He worked with his father, a Baptist minister, develop a new machine that was more dependable. He sought to infuse his business with integrity and overcome negative public perception. The machines were inconsistent and the gum that was dispensed was often of poor quality. Ford recognized potential in the gumball vending business and three years later quit his roofing job to focus on vending full time.ĭuring this time gumball machines began to garner a negative reputation.

At that time gumballs would vend for one penny.

He discovered the relatively new vending industry and decided to take out a loan to lease 102 vending machines. He was initially working as a roofer but needed a way to supplement his income in the cold winter months when the roofing business was slow. The history of this company dates all the way back to 1913 when a 20 year old Ford Mason took out a loan to lease a large route of gumball vending machines. In 2013 Ford Gum celebrated 100 years of being in the bulk vending business.

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