Baldwin Locomotive Works
Baldwin Locomotive Works
- In stock
- Inventory on the way
Product Details
Company | Baldwin Locomotive Works (view entire collection) |
Certificate Type | Common Stock |
Date Issued | December 7, 1945 |
Canceled | Yes |
Printer | American Bank Note Company |
Signatures | Machine printed |
Approximate Size |
11 1/4" (w) by 7 1/2" (h) |
Product Images |
Show the exact certificate you will receive |
Authentic | Yes |
Additional Details | NA |
Historical Context
A jeweler and silversmith by trade, Matthias Baldwin recognized a commercial opportunity when he saw it, and in doing so founded an industrial enterprise of staggering proportions. A tinkerer and tradesmen with a penchant for innovation, Baldwin spent much of the 1820s producing mechanical devices of one kind or another. Bookbinder's tools, cylinders for printing, and small stationary engines all had practical applications, but it was not until 1831, when the Philadelphia Museum asked Baldwin to produce a miniature working locomotive for exhibition, that he hit on his path to industrial greatness. Encouraged by an order for a full-size steam locomotive to operate in the Philadelphia area, Baldwin built "Old Ironsides," a wood-and-iron prototype that reached a maximum speed of 30 mph.
By 1840, Baldwin had manufactured more than 150 steam locomotives at his North Broad Street factory. Fifty years later, Baldwin Locomotive employed 3,000 laborers and turned out nearly 600 locomotives a year. By the 1880s, Baldwin was the nation's largest locomotive manufacturer and was shipping locomotives to Russia, Central Europe, and even Australia.
Like the railroads themselves, the great Baldwin Works on North Broad Street grew with the transportation revolution that transformed the American economy and society after the Civil War. From its cramped 200-acre site in North Philadelphia, the company moved in 1906 to a 600-acre facility in nearby Eddystone, Pennsylvania - the company consolidated all production to the Eddystone yard in 1928. Baldwin produced 2,660 locomotives that year, an annual capacity that doubled during the First World War. Baldwin also manufactured rifles, shells and casings, and other munitions for the Allied campaign in Europe. But the steam locomotive was Baldwin's stock and trade, and its capacity to produce engines that were more powerful and efficient became synonymous with definitions of "American progress" and industrial might.
As one might expect, the Baldwin Works was also a boon to local laborers, including newly arrived immigrants. In addition to native-born workers, successive generations of German, Irish, and then Southern- and Eastern-European workers, most of whom lacked industrial skills, found steady employment at Baldwin's huge North Broad Street and Eddystone facilities. A veritable corporate community grew up around each plant, which acted as the fulcrum of local economic and social life.
Like steel, mining, railroads, and industrial interests, Baldwin's demand for labor acted as a magnet that attracted hundreds of thousands of immigrants to Pennsylvania throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth century. Not surprisingly, Baldwin's demand for labor fluctuated with the boom and bust cycles of America's industrial economy. Over time, Baldwin had its share of labor turmoil, a condition known to every other sector of Pennsylvania and America's industrial leviathan. The greatest labor unrest occurred between 1909 and 1911, when transit workers in Philadelphia were engaged in almost continuous job actions. The conflict, which over time engulfed 45,000 workers, led to a general transit strike and then a June 1911 job action at Baldwin, where an estimated 10,000 of 14,000 workers walked off in support of city transit workers and their own struggles to unionize.
During the golden age of railroading, Baldwin Locomotive Works was one of the proverbial "Big Three" in steam locomotive production. Virtually every rail line in America used Baldwin steam locomotives to haul freight and passenger cars across an estimated quarter-million miles of track. Prolific and profitable, Baldwin was not, however, without its corporate weaknesses.
Once the model of innovation, Baldwin's directors failed to adapt to the rise of diesel and electric locomotive technologies. By 1940, domestic steam locomotive sales-Baldwin's specialty-had declined from 30 percent to 2 percent of the market. Despite several mergers meant to diversity its client base, Baldwin Locomotive never made the transition. When the Great Depression leveled the domestic economy, Baldwin faltered further and was forced to declare bankruptcy in 1938. The rise of the automobile, interstate highways, and commercial air flight after the Second World War altered the American transportation system at the expense of passenger rail traffic. Diesel and electric engines became the common mode of locomotive propulsion in the years ahead.
Baldwin produced more than 70,500 locomotives in 125 years of continuous production before it suspended operations in 1956. Despite several subsequent mergers, the company, later known as Baldwin-Lima, closed permanently in 1972.
Related Collections
Additional Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!
All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?
All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?
No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only.
Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?
It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. Within every product page we detail whether or not you will be receiving the exact certificate listed, or if the image is a representative example of the one you will receive.
How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?
We ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. Most domestic orders are shipped via Ground Advantage. USPS International, Priority and Express Mail, UPS and DHL services are also available, and costs are calculated during checkout. Current charges may be reviewed here.
Can I return my purchase?
Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.
Shipping
If your order exceeds $35, and the shipping address is within the United States, shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is FREE!
We make every effort to ship out all orders within 24 hours of receipt.
We ship the majority of orders via the USPS, with domestic orders using the Ground Advantage service.
Shipping is calculated during checkout. Upgraded services such as Priority and Express Mail, as well as UPS and DHL options, are also available.
As soon as your order is shipped you will receive your tracking information via email.
OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DECLARE FULL ORDER VALUE ON ALL SHIPMENTS. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL VAT/CUSTOMS CHARGES.
Returns
Our goal is to make sure every item you receive is exactly what you had in mind. If you not happy with your purchase, we’ll help you get it sorted in a timely and professional manner.
You can return anything we offer for an exchange, refund or store credit within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping costs may apply, and the item must be in its original condition and packaging.
Any shipping charges collected on the original order are not eligible for a refund.