Formed around 1867 under the name Morgan & Kelly to make well-drilling machinery. They eventually merged under the name of Kelly & Taneyhill (later Kelly & Taneyhill Co.. That the spelling of "Kelly" was inconsistent, e.g., "Kelley & Taneyhill", but Henry Kelly's gravestone and biography spell it "Kelly".
In 1909, J. E. and C. L. Armstrong purchased the firm, renaming it the Armstrong Manufacturing Company. A new factory was built and a full line of gasoline engines, as well as their line of well drilling equipment was made. Their engine was known as the "Simple Simon".
Information Sources
- Thanks to D. Christopher Guerrant, whose great great uncle was Henry Kelly, and who confirmed the spelling of Kelly's name.
- Much of the above information was obtained from research files at the Georgia Agrirama Museum in Tifton, GA.
- American Gasoline Engines Since 1872 by C. H. Wendel, Volume #1, 1983 page 32