mold-A-Rama machines as a subsidiary company through 1969. As of 2010, two US companies own and operate Mold-A-Rama machines, the William A. Jones Company in Illinois[6] and Replication Devices in Florida.[7]
Gallery
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A green plastic tractor from the Mold-A-Rama machine at the Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago).
References
- ^ Rossman, Martin (1962-10-29). "Machine Molds Items While Customer Waits". Los Angeles Times: p. B8.
- ^ "Keilson Puts in Molding Units". Billboard: p. 53. 1963-05-04. http://books.google.com/books?id=YwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53.
- ^ "Mold-Rama Draws 'Em". Billboard: p. 43. 1964-12-12. http://books.google.com/books?id=OSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43.
- ^ Benderoff, Eric (2006-09-04). "Old technology proves a modern-day classic". Chicago Tribune. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-04/business/0609040017_1_mold-field-museum-rama.
- ^ US patent 3068518, Miller, John H. and Helms, Millard O., "Apparatus for Molding Hollow Plastic Products", issued 1962-12-18, assigned to Mold-A-Rama, Inc.
- ^ Stach, Chris (2005-08-09). "Mold-a-Rama magic". Riverside/Brookfield Landmark. http://www.rblandmark.com/main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=579&TM=14185.26.
- ^ Daly, Sean (2009-07-05). "Waxing nostalgic". St. Petersburg Times. http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article1015315.ece.
External links
- Mold-A-Mania collector site
- Moldaramaville collector site
- Mold-A-Rama Machines category on Waymarking.com
- Replicatorinc Blog site
Categories:- 1962 introductions
- Vending machines
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