The National Automatic Merchandising Association has a timeline that chronicles the history of vending machines. It begins in 215 B.C. with a device that dispensed holy water in Egypt. Then in 1076 A.D. there was a coin-operated pencil vending machine in China. But I am having trouble figuring out what they mean by “pencil”. I suppose it refers to some sort of writing implement, but I assume brushes were commonly used and certainly not our modern pencil which was invented, most likely, in England. Creators of early Chinese writing made use of carving and sticks, but what was a “pencil” in 1076 A.D.? (thanks eft)