CREATIVE IDEAS IN VENDING MACHINES

Vending machines vary from ubiquitous candy and drink machines to newspaper "honor" boxes. Now there are machines that sort change and deliver hot french fries or ramen noodles. Coming soon, look for ones that use wireless technology to take your order. Here are some other creative ideas, some of which have come and gone.

Life insurance: Policies were sold at airports by Tele-Trip and Mutual of Omaha in the 1950s through 1970s, in case the traveller's plane crashed.

Live bait: Night crawlers, crayfish, leeches and minnows are dispensed by vending machines. Unveiled at a 1995 sports fishing expo, some have cropped up in Minnesota, and they are said to be popular in Canada and rural areas.

Dog-related products: The Dallas-based company Hey Buddy! has installed machines in dog parks that offer clean-up bags, treats, water and toys.

Kosher nosh: The nation's first kosher vending machine was installed at a New Jersey hospital in 2007, spitting out potato knishes, vegetable cutlets and kosher mozzarella sticks in 90 seconds.

Pizza: A vending machine at the Milan airport kneads dough and bakes pizza in less than 3 minutes.

Japanese food: Sake, beer, noodles and fresh meat are among the offerings available from machines in Japan. The country has the highest number of vending machines per capita in the world -- 1 for every 23 people, according to Christopher Salyers, who wrote "Vending Machines: Coined Consumerism."

JACKIE CROSBY