Abstract: This apparatus for dispensing under manual or automatic control action one or a plurality of articles, preferably containers such as tumblers, from a vertical tubular magazine in which the articles are stacked vertically so that each article is adapted to be released by gravity from the bottom of the stack, comprises a pair of clamps associated with a pivoting control member for engaging from underneath a peripheral projecting edge portion of each article. Another pair of clamping members may be provided if desired, for holding the stack of articles while exerting with the first pair of clamps a downward thrust, in case the articles tended to stick to one another.