[Andrew]

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 UK

[Ken Wainwright]

Andrew

I think this is one for Derek. He remembers this period very well

Safe and happy cleaning:)
Ken

[Shaun_Ashmore]

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

[Derek]

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 again

[Dynafoam]

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.

[Derek]

Your right John


It was a vacuum...a twin operator job I believe

Cheers
derek

[Fintan_Coll]

John, are you sure they were not coal fired.

[Dynafoam]

Fintan,

How much time have you spent behind a horse? It would be a shame to waste all that free methane gas !

John

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Derek I don't wish ill of anyone, just not a nice place to work.

Shaun

[Derek]

Shaun

You worked there so are the best person to comment..

My only contact with Bill Franklin was through the NCCA of which he was a founder member

Regards
Derek

[Andrew]

Belated thanks to those of you who replied to my email, which started this thread ... for the facts and the humour ... great stuff!

Andrew

[Dennis]

Ken and Derek - The Pioneer Days      

[Derek]

Dennis

What a wonderful picture.... could you send it to me as a jpeg via e-mail and is there a copywrite to it?

I would love to use the picture  (if possible) in an article at some point

Cheers
Derek

[Len Gribble]

Derek

Haven’t you noticed the resemblance in that picture me to the left dad in the middle the nag the mother in law had to take the TM off this week as she could not pull it uphill back on next week wife will be pulling it.

Len

[Derek]

Len

You'll do....

It takes me back to when I was a lad, both the bread and the milk was delivered by horse and cart in our area.
I'll bet 'young' John can remember them too but can he remember the old lamplighters?

Cheers
Derek

[Len Gribble]

Derek

The good old days though I can’t remember far too young I was told by mum I was on the last tram in London in my early teens I worked for a plant hire co and was digging up the tram lines in Vauxhall now there putting then back, life is a full circle, bring back our youth would I change it NO

Len    

[HolmansUKLTD]

did you get my email Len??

[Len Gribble]

Nick

Yes

Len

[Dynafoam]

Derek,

'Young' John remembers going out on several carpet cleaning jobs in London (E3) of the late 60's, only to find that the customers were not wired for electricity  

John.