I fondly remember visiting an automat in Parker's department store in Davenport, Iowa. My grandmother took me there many times in the late 50's and early 60's. The food wasn't up to the level Suzanne describes, as I recall. I remember eating canned beef stew that I heated in a little convection oven- and burning myself on the lid! Refer to the thread about law suits if you think this is a pretty good idea.
But the word does evoke happy memories!