Twenty Dollar Promissory Note from Heinz, Noble & Company, Woodstock, Illinois, Issued October 1, 1875

01

Artifact Overview

H.J. Heinz's first business began in 1869 exclusively selling horseradish. By 1872, the company was known as Heinz, Noble, & Company. This promissory note from the company promised the bearer the stated sum. The company was bankrupt by the end of 1875, but Heinz built back his reputation with an new company, F. & J. Heinz, which would later become the H.J. Heinz Company.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Promissory note

Date Made

01 October 1875

Location

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

53.41.1693.59

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of H.J. Heinz Co.

Material

Colored ink
Ink
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Engraving (Printing process)
Stamping (Forming)

Color

Black (Color)
Red

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in
Width: 8 in

Inscriptions

reads: Woodstock, Ill. October 1, 1875 / We Promise to Pay the Bearer / Twenty Dollars / on January 1st, 1876, with interest after maturity at / the rate of ten per cent.