Bob’s collection includes Campbell’s & Ford stock.
Bob Meihaus’s stock certificates tell his story: places he’s worked and companies he cares about. In addition to those featured on his office wall, Bob has over 150 certificates carefully arranged in plastic-protected collector binders. Some are colorful, some are rare, some are nostalgic, and some are “just plain Americana.”
At only 15-years-old, Bob scraped together savings and purchased five shares in Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company. Though he was first drawn to shares as investments, he’s always valued the concreteness of a tangible certificate. There was a time he didn’t “even know what it meant to have my ownership recorded in ‘book entry’ form”. Nowadays, the policy of issuing global certificates to brokers instead of directly to shareholders has become the norm. Bob has turned to OneShare as a final source for the paper certificates he loves.
As Bob’s collection grew, he began to appreciate the certificates’ beauty as collectibles. “I have companies that are still in business and their certificates are [already] worth more as a collectible than as a security,” he says. “I think this will likely become a trend, as stock certificates become more and more scarce.”
And scarce they are becoming. Bob, for one, doesn’t want to see them go. “I, along with many Americans, love our stock certificates!” he says. “It’s the same as trying to get rid of paper money, and we can’t do that!”
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Tags: book-entry, collectibles, customer, stock certificates
Bob, this is going to be an awesome blog. I used to wonder and appreciate the way you have displayed those certificates, and they are really precious now. Let’s see responses from some others who really care about this. You’ll be bookmarked as the pioneer in this endeavour!
A great idea for a collection and an investment. I, too, love the nostalgic value. So many of the things we cherish throughout the years are gone. I’m glad we can hold onto this for awhile.
Bob, what a great idea for a collection. I am not surprised that you have these. I would like to see them. Take care. Rich.
The auto industry is passing before us quickly. GM or Chrysler stock certificates may soon be orphans. Good luck with your search.
I’ve known Bob for close to 23 years, and I know he’s a real collector of things, as well as an investor in the stock market. I hadn’t realized that he also collects stock certificates. Great idea, since it appears that this is a dying art. Aren’t hobbies wonderful?
Nancy Pelzel
Bob,
Interesting enough, I have several certificates that I cherish. I thought I was the only one who thought they were special. Thanks for sharing. Michele
Bob, congratulations! This post is wonderful.
Enjoyed the article on Bob Meihaus. Bob raises some interesting points about the beauty of these stock shares.
This is great! There may be a day when you will be the only person with a certificate for these companies. The future children will not even have known that they existed. These in their Hay day were some of the biggest. Great idea Bob!
I think the OneShare is also a great way to commemorate an event – graduation, the birth of a baby, etc. Being both a giver and a receiver of OneShare, I appreciate Bob’s collection as I’m sure these certificates have more value than just the share value.
I have received a stock certificate as a gift, and it was a very memorable way to commemorate an event. I would be very disappointed to see the end of stock certificates, as Id love to give these as gifts in the future! Great article!
Great article.I have a stock certificate for a company called KDI I wonder if it is worth anything?
Hey there, Jim — The SEC website (U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) actually has an article on old stock and bonds. Can’t speak for any of the listed sites myself, but maybe some other readers have personal experience?
Good luck!
What a great idea! I’ve always admired the print quality of stock certificates – now they really can become art.
My father worked for GM in Tarrytown, N.Y. for 18 years. He passed away almost two years ago next month, and I would like to get one for my own collection before it goes out. I think it’s sad that stocks are going digital.
I am not in stock market and such business. I am a Religious priest from India. But it was interesting to see that such certificates are valuable collectibles.
Congratulations Bob. I wonder what is your favorite certifate and why. Wish you good luck with your new found hobby. I am sure more will be encouraged by your collections.
I agree, Bob, that certificates are worth more than the paper they’re printed on. Many are artful and companies took pride in their design and it’s reflected on them.
Book entry is the new wave for fast transactions; but if the servers get fried, you’d better have a certificate.
Great article about Bob Meihaus and his collection of stock certificates.
Great article about my former boss who has always been a collector of special items.
Thanks Marcela for writing the wonderful article about my collection. It is apparent through the feedback that there are many others who also share this interest.
Reply to Carole:
You are right on target about the automotive stocks. These companies could be either non-existent, or majority owned by the US Government in the not to distant future. The same can be said about some of the larger financial institutions. I have many of the later, some which have already fallen and will be much sought after (i.e. Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers, etc.).
