Album Vending Machines from Martin M. Miles

Heraklion - Cardphone

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 31 May 2026 21:00:29 +0000

This jewel of a phone is waiting for an antique dealer with a screw driver

Heraklion - Minoan

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 29 May 2026 14:36:32 +0000

Crete, the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, is located about 100 km south of the Peloponnese. Crete was the center of Europe's first advanced civilization, the Minoans, from 3000 to 1400 BC. The Minoan civilization was overrun by the Mycenaean civilization from mainland Greece. Crete was later ruled by Rome, then successively by the Byzantine Empire, Andalusian Arabs, the Byzantine Empire again, the Venetian Republic, and the Ottoman Empire. In 1898 Crete, whose people had for some time wanted to join the Greek state, achieved independence from the Ottomans, formally becoming the Cretan State. Crete became part of Greece in December 1913.

Heraklion is the largest city and the administrative capital of the island of Crete.

Knossos, an ancient urban centre near Heraklion, was a hub of Minoan culture. The bull-leaping scene on the back of the Coke vending machine, which is a reproduction of a scene from the Palace of Knossos, is a well-known motif of Minoan culture.

Agia Napa - Vending Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 21 May 2026 18:14:34 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Agia Napa is the largest tourist resort in Cyprus, with a 27,000-person-bed capacity and more than 175 hotels and apartments of all sizes. Agia Napa attracts mainly young people from Great Britain and Scandinavia, who come to enjoy the beaches and the countless bars and clubs.

Whereas in summer thousands of young, party-loving tourists flock to the restaurants, clubs and bars, in winter there’s hardly a soul to be seen. All clubs and almost all the restaurants are closed.

This vending machine offers drinking water 24/7. As tap water in many parts of Cyprus is not potable, 20-liter-containers can be refilled here. A single refill costing approximately 1.30 euros.

Osnabrück - Gumball Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 19:47:17 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

As a child, I was fascinated by these machines. Children today are obviously interested in other things. This gumball machine seems to have been waiting for customers for quite some time.

Mainz - Rainbow Cotton Candy

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 01 Feb 2026 20:04:01 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Sometimes human ingenuity surprises me.

Caen - Huitres

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:30:52 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Although Caen is only about 15 km from the coast, I wouldn't have expected to find a vending machine selling fresh oysters here.

Torhout - Sint-Pietersbandenkerk

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 10:21:32 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Torhout is considered one of the oldest cities in Flanders, having existed as early as the 2nd century AD.

A Carolingian central church had been built here in the 9th century. In the 11th and 12th centuries the central building was replaced by a three-aisled Romanesque cruciform church with a monumental west tower. The tower dates from the late 12th century.
The church was severely damaged during the religious wars of the 16th century. In 1624, it was rebuilt in the Gothic style, with the exception of the Romanesque tower. In 1695, the church was looted by French troops. In 1816, the church had to be closed due to danger of collapse. Repairs took place between 1818 and 1823. Two naves were subsequently added to the church. At the end of the First World War, the German army dynamited the tower. It was rebuilt in 1923. In 1940, the church burned down completely after a German bombing raid. The tower, renovated in 1923, was restored, and the remaining structure was replaced by a Romanesque Revival church. Construction was completed in 1954.

The vending machine filled with candles is likely a very recent addition. I have seen such machines on graveyards. but never before inside a church.

Lichtervelde - Automatenshop

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 12:51:56 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Belgium has a striking number of vending machines.

Detmold - Gumball machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:30:42 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Though chewing gum is still popular, these vending machines are only rarely seen meanwhile. And most I found over the last years looked neglected. My friends in Detmold have an eye on these machines, so everytime I visit them, they can point out some "new" or neclected, forgotten and vandalized ones

Detmold - Gumball machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 07 Aug 2025 14:20:32 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Berlin - Katchi

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 29 Jun 2025 18:00:13 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Katchi ice cream is perhaps one of the best handmade ice cream flavors in Berlin. At least, that's what we were told. And there's even a vending machine for late-night customers.

Berlin - Photoautomat

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Fri, 27 Jun 2025 20:31:01 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Such photo booths could be found at every train station a few decades ago. A set of four photos today costs four euros. So, the ATM machine next to it isn't really necessary.

Chania - Vending Machines

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sat, 14 Jun 2025 13:24:12 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

The "Three Musketeers" here in Chania disguised as Vending Machines. Still with a little bit of Christmas decoration.

Agios Nikolaos - ATM

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Sun, 11 May 2025 22:49:24 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Agios Nikolaos was settled in the late Bronze Age by Dorian occupants of Lato under the name Lato pros Kamara, often simply Kamara. It was the port of Lato for a long time. In the 2nd century BC, Lato was abandoned, and many citizens settled in Kamara. The name of the present-day town comes from the church of Agios Nikolaos, which dates back to the 9th or 10th century and is one of the oldest intact churches in Crete.

