What physical characteristics did early 19th-century mechanical verification systems typically rely upon?
Answer
The coin’s diameter and weight
Unlike modern systems that use complex electronic authentication, early 19th-century vending machines relied on simple mechanical checks to prevent fraud from slugs or foreign objects. If a coin was the correct size, it would fit through a designated slot or drop a specific distance, thereby triggering the release mechanism. If the coin was either too large or too small based on its diameter or failed to meet the necessary weight requirement, it would be rejected and directed into a return slot, ensuring that only properly weighted and sized payment was accepted.
#Videos
Almanac: The first vending machine patent - YouTube
Related Questions
Where and when did Hero of Alexandria live when inventing the first known vending apparatus?What substance did Hero of Alexandria's apparatus dispense in Egyptian temples?What core physical principles powered Hero's timed dispensing system described in Pneumatica?How did the weight of the coin initiate water flow in Hero's specific lever mechanism?What characterized the historical period immediately following Hero's vending creation?What category of low-value items were initially dispensed by commercial precursors in London in the 1850s?What physical characteristics did early 19th-century mechanical verification systems typically rely upon?What contrasting societal applications defined Hero's invention versus 19th-century vending machines?What core human desire is identified as the driving force behind vending technology from Alexandria to London?Which environmental factor provided fertile ground for the large-scale adoption of vending machines in the United States?