Frank Taylor

Frank Taylor

President & Industrial Strategist

Frank Taylor (c. 1844–1920)

Born: New Hampshire

Died: 1920 • Rochester, NY

Brother: George Taylor

Role: President (1889–1900)

Firms: Taylor & Richardson, Taylor Bros., Tycos

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Frank Taylor (c. 1844–1920) was an American manufacturer, executive, and visionary corporate strategist who served as President of the Taylor Brothers Company from 1889 to 1900. Frank was the principal architect behind the firm's transformation from a regional thermometer workshop into the internationally renowned Taylor Instrument Companies.

Early Life & Arrival in Rochester (1862)

Born in New Hampshire, Frank spent his youth in New England before following his older brother, George Taylor, to western New York. Inspired by George's commercial success with the original Kendall & Taylor venture, Frank arrived in Rochester in 1862 to enter the thermometer and precision meteorological trade independently.

Early Partnerships & The Formation of Taylor Bros.

• Taylor & Richardson: Shortly after establishing himself in Rochester, Frank partnered with his cousin, Hamlet F. Richardson, establishing a dedicated thermometer manufacturing workshop.
• Sole Management (1866): When Richardson temporarily stepped away due to failing health, the firm continued under Frank's sole direction as Taylor & Richardson.
• The 1871–1872 Merger: In 1871, Frank merged his successful thermometer enterprise with George Taylor's business. In 1872, the brothers formally adopted the partnership trade name Taylor Bros. (later operating as Taylor Brothers Company), uniting technical manufacturing under one roof.

Corporate Leadership & Expansion (1889–1900)

Following the passing of George Taylor in 1889, Frank Taylor assumed the Presidency of the Taylor Brothers Company, ushering in a transformative era of modernization and aggressive acquisition:

• Corporate Incorporation (1890): Frank formally incorporated the business in 1890 with $75,000 in capital stock. He installed the next generation into corporate leadership, bringing George's sons—J. Merton Taylor and G. Elbert Taylor—into senior executive management.
• Watertown Thermometer Company (1891): Acquired the Watertown, N.Y. maker to expand domestic commercial distribution.
• Hohmann & Maurer Manufacturing Co. (1895): In one of the most critical acquisitions in company history, Frank purchased the Brooklyn-based Hohmann & Maurer firm. This move introduced heavy industrial recording thermometers, pressure gauges, and steam regulators to the product lineup, forming the famous H&M Division.
• International Footprint (1898): Frank spearheaded the company's European expansion, opening a corporate branch office on Hatton Garden in London, England.
• Short & Mason Co., Ltd. (1900): Completed the strategic buyout of London's premier manufacturer of precision scientific barometers, aviation instruments, and surveying equipment.

Retirement & Enduring Legacy

In 1900, after orchestrating the consolidation that made the company a global brand, Frank retired from the presidency, handing executive reins to his nephews G. Elbert Taylor and subsequently J. Merton Taylor. Upon his retirement, the unified enterprise was officially incorporated as the **Taylor Instrument Companies** (later famous worldwide under the trademark *Tycos*).

Frank continued to guide corporate strategy as a senior member of the Board of Directors throughout the company's massive early 20th-century expansion. He passed away in Rochester in 1920.

Archival & Family Links

• Frank Taylor on The Taylor Family Tree
• Biography: George Taylor (1832–1890)
• Biography: David Kendall (c. 1816–?)
• Taylor Instrument Companies Historical Timeline