This stock certificate from the American Machine and Foundry Company (AMF) originates from the 1960s or 1970s and offers a choice between two distinct historical styles: one featuring the company’s full name, “American Machine and Foundry,” and the other bearing the streamlined “AMF” abbreviation logo.

Each certificate is issued and canceled, with standard cancellation holes present.

Founded in 1900 in Brooklyn, New York, American Machine and Foundry began as a manufacturer of automated machinery. Its early growth was rooted in industrial America’s need for mass production tools. However, AMF gained widespread recognition in the post-WWII period by expanding into recreational products—most famously, it became a dominant force in the bowling industry by introducing automatic pinsetters. The AMF logo itself became a symbol of leisure and innovation in mid-20th century American life.

By the 1960s and 70s, the company’s diversification extended into bicycles, lawn and garden equipment, and even nuclear reactors. This era also saw the formal adoption of the “AMF” brand identity across many of its divisions. Despite its bold expansion, financial overreach led to the company’s fragmentation in the 1980s, with various divisions sold off to specialized operators. Nonetheless, the AMF name endures, especially within bowling and vintage sporting communities.