A Mold-A-Rama machine at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle
A tractor from a Mold-A-Rama machine at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of vending machine 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.[1][2][3] The machines can still be found operating in dozens of museums and zoos.[4][5]

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), which operated Mold-A-Rama machines as a subsidiary company through 1969.[6] 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.[7][8][9] As of November 2015, there are 124 machines in eight states.[10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rossman, Martin (October 29, 1962). "Machine Molds Items While Customer Waits". Los Angeles Times. p. B8.
  2. ^ "Keilson Puts in Molding Units". Billboard. May 4, 1963. p. 53.
  3. ^ "Mold-Rama Draws 'Em". Billboard. December 12, 1964. p. 43.
  4. ^ Benderoff, Eric (September 4, 2006). "Old Technology Proves a Modern-Day Classic". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. ^ Johnson, Steve (August 17, 2016). "Smelly, Plastic and Nostalgic, Mold-A-Rama Celebrates 50th Birthday at Brookfield Zoo". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ US patent 3068518, Miller, John H. & Helms, Millard O., "Apparatus for Molding Hollow Plastic Products", issued 1962-12-18, assigned to Mold-A-Rama, Inc. 
  7. ^ Channick, Robert (January 24, 2019). "Mold-A-Rama Defends Its Retro Name and Vintage Vending Machines Against 'Modernized' Competitor". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  8. ^ Garcia, Evan (September 26, 2019). "The Story of Mold-A-Rama, Chicago's Very Own Souvenir Machine". WTTW. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ^ Daly, Sean (July 2, 2009). "Waxing Nostalgic: In 30 Seconds, Mold-A-Rama Makes Memories, Toys to Last a Lifetime". Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  10. ^ Fecile, John (November 13, 2015). "Mold-A-Rama-Rama! The Secrets Behind Chicago's Plastic Souvenir Empire". WBEZ. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2015.

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