page_title: Frederick Richard Simms
section_title: Simms-Bosch Magneto
hierarchical_section_title: Frederick Richard Simms / Business / Simms-Bosch Magneto
caption_attribution_description: Simms-Bosch magneto (Rankin Kennedy, Electrical Installations, Vol II, 1909).jpg
context_page_description: Frederick Richard Simms was a British mechanical engineer, businessman, prolific inventor and motor industry pioneer. Simms coined the words "petrol" and "motorcar". He founded the Royal Automobile Club, and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
context_section_description: In conjunction with Robert Bosch he invented developed and patented the Simms-Bosch ignition magneto. It enabled engine designers to precisely time the ignition of fuel because it was tied to the rotation of the engine.  Their initial low-tension system was not an unqualified success but they became the first to develop a practical high-tension magneto. In 1899 they established the jointly owned Compagnie des Magnetos Simms-Bosch but it foundered in 1906 on personal differences between the partners.  
  In 1907 Simms established the Simms Magneto Company Ltd to manufacture magnetos under licence from Robert Bosch but he was unable to compete with European prices and it closed in 1913.  He had however contributed to Bosch's business by his stimulus to their further product development and in opening up the French market for Bosch.
caption: Simms-Bosch magneto 1903
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