Simpson (appliance manufacturer)

Simpson was a manufacturer of household appliances based in Adelaide, Australia. It now exists 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. In 1963 it merged with Pope Industries Ltd to form Simpson Pope Holdings Limited. Pope was originally established in Adelaide as Popes Sprinkler and Irrigation Company in 1925 and after World War II was also a manufacturer of washing machines and hand tools. 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. In 1986, Simpson merged with Email Limited, an industrial conglomerate specialising in refrigeration, electric meters and metals distribution. In 1999, the Email conglomerate was taken over and broken up. The appliance business was acquired by Electrolux in 2000. At this stage, Simpson essentially was outshopped to overseas manufacturing with the famous name “Simpson” applied to its washing machines.

Electrolux was still using the Simpson brand name in Australia and New Zealand for a range of washing machines and dryers. The Pope brand (now owned by Toro Australia), continues to be used for lines of garden watering and sprinkler products. Although Pope was initially known for its washing machines, the brand has now been rationalised to small garden products.

In 2022, Electrolux stopped selling products under the Simpson brand name at Electrolux outlets. The Simpson brand however remains one of the strongest brands in washing machines in Australia.