Lesson 2
History of the Broomstick, Part II
The Racing Broom and Mass Production (1926 – Present)
In 1926, the whole arena of broom making changed when brothers Bob, Bill and Barnaby Ollerton formed the Cleansweep Broom Company. For the first time ever, the single broom makers were replaced by a broom manufacturing company that was able to produce brooms in large quantities, and manage to supply the great number of demanded brooms. They released their first model, the Cleansweep One, in 1926 and became instant hit. The broomstick, having been designed for sporting use, was the first racing broom in the planet and within a year, every British Quidditch team was using the model.
Cleansweep’s rival was established in 1929 when Randolph Keitch and Basil Horton, who were both players for the Falmouth Falcons formed the Comet Trading Company and released the Comet 140 in the same year. Comet 140 was the first broom to have the patented Horton-Keitch Braking Charm that made it less likely for Quidditch players to fly offside or overshoot the goals. It instantly became the broom of choice of many British and Irish Quidditch teams. Its speed was up to 52 miles per hour.
In 1934, the Cleansweep Two was released by the Cleansweep Broom Company, an improved version of the Cleansweep One. This was followed by the Cleansweep Three which was released in 1937. As a response, the Comet Trading Company produced the Comet 180 in 1938. Comet 180 has a speed of up to 63 miles per hour, also an improved version of the Comet 140. These early years of the two broom manufacturing companies were the time when they had a fierce rivalry between them.
1940 was the year when another broom manufacturing company entered the broom making scene. It was the year when Ellerby and Spudmore, a Black Forest broomstick manufacturing company, produced Tinderblast. Although not as fast as Cleansweeps or the Comets, the reason why it was not used in sports, it was said that Tinderblast was a highly resilient broom. Another broom that was produced by Ellen and Spudmore is the Swiftstick in 1952. It was faster than the Tinderblast but it was found out that the broom lost power during ascent. Same with the Tinderblast, the Swiftstick was also not used by Quidditch teams. These two brooms were the only notable brooms produced by Ellerby and Spudmore in the 1940s and 1950s.
In or before 1953, the Cleansweep Broom Company released Cleansweep Five, which George and Fred Weasley flew when they were still beaters of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
The Racing Broom and Mass Production (1926 – Present)
In 1926, the whole arena of broom making changed when brothers Bob, Bill and Barnaby Ollerton formed the Cleansweep Broom Company. For the first time ever, the single broom makers were replaced by a broom manufacturing company that was able to produce brooms in large quantities, and manage to supply the great number of demanded brooms. They released their first model, the Cleansweep One, in 1926 and became instant hit. The broomstick, having been designed for sporting use, was the first racing broom in the planet and within a year, every British Quidditch team was using the model.
Cleansweep’s rival was established in 1929 when Randolph Keitch and Basil Horton, who were both players for the Falmouth Falcons formed the Comet Trading Company and released the Comet 140 in the same year. Comet 140 was the first broom to have the patented Horton-Keitch Braking Charm that made it less likely for Quidditch players to fly offside or overshoot the goals. It instantly became the broom of choice of many British and Irish Quidditch teams. Its speed was up to 52 miles per hour.
In 1934, the Cleansweep Two was released by the Cleansweep Broom Company, an improved version of the Cleansweep One. This was followed by the Cleansweep Three which was released in 1937. As a response, the Comet Trading Company produced the Comet 180 in 1938. Comet 180 has a speed of up to 63 miles per hour, also an improved version of the Comet 140. These early years of the two broom manufacturing companies were the time when they had a fierce rivalry between them.
1940 was the year when another broom manufacturing company entered the broom making scene. It was the year when Ellerby and Spudmore, a Black Forest broomstick manufacturing company, produced Tinderblast. Although not as fast as Cleansweeps or the Comets, the reason why it was not used in sports, it was said that Tinderblast was a highly resilient broom. Another broom that was produced by Ellen and Spudmore is the Swiftstick in 1952. It was faster than the Tinderblast but it was found out that the broom lost power during ascent. Same with the Tinderblast, the Swiftstick was also not used by Quidditch teams. These two brooms were the only notable brooms produced by Ellerby and Spudmore in the 1940s and 1950s.
