Ewbank carpet sweepers

Atarah · 01-12-2003, 22:08

Hi everyone. Yesterday I was looking through a catalogue which was pushed through my door (dare I say it... "Betterware&quot

and I was rather surprised to see they were advertising a carpet sweeper called a "Ewbank".  
Now you younger end may not know, but we had a very famous firm here in Accrington who made sweepers with the name "Ewbank".  The firm was approximately where ASDA now is.
I thought the name would have died out with the firm.  Does anyone know who "bought" the brand name?

Atarah

Ernie · 01-12-2003, 22:38

Ewbank Products Limited
Billington Road, Burnley, Lancashire, England. BB11 5ED

And there's a website too www.ewbank.co.uk

Hope this has helped!

janet · 02-12-2003, 11:37

I worked at Ewbank for 12 years, untill it closed down the accrington branch. Some people transfered to the burnley branch but i took the money and another job.It was a great firm to work for.I have made thousands of carpet sweepers over the years all good ones. ( i hope ) I think an american firm bought out  Prestige but dont quote me on it.

Tealeaf · 02-12-2003, 12:07

I think it's a British guy....they're still manufacturing on a small scale in Burnley, but my understanding is that alot of the stuff is coming from Thailand/China and is simply being rebadged there.

I did 2 summers working at Prestige back in the early '70's..that was in the days when we made quality stuff in Accy...these days we make very little but instead go out and spend our money in £1 tat stores in Accy....is their any connection, I wonder...?

janet · 02-12-2003, 12:14

I was there in the early seventies tealeaf. I may know you then. ;D

Tealeaf · 02-12-2003, 13:03

Probably....I was the 6ft dark-haired hunky student...these days I'm just 6ft & hunky

Jo · 02-12-2003, 13:19

Actually another quality product are our tablecloths. I worked as a not so hunky but never-the-less dark-haired student in the 1990s at the Hameldon Mill (is that what it's callesd? Bottom of Royds avenue.)
I used to burn the corners off the sewn tablecloths on a 1 inch line of metal white heat. Very boring.
Anyway, to cut a long story short, the tablecloths they make can be found all over the world, it's amazing, _They have a sort of rose pattern on them, they are really good quality.
Just thought I'd let you know that there are some other good quality products come from Accy.

oh yeah, and Karrimor too are big in the Alps area. Only prob they recently lost their distributor. I'm waiting for them to make me an offer, maybe I can help them out!!   ;D

Tealeaf · 02-12-2003, 13:45

What happened to their distributor? Did they have a fall out? did the distributor go bust? there could be an opportunity for you there Jo.....you need to get on their website & find out what's going on....maybe you could get a pair of size 11 hiking boots for the Christmas Draw....

Jo · 02-12-2003, 13:54

Their diostributor decided to dump the brand and distribute Salewa instead. Appently the margins are higher with Salewa but I know loads of people who are disspaointed that they can't get hold of Karrimor anymore. I'd certianly be interested in working for them as a sort of area sales and marketing manager for the Alps region, I could sort out some new distributors for them. And then I could get you some free size 11 boots!

Jo · 02-12-2003, 13:58

ps there site is only available with flash 5 - I don't have it so I can't get in.
Another reason why they need a good marketing person in the company!!  ;D

Tealeaf · 02-12-2003, 14:04

I've not even heard of Salewa....what is it? Japanese?

There must be lots of disgruntled people around the Southern Tyroll.....Maybe we should start a new theme up here KARRIMOR SOUTH TYROLL...I'm sure (short of phoning them up) someone can get access into their site

happyone · 02-12-2003, 14:35

my uncle worked for  sweeper place   thats where the asda is now right ?

janet · 02-12-2003, 14:37

Tealeaf · 02-12-2003, 14:42

Yeah, thats right.....but they also made lots of other household utensils....dish drainers, kebab skewers...all sorts of things.

It was a big factory complex....they had one building where the air conditioning "system" was a World War 1 aircraft propeller in a hole high up in the wall....and the maintainance men worked from wooden sheds in the middle of the factory - they'd once been used by injured soldiers from WW1...they also had their own firebrigade (a land-rover was the fire engine).

Aye, we made things then...

janet · 02-12-2003, 14:49

They also used to make washing machines too. But that was well before my time.