Retro Tech Tuesday: The Automat

For many of us, myself included, we never had the chance to partake in an Automat in person. For those not familiar, the basic premise involved a cafeteria in which you placed money into machines (or a wall of little windows,) then you would open the window and take your item. Think of it as a giant vending machine selling fresh-made food.

I always thought in our have-it-now, pay with credit world, the concept could be dusted off and tried again, maybe with an organic, or natural food twist.

At any rate, here's a video with some background on one of the most famous Automats: Horn and Hardart in Philadelphia.