George B. Kelly

Biography

George B. Kelly is credited in Alfred Dolge's history of the player piano as the inventor of a wind motor employing slide valves, dated 1886. The device is illustrated with a cross-sectional line drawing showing its internal components, appearing on the same plate as Bishop & Downe's 1883 keyboard attachment. No further biographical information, dates, or nationality are provided in the text. Kelly is thanked by name in Alfred Dolge's foreword among ten men credited with 'kind and valuable assistance' that supplied the book with important data. No further biographical detail, occupation, or company affiliation is given in this portion of the text. Kelly is named among the able men, along with Pain and Votey, whose services Harry B. Tremaine secured when he wanted to build the best player pianos. A portrait of Kelly accompanies the text.

Highlights

• Thanked by name in Dolge's foreword for 'kind and valuable assistance' supplying data used in the book.
• Invented a wind motor with slide valves for player pianos, dated 1886
• Named among the able men (with Pain and Votey) whose services Harry B. Tremaine secured in building the best player pianos

Source

Alfred Dolge, Pianos and Their Makers, Vol. I (1911), p. 139.

Public domain.