Theres a great documentary by Mel Brooks about the famous one that started that idea in NYC, he went there as a child often and he's pushing a 100. Everything was a nickel I think and they had about 500 people behind a wall of little doors replacing things asap. I recall a skit about it on Candid Camera when I was a kid. I think when someone got ahold of something then somebody on the other side would grab it and tug-o-war with them.Didn't Luby's or Furr's or some of the older buffeteria's have these for dispensing product?