In winter, even the ATMs go into hibernation

Holtensen - Vending Machine

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 17:30:11 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

All major mail order companies receive returns from their customers, as the right of cancellation means that it is possible to return used goods to the retailer within a short period of time. Perhaps the goods do not fit or the customer simply does not like them.

These goods can then not be resold as new. They are either destroyed or given to companies that sell them as ‘almost new’. Sometimes they even fill surprise bags that people can get from such vending machines. It's a bit of a gamble then.

Holtensen - Vending Machines

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 16:57:44 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

These large vending machines, which are located on a thoroughfare in the village of Holtensen, offer all kinds of products from regional farmers. From eggs, to potatoes, veggies, herbs, cheeses to sausages.

Bamburgh - St Aidan

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 06 Mar 2025 22:39:49 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Saint Aidan´s church dates from the late 12th century. The chancel, was added in 1230. According to Bede, St Aidan built a wooden church outside the castle wall, on the site of the current church, in AD 635, and he died here in AD 652. St Aidan had been called to Bamburgh from Iona by King Oswald to establish Christianity in his kingdom of Northumbria.

In 1123 Bamburgh was given to the Augustinian priory at Nowell in Yorkshire by Henry I. The grant was finally confirmed by the pope about a century later, so that the Augustinians could establish a cell of canons here.

The canons remained until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VII, when they were forced to leave. After the Reformation, St Aidan's became the parish church for the village but its maintenance was neglected. Over the subsequent centuries repairs were undertaken, including significant restorations during the 1800s.

It was quite a surprise to find this machine, an automaton designed by Keith Newstead, in the church.

Inverness

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Tue, 21 Jan 2025 15:46:47 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Inverness was one of the main strongholds of the Picts and was visited in 565 by St Columban of Iona, intending to convert the Pictish king Brude I. A church with a small monastery complex had already been founded by early Celtic monks on St Michael's Mount.

The castle above the city was built by King Malcolm III, eldest son of Duncan I. The reign of King Duncan I was marked by the conflict with his cousin Macbeth. All that is known is that Duncan I was killed by Macbeth in the battle near Elgin. In Shakespeare's account, however, Macbeth killed Duncan I in Inverness Castle and Malcolm III is said to have avenged his father's death by destroying the castle in order to build a new castle on its site.

The city of Inverness was attacked several times by residents of the Hebrides. In 1187, Donald Bane led the enemy islanders in the Battle of Torvean against the men from Inverness Castle led by Duncan Mackintosh. Both were killed in the battle. Further battles against the MacDonald clan are documented in 1340, 1411 and 1427. In 1554, the Munro clan defeated the Mackintosh clan at the Battle of Clachnaharry west of the city. The MacDonald clan and their allies stormed Inverness Castle in 1491.

In 1562, the Queen of Scotland Mary Stuart was denied access to the city by the English governor during the Huntly Rebellion. The Munro and Fraser clans then took the castle for her.

Kirtlebank Cows

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 20:34:29 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

They seem to be the team members of the Kirtlebank Farm near Gretna

Ohrid

nobody@ipernity.com (Martin M. Miles) — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 16:30:16 +0000

Martin M. Miles has posted:

Ohrid became a "polis" under the name Lychnidos after Alexander the Great conquered the area around 335 BC. Around 148 BC, Lychnidos became part of the Roman Republic and thus a "colonia".

When the empire was divided in 395, Lychnidos was awarded to the Eastern Roman Empire. Lychnidos became a bishopric under the Byzantines in late antiquity. Lychnidos was destroyed by a devastating earthquake and it is unclear whether the city continued to exist or was re-founded by Slavs. The place was first mentioned under the name Ohrid around 880.

Ohrid was developed into a cultural and religious center of the Bulgarian Empire.

Today, a citadel, built on the walls of an ancient fortress, towers over the city. When Emperor Basil II incorporated Ohrid into his empire in 1018, he had the fortress demolished. At the end of the 12th century, the Bulgarians regained their independence and reconquered Ohrid in 1198.

The Ottomans took possession of Ohrid in the years around 1400. In the following centuries, the city became a supra-regional center of Islam, where mosques and places of the dervish cult were built. The city also remained a center of Christian art until the middle of the 15th century.

The conversion of St. Sophia's Church into a mosque took place during the reign of the Ottoman Sultan Mehmed I (1413–1421). In 1462, the Albanian resistance fighter Skanderbeg conquered the city. But it was recaptured in 1466. Around 1568, the city was badly damaged by an earthquake.

The density of coffee vending machines along Ohrid´s waterfront is surprisingly high.

Ohrid,