Hello
This picks up a thread which I found here from back in May. Someone had a Kelly Automatic Morris Chair. I have one too, so I've been doing some research. The Clinton, Iowa Public Library sent some clippings. Fran in the History section was very helpful in supplying the information.
The J. W. Kelly and Brothers company was one of the largest furniture makers in that city, operating from the late 1800s through the 1920s. They had two buildings, the first on South Bluff Blvd, and the newer Kelly Mfg Company on the SW corner of 8th Ave South at 3rd street. In their last years they located in the old City Hall after that building was vacated.

Does anyone else have pictures of a Kelly Automatic Morris chair?
I'm wondering if they originally had exposed wood on the upper sides? Mine has fabric over, but it has been reupholstered.
I'll attach a picture of mine. I also have the original label.

Good Morning Susan,
The chair you show in the picture is one that has the mission influence is not an A&C piece, however it is a nice looking chair.

Your chair may have a stamp or piece of paper glued on somewhere that says it is an original Kelly chair from the A&C period but, if this is the case it is a copy of the original style.

Respectfully,

Ralph Jones

i have a chair i just purchased from an estate in iowa that has a signed dated label on the bottom and it is "the kelly automatic morris chair" , it does not look like this chair, i do however have a kelly morris comfort chair that looks just like the one in this photot, mine had a controler for the rear recline under the right armrest? does yours also? i am missiing pices from my automatic chair and would love to see a picture of how one worked exactly.

I found the original patent for William J. Kelly , filed on August 8, 1905 for his locking hinge that would be used on a sofa bed or chair.
Kelly Comfort Chair Patent [this is a link to a pdf from Google that will download onto your computer to be read]

Lauren

Hello,

I read your comment about the Kelly chair in Morris type recliner chair. I have one and I had it reupholstered just exact as an original. When, I purchased the recliner and it was in original upholstery. I asked an upholster to do exact as an original one. Actually, the original upholstery is exact like yours. Both of the side of back chair is covered up just like yours.

I do not know if you have tacks on edge of the back support cushion? Also, I can see that you do not have a band around on the lower seat cushion. I do not have the foot rest support as you do. So, I added small sawn-oak board to cover up the gap under the seat.

I restored the chair with new reproduction dark brown vinyl upholstery and it looks so lovely in my living room along with other A & C items.

I will add some photos of my chair for everyone to view and be able to see and be able to do exact as an original to the chair.

Regards,

Daniel

after my last post i did some more research and looking through these threads i found another on the same chair(s). it had a post from Mr Kelly's grandson, i emailed him and he was very helpful. i have three of these chairs and have now completed a complete restoration of two of them using the third for pieces and also using the drawings that Mr Kelly's grandson provided. i can also post pictures if anyone wants to see them, jim

quote:

Originally posted by jimfai: i can also post pictures if anyone wants to see them, jim

I'd sure like to see them! We have one also, and after seeing Lauren's pictures I realize we are missing parts!

-Mike