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A Mold-A-Rama machine at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle
A tractor from a Mold-A-Rama machine at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago

Mold-A-Rama is a brand name for a type of vending machine that makes injection molded plastic figurines. Mold-A-Rama machines debuted in late 1962 and grew in prominence at the 1964 New York World’s Fair.[1][2][3] The machines can still be found operating in dozens of museums and zoos.[4][5]

Although they can be found in several states across the country, Mold-A-Rama machines are especially associated with Chicago, Illinois, where the machines were manufactured.[6][7][8][9] Mold-A-Rama machines are a well known feature at several Chicago-area museums, with 6 machines at the Field Museum, 7 at the Museum of Science and Industry, and 13 at Brookfield Zoo.[5][10]

History

American inventor John H. “Tike” Miller from Quincy, Illinois is credited with conceiving a free-standing plastic injection molding machine in the 1950s.[11] The first Mold-A-Rama machines debuted at the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair,[12] further gaining noteriety two years later with an appearance at the New York World’s Fair as part of Sinclair Oil’s “Dinoland” exhibit; for 25 cents, visitors could watch as the machine molded a toy dinosaur souvenir for them.[13][7] In 1966, the first machine was installed at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago; in 1971 the Zoo installed another 10.[8] Miller licensed his mold-making patent and related technology to the Automatic Retailers Of America (Aramark), which operated Mold-A-Rama machines as a subsidiary company through 1969.[11] Aramark produced the machines in Chicago,[5] building hundreds of Mold-A-Rama machines during the 1960s.[8]

Aramark divested all machines and service locations by 1972 because of the high cost of the equipment. As of 2023, two US companies own and operate Mold-A-Rama machines: Mold-A-Rama Inc. in Brookfield, Illinois[8][14] and Unique Souvenirs Inc. in Lake Wales, Florida, where the machines are known as Mold-A-Matic.[15][16][17] As of November 2015, there are 124 machines in eight states.[9]

In 2022, to mark the brand’s 60th anniversary, Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry featured an exhibit dedicated to the history of the Mold-A-Rama, with many rare and experimental models on display.[18][19][20][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Rossman, Martin (October 29, 1962). “Machine Molds Items While Customer Waits”. Los Angeles Times. p. B8.
  2. ^ “Keilson Puts in Molding Units”. Billboard. May 4, 1963. p. 53.
  3. ^ “Mold-Rama Draws ‘Em”. Billboard. December 12, 1964. p. 43.
  4. ^ Benderoff, Eric (September 4, 2006). “Old Technology Proves a Modern-Day Classic”. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Johnson, Steve (August 17, 2016). “Smelly, Plastic and Nostalgic, Mold-A-Rama Celebrates 50th Birthday at Brookfield Zoo”. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on August 18, 2016. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  6. ^ a b “Exhibit Celebrates Nostalgia of Mold-A-Rama”. The Arts Section. 2022-11-28. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  7. ^ a b Channick, Robert (January 24, 2019). “Mold-A-Rama Defends Its Retro Name and Vintage Vending Machines Against ‘Modernized’ Competitor”. Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on January 24, 2019. Retrieved January 24, 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d Garcia, Evan (September 26, 2019). “The Story of Mold-A-Rama, Chicago’s Very Own Souvenir Machine”. WTTW. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ^ a b Fecile, John (November 13, 2015). “Mold-A-Rama-Rama! The Secrets Behind Chicago’s Plastic Souvenir Empire”. WBEZ. Archived from the original on May 27, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2015.
  10. ^ “Machine Locations in Venue | Mold-A-Rama® Inc”. www.mold-a-rama.com. 2024-04-01. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  11. ^ a b US patent 3068518, Miller, John H. & Helms, Millard O., ”Apparatus for Molding Hollow Plastic Products”, issued 1962-12-18, assigned to Mold-A-Rama, Inc. 
  12. ^ “On the Trail of the Hottest Collectibles from the Seattle World’s Fair”. Seattle Met. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  13. ^ “DINO History | Sinclair Oil”. www.sinclairoil.com. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  14. ^ “History of our company | Mold-A-Rama® Incorporated”. www.mold-a-rama.com. 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  15. ^ Daly, Sean (July 2, 2009). “Waxing Nostalgic: In 30 Seconds, Mold-A-Rama Makes Memories, Toys to Last a Lifetime”. Tampa Bay Times. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
  16. ^ Roadtrippers (2023-02-14). “10 Places to Find Mold-A-Rama and Mold-A-Matic Machines in the U.S.” Roadtrippers. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  17. ^ “Home | UNIQUE SOUVENIRS, INC”. UNIQUE SOUVENIRS INC. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  18. ^ ““Mold-A-Rama™: Molded for the Future” | Museums in Chicago”. Time Out Chicago. 2022-11-07. Retrieved 2026-06-05.
  19. ^ Sparrow, Norbert (16 November 2022). “Chicago Museum Salutes Iconic Mold-A-Rama”. Plastics Today. Archived from the original on 2025-01-17.
  20. ^ Brewster, Chip (3 November 2022). “Mold-A-Rama exhibit now open at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry”. WGN.