Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of
vending machine
A vending machine is an automated machine that dispenses items such as snacks, beverages, cigarettes, and lottery tickets to consumers after cash, a credit card, or other forms of payment are inserted into the machine or payment is otherwise m ...
that makes
injection molded plastic figurines. Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962 and grew in prominence at the
1964 New York World's Fair
The 1964 New York World's Fair (also known as the 1964–1965 New York World's Fair) was an world's fair, international exposition at Flushing Meadows–Corona Park in Queens, New York City, United States. The fair included exhibitions, activ ...
. The machines can still be found operating in dozens of museums and zoos.
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 and related technology to the Automatic Retailers Of America (
Aramark
Aramark is an American Foodservice, food service and Facility management, facilities services provider to clients in areas including education, prisons, healthcare, business, and leisure. It operates in North America (United States and Canada) a ...
), which operated Mold-A-Rama machines as a subsidiary company through 1969. Aramark divested all machines and service locations by 1972 because of the high cost of the equipment. As of 2010, two US companies own and operate Mold-A-Rama machines: the William A. Jones Company in Illinois and Replication Devices in Florida. As of November 2015, there are 124 machines in eight states.
See also
*
Plastic forming machine
References
{{Reflist
External links
William A. Jones Companyofficial website
Replication Devicesofficial website
Mold-A-Rama Machinescategory on Waymarking.com
Toy figurines
Vending machines
Products introduced in 1962