Lot 340

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Description:


George Westinghouse Sr. Sells Company to His Son - One of the Most Important Financial Documents in American Business History

Manuscript Document Signed by George Westinghouse, Sr., as “George Westinghouse”, and George Westinghouse, Jr., as “Geo. Westinghouse Jr”, May 27, 1871, 1 page, front and verso, 8.25” x 13.25”. Set of three 2-cent stamps affixed to left side of verso, additionally signed by George Westinghouse, Jr. as “G.W Jr May 27, 71”.  Horizontal folds, else Fine condition. Included is an original Certificate of Authenticity from PASS-CO.

George Westinghouse sells his company, G. Westinghouse & Co., to his son George Jr., for $25,000, payable in three installments. This remarkable document reads, in part, “the said George of this day by deed and by Bill of Sale sold assigned transferred & set over to the said George Jr. all the right title claim & interest of the first named George in & to all the estate & property real & personal of the firm G. Westinghouse & Co. for the sum of $25000 …”

George Westinghouse, Sr. (1809-1884) was the father of the founder of Westinghouse Electric. In the early part of the nineteenth century, he moved from Vermont to Ohio and settled in New York, as a farmer before forming the firm of G. Westinghouse & Co. at Schenectady, New York, in 1856 where he established a successful factory manufacturing farm implements. He invented and patented many improvements for the industry.

George Westinghouse, Jr. (1846-1914) is best known for inventing an air brake system that made railroads safer and promoting alternating current technology, which revolutionized the world's light and power industries. He served in the Union Army and Navy during the American Civil War, then attended Union College but only for about three months. He dropped out in 1865, after filing a patent for his first invention, a rotary steam engine that was only modestly successful. He then spent several years working in his father's machine shop, making slight improvements in various areas of railroad technology, and inventing a machine that put derailed rail cars back on their tracks.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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August 19, 2020 10:30 AM EDT
Wilton, CT, US

University Archives

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $99 $10
$100 $299 $20
$300 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $2,999 $200
$3,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 + $5,000