Yes, Season 2 of The Simpsons was ... *thinks* 1991? 1992? Yes, the "Bartman" shirts were season 2. Has it been that long? Wow, I feel old.
And yes, Hills Hoist is what it was originally called. It's was invented back in ... *looks at wiki* 1945?!?
Wow. Lance Hill, an Aussie soldier returned from World War 2, started manufacturing it back then. (To start with, he just built one for his wife - she had a washing line in the backyard, but it broke, and she needed space for her lemon tree). 
It was first invented as early as 1895, but Lance Hill manufactured it in a big way, which is why it was called "Hill's Hoists" (a clothes hoist). The name changed a bit over the years, obviously.
Since then, it's now become an official National Treasure - it's so handy!