Do you guys live in the Twilight Zone or some other place caught in a time warp? I remember going up to Vermont as a child (and I am older than Kat!), and the "penny candy" in the country stores was a nickle... I do remember being able to buy bubble gum for a penny, but I don't remember any machines taking pennies. I think the gumball and small toys thingies machines all took nickles. Maybe it was just NY big city living thing...