How do you find out if very old shares are worth anything?

Question

My grandmother had shares bought for her in her name in the early 1900's for Owl Oil. She wanted to find out more about them, but passed away before she could. My mother just came across them recently & wants to know if they are worth anything. We are all quite naive & new to this(stocks, bonds, shares, etc...). Can anyone tell us where to look, who to contact or ANYTHING, on how to find out if they are worth anything or pretty much just junk now? There isn't enough info on the shares themselves to really find out from them.

Answer 1

That's coz Google sux:

Looks like a Texas Owl Oil went under at the end of 1943...

Plaintiff also contends that the petitioners did not establish unavoidable casualty and misfortune preventing them from resisting said action at the time plaintiff obtained a judgment. The record shows that petitioners introduced in evidence a certificate of the Secretary of State of the State of Texas showing that Owl Oil Corporation, which it is not disputed was sued by plaintiff as Owl Oil Company, was dissolved on December 31, 1943, in accordance with the laws of the State of Texas, and that petitioners were the officers and directors and principal stockholders of the company at the time of its dissolution. They also established that when plaintiff brought this action he caused a summons to be issued in which it was stated that the Owl Oil Company was a Texas corporation, with its offices at Amarillo, Tex., and that he caused such summons to be served upon the Secretary of State of the State of Oklahoma; that said summons was by the Secretary of State mailed to an Oklahoma corporation of the same name, and was returned by that corporation to the Secretary of State, and that the Secretary of State made no further effort to notify Owl Oil Company, or to transmit the summons or a copy thereof to its office at Amarillo, Tex. Petitioners also introduced in evidence the files of an action upon the same cause of action filed against Owl Oil Company in the Federal court of the State of Texas by plaintiff prior to the time he brought this action, and the rendition of judgment for defendant in such action. Plaintiff does not contend that any notice of any kind was given to or received by the Owl Oil Corporation, or petitioners, save and except the summon above mentioned.

It says the Oklahoma Owl Oil may still be around.
Take them to a ScotTrade office near you. They are all licensed brokers and would love to snoop aound some ancient shares, I am sure.
It would be neat to frame the shares. If you have enough shares, you can sell them. Would make a great Christmas gift, too!
Best of luck to you!
Hey, would you sell me one if they are worthless?
[e-mail]

Answer 2

Go to a major brokerage firm's office and let them help you. There should be a title transfer party named somewhere on the certificates, but if not, see if there is any information regarding state of incorporation, and contact the secretary of state for that state and see if their have any achieves. Search for a website that specializes in old stock certificates. Research where your grandmother lived in the early 1900's and see if the local newspaper(s) might have archives available.

Good luck.

Answer 3

A quick Google search didn't come up with anything, though that doesn't mean much. A stock broker might be able to help.