Greg O’s Garage: From the Helck Family Collection: Stocks and Bonds
Found buried deep in the Helck family archives are some extremely rare stock and bond certificates for Christie Automobile and Locomobile at one time owned by Peter Helck. Despite extensive research, it is unclear whether Peter Helck was the actual bearer of the stocks and bonds and benefitted from interest and dividends, (most likely no) but it is clear the documents are real and legitimate.
Greg O.
Stock certificate for the Walter Christie Automobile Company. According to the information on the face, this is 98 shares of common stock made out to Peter. At the bottom left is the corporate seal.
The bottom right shows the authentic signature of J. Walter Christie as well as the treasurer signature from October 6th, 1906.
Peter Helck was just 13 years old in 1906 and it is unlikely he held 98 shares at $100 each as stated on the face.
Included with the certificate was this blurb by H. H. Treadwell Jr. in 1965 explaining that Christie did have many certificates sealed and signed, but made out to no one.
Did Peter collect this genuine certificate later in life and just fill in his name for fun?
Also found was this $1000 bond from the Locomobile Company of America. Stating it provided and annual interest of 6% payable on June 1st and December 1st every year. Corporate seal in the lower left.
Notation from Peter Helck mention this was a gift from a friend in 1957.
Official signature of A.L. Riker, secretary and treasurer.
The reverse showing Asst. Secretary signature and audit stamp from October 24th, 1912.
Comments
That is some very rare paper
The Christie Stock Certificate book was a part of the Tredwell Collection of Christie material. I think blank certificate pages were given out over the years for fun. Austie Clark and Floyd Clymer apparently received one each. 31 stock certificates are gone from the book. The rest are blank. The Tredwell Collection was passed on to Enrique Klein and after his passing, it passed on to me. I also have Christie’s adopted son, Edward’s papers. Besides photos in the NAHC and the Henry Ford and a couple Christie Fire Engines, there is little else of original Christie material remaining. If anyone knows of more, I would love to know about it.
I believe that Christie’s signature on that stock certificate is not real. Attached is how he signed his name before WWI. He rarely ever used John when he signed things, until later in his life, when dealing with government contracts.
The Walter Christie Automobile Company was formed mainly to promote Christie’s Taxi. There were other Christie companies, few of which lasted very long.
Lee, I’m certainly not a handwriting analysis expert, but after studying to two signatures, I have to agree with you. There is nothing similar even in the smallest details with the two of them.