J. Merton Taylor
Jacob Merton Taylor (known professionally as J. Merton Taylor; died July 1913) was an American corporate executive and the third president of the Taylor Instrument Companies in Rochester, New York.
The son of company cofounder George Taylor, he was a key figure in modernizing the enterprise during its transitional era into the twentieth century, orchestrating plant consolidation at Ames Street and introducing forward-thinking corporate practices including in-house healthcare, formal scientific research, and an international export division.
Early Life & Corporate Management (1889–1910)
As the son of founding partner George Taylor, J. Merton Taylor grew up intimately connected to the Rochester thermometer trade. Following the death of his father in 1889, J. Merton and his brother, G. Elbert Taylor, stepped into upper executive leadership alongside their uncle, Frank Taylor, who succeeded to the presidency.
- Incorporation (1890): When the business was officially incorporated as the Taylor Brothers Company with a capital stock of $75,000 in 1890, J. Merton assumed active management responsibilities, helping direct the operational expansion from a regional workshop into a multi-branch national manufacturer.
- Manufacturing Direction: During the 1890s and early 1900s, as the company acquired the Watertown Thermometer Company, the Hohmann & Maurer Manufacturing Company, and Short & Mason of London, Taylor oversaw shop coordination. He was aided in active manufacturing management by his relative, Charles W. Taylor, who had previously directed the company's New York City office.
Presidency & Modernization (1910–1913)
In 1910, J. Merton Taylor succeeded his brother, G. Elbert Taylor, as President of the consolidated Taylor Instrument Companies. Though his presidency was cut short by his early passing, his three-year administration introduced defining institutional advancements:
Plant Consolidation at Ames Street (1911)
Following extensive executive deliberations regarding manufacturing centralization, Taylor oversaw the closure of the satellite plant in Watertown, New York, in 1911. All machinery and production lines were relocated to Rochester and installed in a major new building adjacent to the main plant campus at 95 Ames Street, centralizing corporate manufacturing under one roof.
Research Department & Industrial Welfare
- Dedicated Research Department (1911): Recognizing that modern industry demanded scientific measurement beyond standard artisan graduation, Taylor established the company's first internal Research Department, laying the groundwork for the later Chemical and Physical Laboratories.
- On-Site Hospital (1911): A pioneer in progressive industrial employee welfare, he established Taylor's own in-plant emergency hospital facility, ensuring direct, on-site medical care for factory and glass-shop personnel.
- Export Sales Department: Created a dedicated export sales division to handle surging international orders across Europe, Latin America, and the British Commonwealth.
Untimely Passing & Executive Transition
In 1912, J. Merton Taylor suffered the loss of his close managerial assistant and family member, Charles W. Taylor. Just one year later, in July 1913, J. Merton Taylor died unexpectedly while actively serving as company president.
Following his death, the Board of Directors convened and elected long-serving treasurer Herbert J. Winn as President and Treasurer, initiating a 25-year administration that would carry the company through World War I and the Great Depression.
Archival Primary Sources
Records documenting J. Merton Taylor's administration, the 1911 Ames Street expansion, the Watertown plant closure, and the 1913 executive transition are preserved in the Taylor Instrument Company Papers (Collection D.75) at the University of Rochester Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation:
- Series I: General History (1851–1951) — 1910–1913 board minutes, presidential transition papers, Ames Street facility records, and corporate memorandums.
- Series III: Business Papers — Watertown plant equipment transfer inventories, early Research Department files, and employee hospital records.
