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.
| Industry | Technology |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1864 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Julian Baseley (MD) |
| Products | Vacuum cleaners, Sweepers, Steamers, Polishers, Consumables |
| Website | www |
History
editFounded 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
edit- ^ a b Crossley, Richard Shaw & Ainsworth, Richard (2013) Accrington Through the 19th Century, Robert Cunliffe, ISBN 978-1300775966, p. 110
- ^ a b c d e f g Gantz, Carroll (2012) The Vacuum Cleaner: A History, McFarland and Co Inc, ISBN 978-0786465521, p. 33
- ^ "Our history". Ewbank UK. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
- ^ "Entwisle and Kenyon Limited", Statist, Volume 179, p. 752, 1963
- ^ a b "Ewbank Sweeps the Field with Novodur", Engineering Materials and Design, Volume 19, p. 33