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ATM Turns 40

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the atm-fees-are-such-a-scam dept.

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.""

5 of 210 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Wrong - Not the "first" ATM. by LordBafford · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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    Today's Tomorrow is Yesterday's Future! --- "Where Ever You Go, There You Are" -- Diablo 1
  2. UK not part of World by hoojus · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...anywhere in the world or the UK Wow I always though the english were a bit different :)
  3. Cute story... by rsmoody · · Score: 5, Funny

    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.

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  4. Re:Real Innovation by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

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

  5. Good reason not to cite Wikipedia as your source! by williamhb · · Score: 5, Informative

    From Wikipedia: A mechanical cash dispenser was developed and built by Luther George Simjian and installed 1939 in New York City by the City Bank of New York, but removed after 6 months due to the lack of customer acceptance

    A good example of why not to cite Wikipedia as your source -- I followed your link when I read your comment (1830BST 25June2007), and there was no sign of Simjian or the Bank of New York on the page. But the page did list the invention by John Shepherd-Barron, which is the one you are disputing! I suspect many other readers had a similar experience. So either you were making mischief, in which case you've been found out, or it's changed since you cited in, in which case that'll teach you not to cite a publically editable source!