SimplexGrinnell

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Frederick Grinnell, an 1855 graduate of Rensselaer Institute (now Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute),{{cite web| title =Frederick Grinnell, Class of 1855, Pioneer in Fire Safety, 1836-1905| work =Rensselaer Alumni Hall of Fame| publisher =Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute| url =http://www.rpi.edu/dept/NewsComm/sub/fame/inductees/frederickgrinnell.html| access-date =2007-06-14| url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090302101548/http://www.rpi.edu/dept/NewsComm/sub/fame/inductees/frederickgrinnell.html| archive-date =2009-03-02}} worked in railroad engineering until he retired as chief mechanical engineer and general manager of the Jersey City Locomotive Works. Soon after his retirement, he purchased a controlling interest in the Providence Steam and Gas Pipe Company.

Grinnell already knew Henry S. Parmalee, who patented the first automatic fire sprinkler head in 1874. Providence Steam & Gas partnered with Parmalee and manufactured the Parmalee sprinkler; Grinnell also designed and erected the piping installations into which the Parmalee sprinkler heads were fitted. Grinnell improved Parmalee's first practical automatic sprinkler and patented his own Grinnell sprinkler in 1882.{{cite web| last =Grant| first =Casey Cavanaugh| title =The Birth of NFPA| work =NFPA History| publisher =NFPA| url =http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=500&itemID=18020&URL=About%20Us/History&cookie%5Ftest=1| access-date =2007-06-15|url-status =dead| archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071228104759/http://www.nfpa.org/itemDetail.asp?categoryID=500&itemID=18020&URL=About%20Us%2FHistory&cookie_test=1| archive-date =2007-12-28}} Continual improvements resulted in the glass disc sprinkler in 1890. With slight modifications, this sprinkler head is still used in modern fire sprinkler systems; sprinklers are even called le Grinnells in France.{{cite web| title =History of Sprinkler Systems| work =The Station House| publisher =Tyco International|date=February 2005| url =http://www.tyco-fire.com/TFP_common/StationHouse02-15_5.pdf| access-date =2007-06-14}} In 1892, Grinnell organized the General Fire Extinguisher Company, which was renamed the Grinnell Fire Protection Company after his death in 1919. The main manufacturing facility was in North Carolina at the Grinnell Company-General Fire Extinguisher Company Complex.

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Meanwhile, Edward G. Watkins founded the Simplex Time Recorder Company in 1894. Watkins invented and patented one of the first practical time clocks, along with the synchronized clock systems seen in schools up until recent times. The company, located in Gardner, Massachusetts, purchased the IBM Time Equipment Division in 1958.{{cite web |date=1958-10-24 |title=Press release announcing the sale of IBM's time equipment business to Simplex Time Recorder Company |url=http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/cc/pdf/cc_2407PR02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060909005625/http://www-03.ibm.com/ibm/history/exhibits/cc/pdf/cc_2407PR02.pdf |archive-date=2006-09-09 |access-date=2008-01-16 |work= |publisher=IBM}} This purchase included IBM's fire protection division. Originally, Simplex's fire alarm line simply consisted of relabeled IBM devices and control panels, but they began to introduce redesigned IBM products starting in the early 1960s. In the mid-1960s, Simplex attempted to introduce low-voltage DC systems; these panels were not a success. Most of Simplex's audible notification appliances prior to the 1990s were relabeled Benjamin Electric, Federal Signal, Faraday, and Autocall devices. Simplex's time-division began to lose market share, but their newly founded fire alarm division significantly prospered. In 1970, Simplex introduced conventional control panels.

In 1979, Simplex introduced the industry's first networked multiplex building control system that was capable of handling fire alarm, security, HVAC, synchronized time, and watchman's tour.

SimplexGrinnell also markets burglar alarms, PA systems, and nurse call systems. They also provide testing, inspection, and maintenance services for fire alarm, sprinkler, suppression, security, and communication equipment. To a much lesser degree, the company also sells and services pull stations, time clocks, and master time systems and Mass Notification systems.

File:Simplex4051405085.JPG|Older 4051+4050-80 fire alarm

File:Simplex_2902-9739_LifeAlarm_speaker-strobe.JPG|Simplex 2902-9739 LifeAlarm fire alarm

File:Simplex TrueAlert horn and strobe.jpg|Simplex TrueAlert fire alarm

File:Simplex21204100.jpg|Simplex 2120 (left) next to a 4100

File:Simplex4010and4208panels.JPG|A Simplex 4010 addressable fire alarm panel tied into an older Simplex 4208 conventional fire alarm panel

File:Simplex4100Upanel.JPG|More modern Simplex 4100U panel

Image:OldSimplexClock.JPG|Older Simplex slave clock.

• ADT
• Bundy Manufacturing Company

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• {{Official website|https://www.tycosimplexgrinnell.com/}}

Category:Tyco International

Category:Fire detection and alarm companies

Category:Companies based in Boca Raton, Florida

Category:Manufacturing companies established in 2001

Category:American companies established in 2001

Category:2001 establishments in Florida