Abstract: A single vend newspaper vending machine having an elevator system mounted within the machine housing, the elevator system including a vertically movable inclined newspaper support plate and a ratchet system for ratcheting the vertically movably plate upwards and a newspaper thickness sensing device for sensing the thickness of the topmost paper. The elevator system is operative to elevate the next paper on the stack of papers to the same height as the former topmost paper as determined by the newspaper thickness sensing device so that paper may be engaged by one or more pusher bars which engage the topmost paper and move it to or towards a dispensing position. The topmost paper then disengages from the stack and may fall forward into the newspaper vending chute or may be pushed forwards by the pusher bars to a dispensing position.