In or before 1953, the Cleansweep Broom Company released Cleansweep Five, which George and Fred Weasley flew when they were still beaters of the Gryffindor Quidditch Team.
Another broom manufacturing company was the Universal Brooms Ltd. which released the Shooting Star in 1955. It was the cheapest racing broom on the market at its release. After its initial good sales and popularity, the broom was found to lose height and speed as they aged. Ronald Weasley had this broom before he acquired Cleansweep Eleven. Also, Hogwarts uses this model for flying lessons of the students in which Fred and George Weasley always complained flying slightly to the left or vibrating if one flew too high. After some time, Universal Brooms Ltd.’s products lost popularity and they incurred losses, forcing them to close altogether in 1978.
Little did they know that another would-be dominant broom manufacturing company would enter the broom making arena and overcome the popularity of the Cleansweep and Comet rivalry that were still dominating that time. In 1967, Devlin Whitehorn founded the Nimbus Racing Broom Company and released its first model, Nimbus 1000. It had a revolutionary design and instantly became the choice of Quidditch teams. It had speed up to 100 miles per hour and the ability to turn 360 degrees in mid-air on a fixed spot. It combined the reliability of the Oakshaft 79 with the agility of the best Cleansweeps. With Nimbus 1000, the newly-found company soared to the top of the broom making scene.
Nimbus’ place at the top would be cemented through the company’s subsequent products. One of these was the Nimbus 1001. It was produced in 1978 or earlier and had a speed of up to 106 miles per hour. At these time however, as mentioned above, Universal Brooms Ltd. went lower and lower on their charts until it went out of business in 1978.
We can then say that at these times up to the 1990s, the broom making field was dominated by the big three, the Cleansweep Broom Company, the Comet Trading Company and the Nimbus Racing Broom Company.
The Cleansweep produced other notable brooms like the Cleansweep Six and Cleansweep Seven. The Cleansweep Six, according to a 1995 edition of The Quibbler, was used by a wizard in flying to the moon and had moon frogs to prove it. The Cleansweep Seven, on the other hand, had a standard close to that of a Nimbus 2000. In addition, in 1991, Oliver Wood suggested the model for Harry Potter to use in playing for the house team. In Harry’s third year, most members of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team flew in Cleansweep Sevens.
We can then say that at these times up to the 1990s, the broom making field was dominated by the big three, the Cleansweep Broom Company, the Comet Trading Company and the Nimbus Racing Broom Company.
The Cleansweep produced other notable brooms like the Cleansweep Six and Cleansweep Seven. The Cleansweep Six, according to a 1995 edition of The Quibbler, was used by a wizard in flying to the moon and had moon frogs to prove it. The Cleansweep Seven, on the other hand, had a standard close to that of a Nimbus 2000. In addition, in 1991, Oliver Wood suggested the model for Harry Potter to use in playing for the house team. In Harry’s third year, most members of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team flew in Cleansweep Sevens.
Meanwhile, the Comet Trading Company released other models such as Comet 220 and Comet 260. Comet 220 had a speed of up to 69 miles per hour and was mentioned in an advertisement for the second-hand broom shop Splinter and Kreek's that was printed in the Daily Prophet. Comet 260, on the other hand, looked good but did not offer good performance compared to other brooms. However, its speed is up to a maximum of 93 miles per hour.
Nimbus continued its stroll at the top of the broom making field by producing topnotch brooms like the Nimbus 1500 and Nimbus 1700. Nimbus 1500 had a maximum speed of 107 miles per hour while Nimbus 1700 had a maximum speed of 108 miles per hour.
In 1990, another broom manufacturing company entered the scene. It was the Flyte and Barker who released the Twigger 90 in the same year. Twigger 90 was found to warp at high speeds. However, it included new gimmicks like an inbuilt Warning Whistle and Self-Straightening Brush. Flyte and Barker never managed to replace the top three in the broom making field as it intended to and had no other notable broom produced.
