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Ewbank

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ewbank Products Ltd.
IndustryTechnology
Founded1864
Headquarters,
Key people
Julian Baseley
(MD)
ProductsVacuum cleaners,
Sweepers,
Steamers, Polishers, Consumables
Websitewww.ewbank.co.uk

Ewbank is a brand of mechanical carpet sweepers sold in the United Kingdom since the 19th century. Originally owned by Entwisle and Kenyon Ltd, it is now owned by Earlex Ltd.

History

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Founded in Accrington, Lancashire, the company has its origins in an 1864 company founded by John Ramsbottom and George Hacking, which made water meters.[1] They were joined by John Haworth, James Entwisle, and James Kenyon, and when the founders retired the company was renamed Entwisle and Kenyon Limited.[1]

Entwisle & Kenyon started making washing machines around 1875, and also manufactured mangles.[2] While one of the company's representatives, Richard Walton Kenyon, was in the United States in 1882 to source wooden blocks for mangles, he visited a carpet sweeper factory in Chicago, and saw the potential for the product, which was already popular in the US, in the UK.[2] Kenyon designed the first Ewbank branded carpet sweeper, which went on sale in 1889.[2] It became the most popular product of its type in Britain, where carpet sweeping became known as "ewbanking".[2] The 'Ewbank' name came from the Ewbank area of Accrington, where the factory was located.[3]

Sweepers were produced in several models including 'Standard', 'Parlour Queen', and even miniature versions for children.[2]

Ewbank became a major manufacturer of floor-care products after World War II, including carpet shampooers, selling both in the UK and via export internationally.[2][4] Originally using metal casing, the sweepers were made from Novodur in the mid-1970s.[5]

By the mid-1970s Ewbank was owned by Prestige.[5] In 2003, the company was purchased by Earlex Ltd.[2]

In November 2013 the company became independent again and has since opened subsidiary companies in the US and Hong Kong.[citation needed] The company still produces carpet sweepers and shampooers but has now moved into cordless vacuum cleaners, 2 in 1 vacuum cleaners, steam cleaners, UVC bed cleaners and the number one selling product now is their floor polisher/scrubber.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b Crossley, Richard Shaw & Ainsworth, Richard (2013) Accrington Through the 19th Century, Robert Cunliffe, ISBN 978-1300775966, p. 110
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Gantz, Carroll (2012) The Vacuum Cleaner: A History, McFarland and Co Inc, ISBN 978-0786465521, p. 33
  3. ^ "Our history". Ewbank UK. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  4. ^ "Entwisle and Kenyon Limited", Statist, Volume 179, p. 752, 1963
  5. ^ a b "Ewbank Sweeps the Field with Novodur", Engineering Materials and Design, Volume 19, p. 33
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