Saunders Drive It Yourself Company, Inc.
Saunders Drive It Yourself Company, Inc.
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Product Details
Intricately engraved antique stock certificate from the Saunders Drive It Yourself Company, Inc. dating back to the 1920's. This document, which is signed by the company President and Secretary, was printed by the Columbian Bank Note Company, and measures approximately 12 1/2" (w) by 8 1/4" (h).
This certificate's vignette features an eagle with wings outstretched.
Images
You will receive the exact certificate pictured.
Historical Context
Business was slow for Joe Saunders and his three brothers in 1915. About the best thing their family real estate operation had to offer was a decent view of downtown Omaha from their 12th-floor office in the old Woodmen of the World Building.
The Saunders boys had inherited their father’s entrepreneurial spirit, and Joe in particular chafed at the bit for a new business idea, something more innovative and profitable.
It appeared in the guise of bad news one morning when Joe’s younger brother reported that the touring car they used for real estate showings had broken down while he was out on a date the night before. Repairs would likely take weeks, so Joe needed an interim solution. He arranged to borrow a car from one of their employees and paid six cents per mile for the privilege.
Automobiles had become a lot more common since Henry Ford introduced the Model T in 1908, but most people still couldn’t afford to own one.
Joe Saunders began to wonder how many people might want to borrow one to fill a temporary need or just for fun. He and a brother began to loan a car from their home on a trial basis. Then, in August of 1916, Joe placed an ad in The World-Herald announcing “Automobiles for Hire.”
He had only one car, a Model T, and he offered it for 10 cents a mile. “You may drive the car or I will furnish the driver” the ad announced, taking into account that many people had never driven a car.
The car rental industry was born that day.
Saunders added cars to his “fleet” almost immediately. His brothers abandoned real estate and signed on as soon as they witnessed the tsunami of demand for rental vehicles.
People clamored for the chance to borrow a car. One drove up to Fremont to visit relatives. Another went hunting. Some just wanted to take a spin in the country for pleasure. Others needed to make a good impression on a customer.
The Saunders brothers moved their cars to a location on North 22nd Street, where they converted a horse stable into a garage. They called their new business the Ford Livery Company because all their cars were Model Ts, and they advertised it as “the 20th Century Livery Barn, ” a place to rent horseless carriages.
Joe urged his father, who was living in Birmingham, Ala., to join the new enterprise. He argued in a letter that the business “requires practically no salesmanship. The demand is here and everywhere; all you have to do is get the cars ... and before you know it you are swamped.”
Their father cautioned them from investing too heavily in an untested idea, but when he came to Omaha and observed the operation — now featuring 18 Model Ts — he joined the firm.
In 1917 the company name was changed to Saunders Drive-It-Yourself System and the fleet moved to a larger location at 13th and Howard Streets, where again they displaced a horse stable. By year’s end, more than 100 rental cars and trucks were rolling out of the modern livery.
Saunders System opened a Kansas City office in 1919 and a location with 100 cars in Birmingham the following year. The business then exploded, spreading to 56 cities by 1926.
The Saunders family sold their company to Avis in 1955.
Additional Information
Certificates carry no value on any of today's financial indexes and no transfer of ownership is implied. All items offered are collectible in nature only. So, you can frame them, but you can't cash them in!
All of our pieces are original - we do not sell reproductions. If you ever find out that one of our pieces is not authentic, you may return it for a full refund of the purchase price and any associated shipping charges.
FAQ
Are the certificates offered on your site genuine or reproductions?
All of the certificates you see on our site are genuine pieces, we do not sell any reproductions.Are the certificates you sell negotiable on any of today's stock markets or indexes?
No. All of the pieces we sell are either canceled or obsolete and have collectible value only.
Are the images presented in your product listings of the exact piece I will receive?
It depends. We try to present images of the exact piece you will receive whenever possible. However, when we are offering quantities of a piece, this is impossible. Within every product page we detail whether or not you will be receiving the exact certificate listed, or if the image is a representative example of the one you will receive.
How will you ship my order and how much do you charge?
We ship all orders via the United States Postal Service. Most domestic orders are shipped via Ground Advantage. USPS International, Priority and Express Mail, UPS and DHL services are also available, and costs are calculated during checkout. Current charges may be reviewed here.
Can I return my purchase?
Absolutely. You may return any merchandise, for any reason, within 30 days of the purchase date for a full refund of the purchase price.
We guarantee all of our pieces to be authentic. If you ever determine that a piece is not authentic, it may be returned for a full refund of the purchase price as well as any associated shipping charges.
Shipping
If your order exceeds $35, and the shipping address is within the United States, shipping via USPS Ground Advantage is FREE!
We make every effort to ship out all orders within 24 hours of receipt.
We ship the majority of orders via the USPS, with domestic orders using the Ground Advantage service.
Shipping is calculated during checkout. Upgraded services such as Priority and Express Mail, as well as UPS and DHL options, are also available.
As soon as your order is shipped you will receive your tracking information via email.
OVERSEAS ORDERS PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DECLARE FULL ORDER VALUE ON ALL SHIPMENTS. CUSTOMER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL VAT/CUSTOMS CHARGES.
Returns
Our goal is to make sure every item you receive is exactly what you had in mind. If you not happy with your purchase, we’ll help you get it sorted in a timely and professional manner.
You can return anything we offer for an exchange, refund or store credit within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping costs may apply, and the item must be in its original condition and packaging.
Any shipping charges collected on the original order are not eligible for a refund.