McGraw-Edison Co. - Specimen Stock Certificate - Orange Type Available Only

Specimen Stock printed by American Bank Note Company. McGraw-Edison was an American producer of electrical equipment, established in 1957 through the merger of McGraw Electric and Thomas A. Edison, Inc. It was subsequently acquired by Cooper Industries in 1985. Currently, the McGraw-Edison brand is associated with industrial, commercial, and institutional lighting solutions. McGraw Electric, founded by Max McGraw in Sioux City, Iowa in 1900, initially focused on residential electrical installations. The company rapidly diversified into industrial and commercial sectors, undergoing several acquisitions and evolving into a manufacturer of electrical products. In 1952, McGraw Electric merged with the Pennsylvania Transformer Company, retaining its name. Meanwhile, Thomas A. Edison, Inc. was established in 1910 as a reorganization of the Edison Manufacturing Co., which originated in the 19th century, initially producing phonographs and records, and later expanding into radios and dictation machines. Charles Edison led the company as president from 1927 until its sale in 1957, when it merged with McGraw Electric Company.

The formation of McGraw-Edison Co. occurred in 1957 when McGraw Electric acquired Thomas A. Edison, Inc., with Charles Edison serving as board chairman until his retirement in 1961, while Max McGraw held the position of chief operating executive. In March 1957, McGraw-Edison also acquired Griswold Manufacturing, known for its cast-iron cookware and electrical products, although the Griswold brand and housewares division were sold later that year to Wagner Manufacturing Company. In 1959, Al Bersted took on the role of president of McGraw-Edison, overseeing daily operations, while Max McGraw remained chairman of the executive committee.