The T.S. Simms & Co. Canadian Company has a deep background as a top-quality painting tool producer. The Simms Company began in 1866 and has enjoyed offering superior craftsmanship and innovation with each product. Having a dedicated staff has established the company’s quality reputation transmitting service and quality.



Simms combines current automated manufacturing procedures with traditional skills from our craftspeople. The business is renowned for superior paint applicator products that exceed client expectations. Only the top materials are utilized for our roller and paintbrush product lines. Many of our copyrighted plastic tray designs and roller trays have grown to be the industry standard. We offer one of the most complete painting tool choices for both painting professionals and DIY’ers as well.

Our History

In 1886, Thomas Stockwell Simms started the Simms Company. As an American Civil War Veteran, he invested his soldiers’ bonus and back pay in a modest brush and broom business in Portland, Maine. This company migrated in 1872 to Saint John, New Brunswick. Saint John became prominent world-wide for their contributions to shipbuilding.

Thomas Simms went through many hardships but persisted with a variety of talents. He lost two wives and experienced a terribly catastrophic factory fire. Nevertheless, he did not give up and was willing to forge ahead despite these tragedies.



Simms preferred to travel and traveled to China in the 1900s. He became one of the initial brush makers to make arrangements to purchase his bristles directly. The lay missionary initiative was something he was a part of. The Simms Memorial Baptist Church is found in India and is regarded as a significant enterprise.

Lewis Wesley Simms

In 1908, Lewis Wesley Simms became the company leader after his father perished. Over the next half a century, Lewis Simms presided as the President. His potent personality and commanding presence made him a prominent leader. He expanded the organization his father began from local to national. LW developed and advertised automated brushmaking equipment, changing the landscape of the industry. Inside the Canadian business community, he obtained nationwide prominence. He became the President of the Canadian Manufacturing Association plus the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.

He was posthumously awarded with a Industry Hall of Fame of the Canadian Hardware Houseware Manufacturing Association plus the New Brunswick Hall of Fame. Simms was really a visionary and a master of workforce relations. His organized and effective approach allowed this company to flourish into the success it is today.



The founder’s great-grandson, Thomas Stockwell Simms III continues growing the company’s solid integrity, building on the cultures that founded the business. With state-of-the-art engineering, revolutionary products, eye-catching merchandise, impressive management and an seasoned and vivacious workforce, the corporation remains focused on exceeding expectations.

Saint John, NB contains the company’s sales, customer service and marketing at head office. Erin, Ontario is where Simms has their factory and warehouse. The prosperity of the company can be attributed to reliable quality, supreme service and positive business ethics.