Cigarette vending machines were not available in the UK after 2011. Long before 2011, however, snuff was also available from vending machines at collieries and after c. 1929 many train station platforms also had snuff vending machines along with those for cigarettes and chocolate.
This example (from J&H Wilson’s collection) offered those familiar little boxes for two shillings (pre-decimal imperial) each. It illustrates how relatively expensive snuff was before 1978 but also how much more common snuff-taking used to be in England.
The last vending machine I remember (J&H Wilsons S.P. No.1) was located near ‘Laddie’ the Airedale Terrier, still collecting for charity despite being stuffed in a glass box, at Wimbledon station. (How long has it been since dogs with money boxes strapped on their backs trotted around British railway stations? Certainly before my time! These days the dogs would be mugged for their charity boxes).
It is possible that the last time we could find snuff in a vending machine was around 2010. These were the now forgotten Zuka snuffs, which were supposedly sold in vending machines (along with cigarettes). This was possible due to the fact that Zuka sold its product in packaging that was supposed to imitate that of cigarettes - inside there was a snuff bullet, a handkerchief and instructions on how to take snuff. Unfortunately, only the first one has survived in my collection…
About a thousand different packages - until recently they could fit into a large display case. Unfortunately, it currently takes up three large cardboard boxes…
And by the way, I found a photo of a full package of 2007 Zuka snuff.
