ATM Turns 40

01100111 writes "The world's first ATM was installed in a branch of Barclays in Enfield, north London, 40 years ago this week. Inspiration had struck Mr Shepherd-Barron, now 82, while he was in the bath. The machine paid out a maximum of £10 a time." It struck me there must be a way I could get my own money, anywhere in the world or the UK. I hit upon the idea of a chocolate bar dispenser, but replacing chocolate with cash.""

Comments

And it just goes to prove

[Rik Sweeney]

That everyone does their best thinking when they're in the bath.

Or on the can.

Re:And it just goes to prove

[MyLongNickName]

Which is why I go to the can in the shower. Double the inspiration power. Of course, the wife doesn't like the brown streaks in the tub, but you can't please everyone.

Asynchronous Transfer Mode?

[niceone]

I should get out more.

Re:Wrong - Not the "first" ATM.

[LordBafford]

Yes, the first ATM was invented during medieval times, when they had a midget in a box dispensing gold coins when presented with a certificate of ownership. This was short lived due the midgets dieing frequently and some just being carried off in their boxes and robbed.

Alternately ;)

[Moraelin]

A man is only as old as the woman he feels ;)

UK not part of World

[hoojus]

...anywhere in the world or the UK Wow I always though the english were a bit different :)

Cute story...

[rsmoody]

My aunt and Mother were both working at a bank in Houston, TX that got the first ATM in the city (or so the story goes). One was inside the bank working on the internals of the ATM, and the other outside. As the wall was relatively thin, they could talk to each other and work on the problem. Well, after they got done, a customer arrived to use the new and fancy gadget. He began speaking to the ATM and telling it what amount of money he wanted. Always found that story to be funny.

Re:Real Innovation

[Anonymous Coward]

He was actually paid a lot of money, (but sadly he could only withdraw 10 pounds at a time).

Now wait a minute

[Deadstick]

If you visit the island fortress/abbey of Mont Saint-Michel off the coast of France, one of the first things you see inside the gate is a stone wall built circa 1000 CE with an ATM set into it. So they've obviously been around since William the Conqueror...;-)

rj