Edison Phonograph Distributing Company Stock Cert #1

[fmblizz]

I'm hoping some of our knowledgeable members on this forum can help me out with my research.

I have a sign and cancelled stock certificate from the Edison Phonograph Distributing Company issued to Thomas A Edison Inc. in the amount of 3995 shares valued at $100.00 per share.

The certificate number is A1 issued Sept 1925 so I'm wondering if this would be the initial start of the Distributing Company.

On the certificate receipt tab, it states transferred from: and then in hand writing "exchanged for stock in Edison Phonographs Limited"

I have not been able to find out much about the company but it looks as though the name was changed at some point to Edison Distributing Corporation.

Am I right to assume this was an exchange or swap for share in the Edison Phonograph Limited company??

I have included a couple pic's .

Thanks in advance

Blizz

[donniej]

The New Jersey Department of State should have at least the info on when those entities were created and who the officers were. You can probably look it up online or give them a call.
The folks at the Edison museum in Edison, NJ are pretty knowledgeable and anxious to share as well.

[fmblizz]

Thanks Donnie,, I really haven't come up with mush info on these companies.

Blizz

[briankeith]

http://scripophily.net/ (HE HAS THESE IN STOCK - as well as a very rare Edison Talking Doll stock)

The Edison Phonograph Distributing Company merged with Edison Phonographs, Ltd. on July 15, 1925. The Edison Phonograph Distributing Company name was changed to the Edison Distributing Corporation on August 28, 1928. The company was controlled by Thomas A. Edison Inc.

The Edison Phonograph Works, incorporated on May 3, 1888, held the manufacturing rights for Edison's phonograph. Edison was the company's founding president and majority stockholder. During the 1890s the EPW operated a factory in Orange, New Jersey, at which it manufactured phonographs and cylinders for the North American Phonograph Co., the National Phonograph Co., and the International Graphophone Co. It also produced machines for the Bates Manufacturing Co. and electrical devices for the Edison Manufacturing Works. In 1914 its factory was destroyed by fire. In 1924 the company became part of Thomas A. Edison Inc.

[fmblizz]

Thanks Brian, I watch that site quite a bit but way to pricey for me LOL.

I saw that he has a similar certificate that he's asking big money for but the one I have is believed to be the 1st one issue and what makes it interesting is it looks like some type of trade between companies..

Thanks again

Blizz

[hearsedriver]

It would be interesting to know what was exchanged for this stock. Parts? Labor? Equipment? Property?

[fmblizz]

the stub says exchanged for stock in the Edison Phonograph Limited

[hearsedriver]

the stub says exchanged for stock in the Edison Phonograph Limited

Right but what asset was exchanged?

[fmblizz]

that is what's so puzzling,, was the Edison Phonograph Limited stock exchanged for Edison Phonograph Distributing Co. stock or vice versa??

blizz