British Broomsticks: The Ultimate Compendium
Looking to understand the broomstick industry in Britain? Curious about the history of the British Six, or just want to fantasise about owning the latest and greatest in British broomsticks? Look no further than Barnabas Selwyn's ultimate compendium, covering every major broom since the Oakshaft 79. Compare statistics, price and key features, all within a handy guidebook. Available courtesy of the House of Selwyn's private collection; foreword provided by Lord Selwyn.
Last Updated
09/04/22
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The British Six
Chapter 3
For those with more than a rudimentary understanding of broomsticks, the British Six need no introduction. These six manufacturers dominate the British broomstick market and show significant strength on the international playing field. They are, in order of founding date:
Cleansweep Broom Company
Comet Trading Company
Ellerby and Spudmore
Nimbus Racing Broom Company
Flyte and Barker
Thunderbolt Products
You will observe that each company has a section dedicated to them. Note that not every broom that has ever been produced by these companies will be listed within this book, but it is my intention to provide an overview of every significant model. As such, for example, you may not see an entry for the FamBus IX, as it made barely noteworthy improvements over its predecessor and was soon outshone by its successor, the FamBus X.
However, for the Wix in a rush, I will outline a brief explanation of each of the British Six and their successes.
Cleansweep Broom Company
Founded: 1926
Flagship: Cleansweep line
Known for: Being the first to mass-manufacture broomsticks
Comet Trading Company
Founded: 1929
Flagship: Comet line
Known for: Invention of the Horton-Keitch Braking Charm
Ellerby and Spudmore
Founded: 1939
Flagship: Firebolt line
Known for: Record-breaking sales
Nimbus Racing Broom Company
Founded: 1967
Flagship: Nimbus line; FamBus and BizBus lines
Known for: Revolutionised the business of racing brooms; now known for home and business transportation
Flyte and Barker
Founded: 1990
Flagship: None
Known for: Innovation and unusual ideas
Thunderbolt Products
Founded: 1994
Flagship: Thunderbolt line
Known for: Fastest brooms on the market currently, highly competitive prices
These six manufacturers comprise over ninety percent of the British domestic market, with the remainder primarily being sourced from smaller British artisans. Approximately one point three percent of the British market is occupied by foreign imports with the vast majority originating from European broommakers. For further details on these foreign imports, see European Broomstick Manufacturers, available from all good wizarding booksellers.
Of these, the Nimbus Racing Broom Company holds the largest market share at just over thirty-two percent. This is due, in part, to the overwhelming popularity of their domestic broom lines. The FamBus and BizBus lines have allowed Nimbus to practically corner the commuter brooms’ market.
