Chewing gum machines
As a child it was a treat to put a penny in the chewing gum machine outside the local newsagents. These machines were alluring because you could access them without parental supervision at any time.
The chewing gum machine has proved to be an intrepid survivor of the street and is alive and well in East London. They are unnoticed by adults but are always set at a height accessible to a small child. Their bright colours make them difficult for a child to ignore.
The child above is ripe for seduction by the chewing gum machine. He is the right height and he cannot even see over the counter in the shop. The machines are an apprenticeship into becoming a consumer. It is unlikely he will use the machine with his mother around.
This chewing gum machine referees a heated conversation between two men on Fieldgate street. I always remember one of the most engaging attractions of these machines was the slow turn and clunk of the handle as the coin dropped into the compartment beneath the chewing gum; today it would be described by a marketing agency as a complete shopping experience.
Yes it was so exciting to be able to use those machines…but was anyone else terrified that the chewing gum balls were so big they would choke on them and does anyone know why they had to be so big?! Great photos phil – keep them coming, I love your blog xx
Fascinating blog, Phil. Love the detail here. Stories about simple things like a chewing gum machine require imagination and add a great deal of colour to your posts.
Really loving seeing your images from the area from years ago. Thanks for making them available.
Steve
see I do follow your blog darling
june
Fantastic Phil
The man with the stick wearing a blue hat is called Harris! hahaha lol. He has been living on the Chicksand Estate for decades.