In 1870, Zalmon G. Simmons opened his first factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He started out by manufacturing wooden telegraph insulators and cheese boxes. He branched into making bed-springs after receiving a patent for a woven-wire bed-spring in payment of a debt. In 1876, Simmons became the first manufacturer to mass-produce woven wire mattresses. This process helped the company produce beds faster and cheaper, and by 1889, with the introduction of spiral coil springs into woven mattresses,  

 

The business was incorporated in 1884 as the Northwestern Wire Mattress Company, adopting Simmons Manufacturing Company as its name in 1889. According to company records, by 1891 it was the largest company "of its kind in the world".

125 Years of History

Simmons is the maker of Beautyrest®, BackCare®, BackCare® Kids™, Connoisseur™ and World Class® mattresses. Simmons is committed to helping consumers attain a higher quality of sleep and supports its mission through a Better Sleep Through Science® philosophy, which includes developing superior mattresses and promoting a sound, smart sleep routine.

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Take a walk through more than 125 years of history and see how Simmons introduced technological innovations like the Pocketed coil® spring machine, the Wall-A-Bed® and the Hide-A-Bed® bedding products.

 

Learn how famous people like Henry Ford, Dorothy Lamour and Eleanor Roosevelt were advocates for Simmons. Find out how Simmons' research formed the basis for modern-day sleep technology and how they continue bringing you products that exemplify our Better Sleep Through Science® philosophy.