Ewbank
| Industry | Technology |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1864 |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Julian Baseley (MD) |
| Products | Vacuum cleaners, Sweepers, Steamers, Polishers, Consumables |
| Website | www |
Ewbank is a brand of cleaning products founded in the United Kingdom in 1864. Originally owned by Entwisle and Kenyon Ltd, then by Earlex Ltd.
History
[edit]In 1864, Ewbank was founded in Accrington, Lancashire, by John Ramsbottom and George Hacking. Originally the company produced water meters.[1] They were joined by John Haworth, James Entwisle, and James Kenyon. When the founders retired, the company was renamed Entwisle and Kenyon Limited.[1] Around 1875, Entwisle & Kenyon began manufacturing washing machines and mangles.[2]
In 1882 Richard Walton Kenyon visited the U.S. to source wooden blocks for mangles, and came across a carpet sweeper factory in Chicago. Recognizing the potential for the product in the UK market,[2] Kenyon designed a carpet sweeper for Ewbank. It went on sale in 1889, [2] and became the leading product of its kind in the UK, where carpet sweeping became commonly known as "ewbanking".[2] The name 'Ewbank' orginated from the Ewbank area of Accrington, where the factory was located.[3] Several models of sweepers were produced, such as the 'Standard' and 'Parlour Queen', as well as miniature versions designed specifically for children. [2]
Following World War II Ewbank established itself as a major manufacturer of floor-care products, with a presence both in the UK and internationally.[2][4] While the initial models used metal casing, by the mid 1970's the sweepers were made from Novodur.[5]
By the mid-1970s Ewbank was owned by Prestige.[5] In 2003, the company was acquired by Earlex Ltd.[2] In November 2013 Ewbank became independent once again and has since established subsidiary companies in the US and Hong Kong.[citation needed]
The company has expanded it's product line to include carpet cleaners, vacuum cleaners, floor scrubbers, steam cleaners, and polishers.
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