Edward B. Watkins earned a degree in mechanical engineering from WPI in 1886. He then enjoyed a successful career as an engineer and inventor. While leading the engineering team at Heywood Bros. & Wakefield Co., Watkins designed the Simplex Time Recorder, one of the earliest mechanical means of recording the working time of industrial employees. He formed a company to manufacture the time recorders in 1892 before purchasing the full patent rights and incorporating as Simplex Time Recorder Co., in 1902.​ Watkins led Simplex until his death in 1942. By the 1960s, Simplex was among the world's leaders in producing fire alarm systems in conjunction with IBM. Today, the Simplex brand is still associated with state-of-the-art fire alarm and suppression systems.

Creator

• unknown

Keyword

• fire protection engineering

Date created

• undated

Resource type

• Other

Rights statement

• Copyright Undetermined

Last modified

• 2023-03-02