Reply to Jenny Nienaber:
I agree with you that a “Gift of Ownership” is a wonderful way to commemorate an event. The stock certificates are dated, which makes the gift even more special. The OneShare.com home page offers suggestions for gifts by occassions and also by recipients. You may want to check the website for some good ideas.
Reply to Katie Rasp:
In addition to my personal collection, I have given a number of framed one share stock certificates to several family members for birthdays and at Christmas. Some of my personal favorites for the younger generation are: McDonald’s (which I Don’t have yet), Yahoo!, The Gap, Domino’s Pizza, GameStop and EBay.
Reply to Fr Vadakkumpadan:
Quite impressive – a comment all the way from India! I have many favorite stock certificates. Among my personal favorites are companies where I was employed. However, the most sentimental are the two shares that I gave my parents prior to their deaths years ago. They are The Clorox Company given to my Mother in 2002, who swore that their products could clean and disinfect anything; and The Coca-Cola Company given to my Father, who occassionaly would drink a couple of bottles to settle his stomach, also give in 2002 the same year he passed away. I have since had the stock certificates reissued in my name – for free – compliments of the these two great companies.
Reply to N.A. Crawford:
You need to snatch-up a share of General Motors before it’s to late. While I am unable to predict what the future holds, I suspect GM will be very difficult to get shortly. Good luck!
I really enjoyed reading this article. I as well have recieved stock certificate as a gift. It is a great way to commemorate an event. I am glad to see there is many others who appreciate and have discovered significance behind the Oneshare Stock cerificate. I will never forget the event or the person in which I received my share of Disney. I would really hate to see the stock certificates to end.
Reply to Mary Louis:
You mentioned in your note about the “art” of stock certificates. As a Kentuckian, I am particularily proud and fond of the stock certificate issued by Churchhill Downs. What fellow Kentuckian would not this displayed in a nice frame in their home?
Reply to Dan Wesselman:
I don’t know whether or not you have any stock certificates in your possession. If you are looking for some unique and colorful stock certificates, I would suggest: Hasbro, Yum! Brands, Burger King, The Walt Disney Company or Build-A-Bear Workshop. These are some of my favorites in the most “colorful” category.
Interesting article; clever way to memorialize a special occasion. Can’t imagine a more appropriate retirement gift. Is it possible to get one share of stock from most companies?
Hi Bob, Congratulations from Japan, but I am not familiar to “Stock Certificate”, and I don’t know whether it exists in Japan or not. It took me much time to understand what it is though I am not 100% comportable yet. But it sounds like very interesting to collect.
Bob,
You are one of the most unique individuals I have ever met, so it doesn’t surprise me at all that you have such a specialized collection penchant for stock certificates. Thanks for sharing your passion with me. Believe me, I take “stock” in our friendship and your relationship with our company.
God Bless,
Chris Caddell
Hi Carol,
Certificates are great retirement gifts! These are the companies currently available through OneShare. Other certificates may be more difficult to come by — OneShare really is a final frontier for the certificate. If you’re looking for a certificate from a particular company, you might try talking directly to the company’s Shareholder Services. Maybe some readers have other suggestions?
Good luck!
Hey Yoshi, many countries have already discontinued stock certificates, including Japan at the beginning of this year. Historically, stock certificates have documented share ownership — essentially like paper money for stock traders. But many people enjoy holding onto certificates as a mark of pride in owning part of a personally significant company or even as a collectible. For more information on the history of stock certificates in the U.S., you can check out our recent article.
Reply to Carol:
I have purchased a few stock certificates from three different online brokerage firms in years past. As of the beginning of this year, two of the firms discontinued this service all together, which was far more expensive than the fees from OneShare. The third brokerage firm charges $ 75 per stock certificate, which does not include the cost of the stock or commission. OneShare is your best bet if you want to obtain a stock certificate. And no, I am not an employee, or have any invested interest in OneShare. However, I do think it to be the best source for purchasing paper certificates.
Reply to Yoshi Maruyama-sun:
Honestly, I don’t know the workings of the stock market outside the USA, and as Marcela indicated Japan has already discontinued issuing stock certificates. It’s not too late though, OneShare.com offers stock certificates in both Honda Motor and Nissan, two very large Japanese headquartered companies. Also, having visited Japan, I know that both Coca-Cola and McDonald’s are very popular among the Japanese people. These certificates too, are offered by OneShare.
Hi Bob,
I enjoyed your article about collecting stock certificates from so many unique companies. I agree that giving them as gifts would be very novel.
