Edison Portland Cement Co. - 1920 dated New Jersey Stock Certificate

Edison portrait with female figure on each side printed by Franklin Lee Division-ABN Co. Rare Type!

Thomas Edison founded the Edison Portland Cement Company in 1899 in New Village, New Jersey, after a failed iron ore mining venture. Recognizing the potential of sand waste from his ore-crushing operations as a concrete ingredient, Edison retrofitted his machinery and rock-crushing technology to manufacture cement. He introduced several groundbreaking innovations, notably the installation of long, rotating kilns that were 150 feet in length—nearly double the industry standard of 60 to 80 feet—which significantly boosted production efficiency. However, the company faced financial instability in its early years due to Edison’s decision to license his kilns to competitors, which saturated the market and led to price reductions.

The company gained significant recognition for Edison’s ambitious yet largely unsuccessful attempt to mass-produce “single-pour” concrete houses. He designed intricate cast-iron molds capable of forming an entire two-story home, including the roof, walls, and even bathtubs, in a single continuous pour. However, the immense cost and weight of these molds deterred builders. Despite only a few of these homes being constructed, the company secured a major contract in 1922 to supply approximately 45,000 barrels of cement for the construction of the original Yankee Stadium. Remarkably, the resulting concrete proved so durable that it remained largely untouched during the stadium’s 1970s renovations. Amidst the hardships of the Great Depression, the Edison Portland Cement Company was dissolved in December 1931 and succeeded by the Edison Cement Corporation, which continued operations until June 1942.