Simpson was a manufacturer of household appliances based in Adelaide, Australia. It later existed as a brand within the Electrolux Australia group.
History
Simpson was founded in 1853 by Alfred M. Simpson (1805–1891) who had migrated from London to South Australia in 1849. Simpson was an innovator and introduced labour-saving machinery and new products such as fire-proof safes, bedsteads, japanned ware, colonial ovens and gas stoves.[1]
In 1963, it merged with Pope Industries Ltd to form Simpson Pope Holdings Limited. Pope was established in Adelaide as Popes Sprinkler and Irrigation Company in 1925. After World War II, it was also a manufacturer of washing machines and hand tools.[2]
Pope later manufactured air-conditioning systems. Simpson was an innovative company which pioneered the “fluid drive” system, which borrowed much of its mechanical design influence from automotive technology. In 1979, the company changed its name to Simpson Holdings Limited—a listed public company.