Thanks for the imput. Looking forward to seeing your vast collection.
Shirley
I am often asked if anyone popular ever signs the actual stock certificate. Without going through every one of my own certificates, I do know that Donald Trump’s personal signature appears on Trump Hotels & Casino Resort’s, as does his picture. (Same signature as that which appears – or use to appear – on the introdution of “The Apprentice” television show.
Hello Bob, I am a close friend of Katie’s, and I truly feel that collecting Stock Certificates is a great hobby and it would be a loss to a an American pass time if this would, in fact, be vanished. Great article!
I have a stock certificate collection that just reached 300. It’s good to hear that there is another collector that enjoys stock certificate collecting like myself!
Father’s Day – June 21: My personal picks:
Black & Decker – Vignette – Machine Shop Worker
Boston Beer – Vignette – Samual Adams – Brewer/Patriot
Ford – Vignette – Very Early Ford Car
La-Z-Boy – Vignette – Company Founders
Polo Ralph Lauren – Vignette – Polo Player
WD40 – Very Plain Stock, But A Got To Have!
Yum! Brands – Vignette: A&W, KFC, Long John Silver’s Pizza Hut & Taco Bell
Most signatures on stock certificates have little or no importance to the “Average Joe / Jane, however, some should be recognizable to you, the general investor. Examples include: Dell Computer – signed by Michael Dell, Chairman of the Board; Charles Schwab Corp, signed by Charles Schwab, Chairman of the Board; Ford Motor Company – signed by William Clay Ford, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer; Kenneth Cole Productions – signed by Kenneth Cole, President; and Playboy Enterprises – signed by Hugh Hefner, Editor-In-Chief.
It is fun to read all the comments both from you and to the blog. I especially enjoyed seeing a note posted from Yoshi. It has got to be fun hearing from all OLD friends, too.
I wanted to get chrysler but it is not listed.
Did you know that most US companies (between 50% – 60%)are incorporated under the laws of Delaware? There is also a large concentration of companies licensed in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Virginia and Massachusetts. Have no fear though, I have taken a look at my stocks certificates and have come up with companies licensed elsewhere. For instance:
Apple Computer – California
Alcoa – Pennsylvania
Carnival – Republic of Panama
Churchill Downs – THE GREAT COMMONWEALTH OF KENTUCKY!!!!!
Cisco Systems – California
Costco – Washington State
Eli Lilly – Indiana
Harley-Davidson – Wisconsin
HJ Heinz – Pennsylvania
Honda Motors (ADR) – Japan
Las Vegas Sands – Nevada – Really, No surprise!
La-Z-Boy – Michigan
Lowes – North Carolina
Microsoft – Washington State
Nintendo (ADR) – Japan
Nissan Motors (ADR) – Japan
Saks – Tennessee
Sony (ADR) – Japan
Southwest Airlines – Texas
Starbucks – Washington State
Target – Minnesota
All the above companies can be purchased through OneShare.com.
…And for all my Ohio friends: Cincinnati Bell, Convergy’s, Kendle International, Meridian Bioscience, Wendy’s and of course, the big one, Procter & Gamble.
If needbe, I could probably locate a company incorporated in every state.
Like hearing from all my friends.
Interesting hobby Bob! I agree that I definitely feel more a part of a company when I actually have the certificate in my possession. Are we going to do away with paper savings bonds next? Take care
Bob: I admire people who “think out of the box”. What a neat project. I remember when we used to get stock certificates in the mail every January from Bob’s company. We thought we were King of the Hill. What a shame that they have become a thing of the past. Good Luck in your venture to get all you quest for.
I really enjoyed the article and the comments everyone sent in. Sounds like a great hobby.
Mr. Meihaus,
That’s awesome that you have that collection going, didn’t know that about you before reading this. I’ve started collecting paper money since working at Remke’s, nothing too extreme, but any older bills or silver certificates, just because I know they’ll have more sentimental value. You on the other hand are collecting things that will be far worth more than paper money so more props to you!
Thank you very much everyone for telling me what the stock certificate is. All stocks are computerlized in Japan as well, so I don’t know this kind of service are taken in place in Japan. But I think it is very interesting to collect many kinds of beautiful, rare certificates. By the way, in Japan, it is the middle of so-called “Golden Week” which is a series of holidays, many people are enjoying the offs. GOOD for me!!
Bob, this is all new to me! I would like to start a collection, but am not sure where to start. Should I go through my financial advisor? Or deal directly with one of the above companies?