International Machinery and Construction Co. - Fantastic Graphics - Unissued Virginia Stock Certicate

Unissued Stock. Vertical Fold through vignette. Outstanding Vignette! Rare! Heavy equipment has been utilized since at least the 1st century BC, as noted by the ancient Roman engineer Vitruvius in his work De architectura, where he described a crane powered by human or animal labor. The operation of heavy equipment relies on the mechanical advantage provided by simple machines, which enhances the ratio of input force to output force. This amplification significantly reduces the labor intensity of tasks that would otherwise require hundreds of workers and weeks of effort without such equipment. Some machinery operates primarily through hydraulic drives for motion. In this context, the term "plant" refers to various types of industrial equipment, including mobile machinery, similar to the term "powerplant." Originally, however, "plant" denoted a "structure" or "establishment," typically referring to factory or warehouse facilities. Thus, it was often used in contrast to movable machinery, commonly appearing in the phrase "plant and equipment."