Currently, the latest brooms from the big three broom manufacturing companies are the Cleansweep Eleven, Comet 290 and Nimbus 2000 and 2001. The Cleansweep Eleven, produced in or before 1995, was made of Spanish oak and equipped with anti-jinx varnish and a built-in vibration control feature. It could accelerate from zero to seventy miles per hour in ten seconds.
Comet 290, on the other hand, was also produced before 1995. According to Which Broomstick, it could do zero to sixty miles per hour in ten seconds with a decent tailwind. Nimbus 2000, produced in 1991, was the fastest broom at the time and easily outperformed its competitors in the Quidditch game. Its handle was made of mahogany.
In 1990, another broom manufacturing company entered the scene. It was the Flyte and Barker who released the Twigger 90 in the same year. Twigger 90 was found to warp at high speeds. However, it included new gimmicks like an inbuilt Warning Whistle and Self-Straightening Brush. Flyte and Barker never managed to replace the top three in the broom making field as it intended to and had no other notable broom produced.
Currently, the latest brooms from the big three broom manufacturing companies are the Cleansweep Eleven, Comet 290 and Nimbus 2000 and 2001. The Cleansweep Eleven, produced in or before 1995, was made of Spanish oak and equipped with anti-jinx varnish and a built-in vibration control feature. It could accelerate from zero to seventy miles per hour in ten seconds.
Comet 290, on the other hand, was also produced before 1995. According to Which Broomstick, it could do zero to sixty miles per hour in ten seconds with a decent tailwind. Nimbus 2000, produced in 1991, was the fastest broom at the time and easily outperformed its competitors in the Quidditch game. Its handle was made of mahogany.
However, Nimbus 2001, released in 1992, was faster than the Nimbus 2000. The broom itself is black and gold (or silver), with revolving stirrups. Currently, it is used by the majority of Quidditch players despite the Firebolt being faster.
Last but not the least, today’s top broom in the planet, the Firebolt! The Firebolt, released in 1993, is capable of going from zero to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in ten seconds. The Firebolt also boasts an unbreakable Braking Charm, superb balance and precision, and hovers at reasonable mounting height when let go. It is made up of ash wood and birch twigs.
Lastly, there are broomsticks designed for other purposes not just sports and Quidditch. One of these is the Bluebottle, made before 1994. It was designed for family use, described as ‘safe and reliable’ and was equipped with an Anti-Burglar Buzzer.
Lastly, there are broomsticks designed for other purposes not just sports and Quidditch. One of these is the Bluebottle, made before 1994. It was designed for family use, described as ‘safe and reliable’ and was equipped with an Anti-Burglar Buzzer.
Another special broom was made by the Nimbus Broom Racing Company. It was called the Fambus Station Wagon. It was an extra-long broomstick capable of seating an entire family of six. It was promoted in 1996 with an advertisement in the Daily Prophet.
For today, the use of broomsticks is very important to every witches and wizards that every household owns at least one broomstick. Also, there is the Broomstick Servicing Kit to maintain your broom in top condition. With the use of Disillusionment Charm, a large group of witches and wizards can travel comfortably without being seen by Muggles. Truly, a lot has changed from the time flying has been documented in 963 and broom makers had been a backbone in that history of broomstick importance in wizarding society.
Now, are you ready to make some brooms? I’ll see you next class. Off to Homework 2!
For today, the use of broomsticks is very important to every witches and wizards that every household owns at least one broomstick. Also, there is the Broomstick Servicing Kit to maintain your broom in top condition. With the use of Disillusionment Charm, a large group of witches and wizards can travel comfortably without being seen by Muggles. Truly, a lot has changed from the time flying has been documented in 963 and broom makers had been a backbone in that history of broomstick importance in wizarding society.
Now, are you ready to make some brooms? I’ll see you next class. Off to Homework 2!