Carpet Cleaning Issues - Carpet construction, upholstery cleaning, stain removal, equipment, events, etc.
Cleaning HistoryPosted by Andrew (Andrew), 9 April 2004
Carpet Beating
Whilst reasearching the history of window cleaning, i have in the last few months studied the contents of 70 trade diectories published between 1850 - 1920. It seems that window cleaners, during this period were as much, "carpet beaters" as they were window cleaners. it doesnt take a lot of imagination to work out what carpet beating was all about, but i wondered if anyone from the carpet cleaning sector could supply any detail, suggestion or observation about the "carpet beating" service. Any and all replies most welcome and appreciated.
Andrew from Edu-Clean UKPosted by Ken_Wainwright (Ken Wainwright), 9 April 2004
Andrew
I think this is one for Derek. He remembers this period very well 
Safe and happy cleaning
KenPosted by Shaun_Ashmore (Shaun_Ashmore), 9 April 2004
I used to work on a carpet beating machine, hense the glazed eyes and away with the birds expression! A long machine with rounded style coggs furiously spinning on the carpet gently beating the carpet and all with a minimal amount of suction. I used to wind the carpet in and then witha 'crank' handle turn clock wise 1 full turn and then 1/2 anti clock wise then repeat 1 full turn etc until carpet fell out of machine.
Monkeys could do it hense first 2 lines above, nearly left trade after 1 week but promised promotion to 'davar' machine which did the same thing but it sprayed water on carpets and then went through 2 hydraulic rollers.
Davar machine is not necassary nowadays as TMs can dothe same job.
You can see these contraptions on the open day at W.E.Franklins museum open day (don't ask me when it is)you may even see Mr Billy Franklin AKA Mr Burns from the Simpsons aha Monty
Shaun Posted by Derek (Derek Bolton), 9 April 2004
Shaun
Bill Franklin is not well and is now in a rest home.. sad really as he was still going strong in his mid eighties
Derek
ps ...I nearly forgot...Kenneth...I can certainly remember my grandparents putting the old peg rug out on the washing line outside and beating the living daylights out of it.
I still have my grandmothers old wood Ewebank carpet sweeper in the attic...it works too... it was her pride and joy
I have a picture (drawing from a book) somewhere which depicts a horse drawn carpet cleaning machine.. the forerunner of the modern day truckmount
Bye againPosted by Dynafoam (Dynafoam), 9 April 2004
Derek,
If my memory serves me well, these horse-drawn (Cartmounts?) were actually dry vaccum cleaners.
If they had the capability to wash the carpets, they would probably have had a methane-fueled water heater
John.Posted by Derek (Derek Bolton), 9 April 2004
Your right John
It was a vacuum...a twin operator job I believe
Cheers
derek Posted by Fintan_Coll (Fintan_Coll), 10 April 2004
John, are you sure they were not coal fired.Posted by Dynafoam (Dynafoam), 10 April 2004
Fintan,
How much time have you spent behind a horse? It would be a shame to waste all that free methane gas !
JohnPosted by Shaun_Ashmore (Shaun_Ashmore), 11 April 2004
Derek I don't wish ill of anyone, just not a nice place to work.
Shaun
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