[I]n Memphis Tennessee, 1948, at the Keedoozle store, a vending machine concept developed by the man behind Piggly Wiggly, Clarence Saunders, who had patented the concept of the “Self-Serving Store” in 1917.

Keedoozle was a prototype for a store but didn’t last very long before it closed because the mechinery, much of which Saunders built himself, was not capable of handling any high traffic loads.

Not really that different from how it is done today, really, minus the automatic-ish conveyor belted resupply system.

Via Messy Nessy Chic for more photos and the full story.