Most of the original Dow Jones Industrials components are still in existence, but in some cases only trace elements are evident after more than 100 years of name changes, consolidation, booms, and busts. Here are the original dow jones dirty dozen of 1896 and where they are today:
American Cotton Oil – Ancestor of Best Foods, now part of Unilever.
American Sugar – Became Amstar in 1970 and subsequently Domino Foods.
American Tobacco – Broke up into separate businesses in 1911, expanded beyond tobacco and renamed itself American Brands; now Fortune Brands.
Chicago Gas – Absorbed by Peoples Gas, which replaced it in the Dow in 1898. Now part of Integrys Energy.
Distilling & Cattle Feeding – After a series of deals became National Distillers, then sold liquor assets to Diageo and fellow Dow component progeny American Brands. Rest of business now part of Millennium Chemicals.
General Electric – Still an independent company with diversified assets around the world. Was removed from the Dow twice around the turn of the 20th century, but was reinstated both times.
Laclede Gas – Still around, as the primary subsidiary of the Laclede Group.
National Lead – Changed its name to NL Industries in 1971, 83% owned by conglomerate Valhi. Once known for mining, moved into paints (Dutch Boy brand), pigments and coatings. Sold paint business in 1970s.
North American – Dissolved by a federal court in 1938, surviving successor became Wisconsin Electric, part of Wisconsin Energy.
Tennessee Coal Iron and RR – During the panic of 1907, TC&I was acquired by U.S. steel, with banker J.P. Morgan playing a key role in arranging the merger.
U.S. Leather – The only preferred stock in the original Dow, U.S. Leather is also the only company to have vanished with nary a trace since the trust was dissolved in 1911.
United States Rubber – Merged first into Uniroyal in 1950s then with B.F. Goodrich in 1986. Resulting company was bought by France’s Michelin in 1990.
Source: http://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2011/07/15/the-first-12-dow-components-where-are-they-now/
