Quite a few of these lovely old machines have appeared on Tokyo Times before, although most are newer photos or re-edits. There are, however, a very welcome number of new finds. Broken and long unused sentinels that still stand proud despite their lack of products.
So here then is my latest set of favourites. A series that all being well I’ll still be able to add to as time goes by.
Sean says
Oh man these are all so cool. I want me some batteries and a can of mello! 🙂
Lee says
Haha, I wouldn’t say no either. Especially not to some mello!
YesterdaysHero says
A really interesting collection, Lee. I find the colors as appealing as the machines. They really draw me in.
Lee says
Thank you very much. Totally agree about the colours too. A big part of why I like them so much is
cdilla says
Stunning collection! I remember some and resemble some.
You spoil us again with sheer volume of stoic and dignified (yes Rony too) testaments to aging.
Lee says
Thanks a lot. Always a pleasure to put together sets of these machines. So much to like about them.
Tensigh says
Cool! You must be walking through my neighborhood!
Lee says
Cheers! Ah, no way. Small world eh?
Linda says
Someone should save that gorgeous wooden liquor store sign. I like the way the vending machines in that one fit together like a puzzle.
I think my second favorite is the one with the “Smokin’ Clean” sign. Definitely a relic of another time.
Lee says
I know eh? That sign is truly something else. With so many old shops disappearing, I always wonder what happens to all the old signage. Hopefully saved, but I suspect a lot aren’t.
Damien says
Almost worthy of a book of their own Lee. The faded French letter vending machine speaks to us from another era before the annual number of deaths overtook the annual number of births in Japan. I can hear the faint lyrics through the ceiling speakers of Momoe Yamaguchi greeting the customers of a presumably long-gone nearby love hotel.
Lee says
Thank you very much. And yeah, that is so true. A very different time in so many ways…
Andrew H says
DyDo machines always have the best twaddle written on them
Lee says
Haha, so true. Always a lovely little bonus of sorts.