<!DOCTYPE html>
<html class="client-nojs vector-feature-night-mode-disabled vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-sticky-header-enabled" lang="en" dir="ltr"><head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Mold-A-Rama</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mold-A-Rama"> <link href="./mw/ext.cite.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.icons.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.search.codex.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/user.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content="">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./mw/site.styles.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./mw/noscript.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./footer.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./vector-2022.css">
</head>
<body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Mold-A-Rama rootpage-Mold-A-Rama skin-vector-2022 action-view">
<div class="mw-page-container">
<div class="mw-page-container-inner">
<div class="mw-content-container">
<main id="content" class="mw-body">
<header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar">
<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading">
<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Mold-A-Rama</span></span>
</h1>
</header>
<a id="top"></a>
<div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body ve-init-mw-desktopArticleTarget-targetContainer" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container="">
<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content mw-content-ltr" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr">
<p><b>Mold-A-Rama</b> is a brand name for a type of <a href="Vending_machine" title="Vending machine">vending machine</a> that makes <a href="Injection_molded" class="mw-redirect" title="Injection molded">injection molded</a> plastic figurines. Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962 and grew in prominence at the <a href="1964_New_York_World's_Fair" title="1964 New York World's Fair">1964 New York World's Fair</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The machines can still be found operating in dozens of museums and zoos.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>
<p>American inventor John H. "Tike" Miller is credited with conceiving a free-standing plastic-molding machine in the 1950s. He licensed his mold-making patent and related technology to the Automatic Retailers Of America (<a href="Aramark" title="Aramark">Aramark</a>), which operated Mold-A-Rama machines as a subsidiary company through 1969.<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Aramark divested all machines and service locations by 1972 because of the high cost of the equipment. As of 2010, two US companies own and operate Mold-A-Rama machines: the William A. Jones Company in Illinois and Replication Devices in Florida.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> As of November 2015, there are 124 machines in eight states.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="Plastic_forming_machine" title="Plastic forming machine">Plastic forming machine</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><div class="reflist">
<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-1">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><cite id="CITEREFRossman1962" class="citation news cs1">Rossman, Martin (October 29, 1962). "Machine Molds Items While Customer Waits". <i>Los Angeles Times</i>. p. B8.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-2">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=YwsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA53">"Keilson Puts in Molding Units"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. May 4, 1963. p. 53.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation news cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=OSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43">"Mold-Rama Draws 'Em"</a>. <i>Billboard</i>. December 12, 1964. p. 43.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFBenderoff2006" class="citation news cs1">Benderoff, Eric (September 4, 2006). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/09/04/old-technology-proves-a-modern-day-classic/">"Old Technology Proves a Modern-Day Classic"</a>. <i>Chicago Tribune</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160303194656/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2006-09-04/business/0609040017_1_mold-field-museum-rama">Archived</a> from the original on March 3, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 20,</span> 2016</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFJohnson2016" class="citation news cs1">Johnson, Steve (August 17, 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-mold-a-rama-50th-birthday-20160817-story.html">"Smelly, Plastic and Nostalgic, Mold-A-Rama Celebrates 50th Birthday at Brookfield Zoo"</a>. <i>Chicago Tribune</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160818203647/http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-mold-a-rama-50th-birthday-20160817-story.html">Archived</a> from the original on August 18, 2016<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 18,</span> 2016</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1041539562">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .citation{word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><span class="citation patent" id="CITEREFMillerHelms1962"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://worldwide.espacenet.com/textdoc?DB=EPODOC&IDX=US3068518">US patent 3068518</a>, Miller, John H. & Helms, Millard O., "Apparatus for Molding Hollow Plastic Products", issued 1962-12-18, assigned to Mold-A-Rama, Inc.</span><span class="Z3988" title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Apatent&rft.number=3068518&rft.cc=US&rft.title=Apparatus+for+Molding+Hollow+Plastic+Products&rft.inventor=Miller&rft.assignee=Mold-A-Rama%2C+Inc.&rft.date=1962-12-18&rft.appldate=1957-09-20"><span style="display: none;"> </span></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFChannick2019" class="citation news cs1">Channick, Robert (January 24, 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mold-a-rama-trademark-lawsuit-20190123-story.html">"Mold-A-Rama Defends Its Retro Name and Vintage Vending Machines Against 'Modernized' Competitor"</a>. <i>Chicago Tribune</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190124142910/https://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-mold-a-rama-trademark-lawsuit-20190123-story.html">Archived</a> from the original on January 24, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">January 24,</span> 2019</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFGarcia2019" class="citation web cs1">Garcia, Evan (September 26, 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/26/story-mold-a-rama-chicagos-very-own-souvenir-machine">"The Story of Mold-A-Rama, Chicago's Very Own Souvenir Machine"</a>. <i>WTTW</i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190928105056/https://news.wttw.com/2019/09/26/story-mold-a-rama-chicagos-very-own-souvenir-machine">Archived</a> from the original on September 28, 2019<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">September 28,</span> 2019</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFDaly2009" class="citation news cs1">Daly, Sean (July 2, 2009). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20121012052138/http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article1015315.ece">"Waxing Nostalgic: In 30 Seconds, Mold-A-Rama Makes Memories, Toys to Last a Lifetime"</a>. <i>Tampa Bay Times</i>. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.tampabay.com/features/humaninterest/article1015315.ece">the original</a> on October 12, 2012<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">August 20,</span> 2016</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFFecile2015" class="citation web cs1">Fecile, John (November 13, 2015). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://www.wbez.org/stories/mold-a-rama-rama-the-secrets-behind-chicagos-plastic-souvenir-empire/0cdbea6b-d991-420a-9a3e-62dcc0c072d1">"Mold-A-Rama-Rama! The Secrets Behind Chicago's Plastic Souvenir Empire"</a>. <i><a href="WBEZ" title="WBEZ">WBEZ</a></i>. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20200527042332/https://www.wbez.org/stories/mold-a-rama-rama-the-secrets-behind-chicagos-plastic-souvenir-empire/0cdbea6b-d991-420a-9a3e-62dcc0c072d1">Archived</a> from the original on May 27, 2020<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">November 17,</span> 2015</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
<ul><li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://mold-a-rama.com/">William A. Jones Company</a> official website</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.replicationdevices.com/">Replication Devices</a> official website</li>
<li><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=6de6e6c2-89b3-4ed2-8884-85003af637e9">Mold-A-Rama Machines</a> category on Waymarking.com</li></ul></div><!--htdig_noindex--><div><div class="zim-footer">
This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2024-09-09" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Mold-A-Rama&oldid=1244891091">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.
</div>
</div><!--/htdig_noindex--></div>
</div>
</main>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>