Stock help?

Before I get into details, is there anybody here who knows anything about stocks?

Not me.

Well, when you put someone into stocks, you try to make sure their skin doesn't get pinched. I mean sure it's a bondage device, but it's not supposed to hurt eh?
What?
What 'other' kind of stocks is he talking about??

Oh, my bad!

Hmmm...not really, but maybe this'll help.

http://stocks.about.com/

I remember 1929...

Long story short, going through some of my father's things, my mother & I found an old stock certificate (he got it in 1953). I've looked online and the only thing I can find is that the company has changed it's name.
I'm wondering:
- Is the certificate still good even though it's in the old companies name?
- If it is, can we do anything with it?

My first instinct is that it should still be honored by the company. You should contact them and explain.

What Jace said.

Although, I'm using logic here, so that may mean I'm wrong. While corporate equity accounting isn't quite as tax law in that regard, it DOES make my head hurt.

Are you sure it is equity and not, perhaps, a bond?

A bond must be paid, no matter who's in charge at the moment. Unique case in which they are not paying bonds: bankruptcy procedure closed.
This may be: they changed name, so they probably have changed the main share-holders, and this happens mostly when a bankruptcy procedure is open.

If it is equity, you should try a professional advisor. The change in name may mean a merger, an acquisition, a fusion, whatever, took place and the treatment of old share-holders changes according to the contract CEO's signed at the moment of the transformation.

More detailed infos, after you find out the kind of title you have.

Uh, should I explain the difference between bond and share?