The first independent bookstore we visited in Toronto was The Monkey’s Paw. I had spent the morning researching bookstores—thinking about applying for a book selling position—and writing down stores that showed up on more than one list of “Best Bookstores in Toronto.” Later, when we went to Propeller Coffee on the way to the bank, I realized we were only a few blocks away from one of the stores on my list. As usual, Thomas was happy to go on an adventure with me, even in the snow.

The Monkey’s Paw is a charming antiquarian bookstore on Bloor Street West. It wasn’t until later, when I was writing this post, that I realized the name likely comes from the short story by W. W. Jacobs, which is a classic horror story warning to “be careful what you wish for.” The store itself was small and comfortable, with a nice selection of uncommon books and paper artifacts. However, the real reason I wanted to visit was a strange-looking machine in the back.

The Biblio-Mat is a one-of-a-kind book vending machine for “old & unusual” books. For about $3, you can buy a token from the front desk, and then go back and drop it into the machine. After some clicking, whirring, and ringing, a book drops into the slot with a satisfying thunk. Each book is hand-wrapped in a paper sleeve and sealed with a sticker.

This certainly isn’t the first book vending machine in the world, but it is the first (and possibly only) random book vending machine. According to Global News, the Biblio-Mat was invented in 2012 by Stephen Fowler (the owner of The Monkey’s Paw) and his friend Craig Small. Since then, it has become a major tourist attraction.

Monkey Paw Slot Machine

COIN ON A STRING. This is about as low-tech as it can get. Cheaters would attach a string to a coin. Gambling authorities are there to ensure that the gaming industry is operating correctly. For almost two decades, Carmichael designed tools - the kickstand, the monkey paw, the light wand - that enabled him to bilk slot machines across the United States and Caribbean.

On Craig Small’s website, reviews for the Biblio-Mat range from “No thanks, I won’t pay for a rubbish book that I probably don’t want to read just in order to clear this guy’s unmovable stock” to “Oh my fucking god! Oh my fucking god! This is the coolest fucking thing I’ve ever seen!!!!!! Want! Want! Want!”

Cheating The Slot Machines

Personally, I enjoyed trying the Biblio-Mat. I loved the anticipation I felt from the time I put in the token to the time I pulled out the book. The book I received isn’t one I would have bought, and to be honest it probably isn’t one I’ll read. But it was a unique and unusual experience, and it was just plain fun. Definitely worth doing once.