G. Elbert Taylor
George Elbert Taylor (known professionally as G. Elbert Taylor; died 1923) was an American corporate executive who served as President of the Taylor Instrument Companies during the pivotal decade of 1900 to 1910.
The son of company cofounder George Taylor, he took the helm at the turn of the twentieth century, guiding the firm through substantial recapitalization, landmark international acquisitions including Short & Mason of London, and the formal corporate consolidation that created the modern umbrella brand of the Taylor Instrument Companies.
Early Life & Executive Management (1889–1900)
G. Elbert Taylor grew up immersed in Rochester’s precision instrument industry as the son of founding partner George Taylor. When his father died in 1889, G. Elbert and his brother, J. Merton Taylor, formally entered executive leadership alongside their uncle, Frank Taylor, who had assumed the presidency.
- Incorporation (1890): In 1890, the brothers were central figures in incorporating the business as the Taylor Brothers Company with a capital stock of $75,000, assisting in directing regional sales and national distribution networks.
- Decade of Growth: Throughout the 1890s, G. Elbert contributed to the operational expansion that saw the firm acquire the Watertown Thermometer Company (1891) and the Hohmann & Maurer Manufacturing Company (1895).
Presidency & Corporate Consolidation (1900–1910)
In 1900, upon the retirement of Frank Taylor, G. Elbert Taylor was elected President of the company, beginning a decade-long administration defined by corporate consolidation and aggressive capital growth:
Acquisition of Short & Mason & Capital Expansion (1900)
- Short & Mason Co., Ltd. (1900): In 1900, Taylor concluded the acquisition of Short & Mason Co., Ltd. of London, world-renowned manufacturers of high-grade aneroid barometers, compasses, and meteorological instruments. This acquisition gave the firm immediate manufacturing capacity in Great Britain and invaluable expertise in aeronautical instrumentation.
- Capital Expansion: By October 1900, under his leadership, the capital stock of the company surged to $535,000.00 to support ongoing industrial acquisitions and facilities expansion.
- Incorporation as Taylor Instrument Companies: Following the Short & Mason transaction, the enterprise was officially incorporated under the broader corporate name Taylor Instrument Companies.
Brand Consolidation & Automation Acquisitions (1905–1906)
Under G. Elbert's administration in 1905, the company acquired two additional specialty firms:
- Davis & Roesch Manufacturing Co.: Specialists in automatic temperature and pressure regulating devices.
- R. Hoehn Company: Makers of clinical and specialty thermometers.
Taylor spearheaded the effort to bring these disparate manufacturing divisions under a unified management structure, allowing them to produce as specialized branches under the parent umbrella of the Taylor Instrument Companies. It was also during this period that the company oversaw the construction of the main campus at 95 Ames Street, which opened in January 1906.
Retirement and Leadership Transition (1910)
After ten years leading the corporation through transformative growth, G. Elbert Taylor retired from the presidency in 1910.
He handed executive control to his brother, J. Merton Taylor, who succeeded him as president and directed the relocation and consolidation of all remaining regional plants to Ames Street. G. Elbert continued his relationship with the company until his death in 1923.
Archival Primary Sources
Records documenting G. Elbert Taylor's presidency, the 1900 Short & Mason acquisition, the 1905 corporate consolidation, and capital expansion files 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) — 1900–1910 presidential records, Short & Mason purchase contracts, and Board of Directors minutes.
- Series III: Business Papers — Davis & Roesch and R. Hoehn acquisition agreements, stock expansion ledgers, and Ames Street construction records.
