The collection consists of the business records of the Shelton Adjustable Double Deck Car Company, and includes the by-laws, minutes of the board of directors for the American and Canadian firms, stock sales books and patents information. There are also miscellaneous letters, stock transfer records and advertising materials. In addition, researchers will find photographs of the device in the Museum's photograph files and drawings in the drawings collection. Wood and brass advertising models of the adjustable car decks are located in the Museum's artifact collections.

The Shelton Adjustable Double Deck Car Company was organized in 1916 to manufacture and market a device invented by John B. Shelton for a movable deck to be installed in railroad box, refrigerator and stock cars. The officers of the company included Shelton as president and Guy V. Fleming as secretary. Offices were in San Francisco. A Canadian subsidiary also was established in 1919.

Copyright has not been assigned to the California State Railroad Museum. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Senior Curator. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the CSRM as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained by the reader.