American Machine & Foundry Company

AMF Incorporated was founded as the American Machine & Foundry Company Incorporated in New York in 1900 to manufacture automated machines for the tobacco industry.

The company continued to expand its activities in automated machinery into many areas including, just prior to World War II the automatic pinspotter. The war effort delayed the introduction of this latter proposal until 1959 when it revolutionized tenpin bowling and touched off a boom in the sport.

Involvement with tenpin bowling led AMF into a broad range of sporting equipment during the 1960's and 70's including Head tennis racquets and skis, Tyrolia bindings, Ben Hogan golf clubs, Voit inflatable balls, Mares scuba gear, Hatteras yachts and many other recreational products such as snowmobiles, bicycles, children's toys and even, (during the 1970's), Harley Davidson motor cycles.


Certificate: Common Stock, issued in the 1950’s and 1960’s

Printer: American Bank Note Company

Dimensions: 8” (h) x 12” (w)

State: NJ-New Jersey

Subject Matter: Sports and Entertainment | Sports and Related | Manufacturing and Production

Vignette Topic(s): Allegorical Featured | Industrial Scene

Condition: Vertical fold lines, punch hole and stamp cancels in the signature areas and body and some toning from age.