Oldest bit of kit

[kevinc250]

reading between the lines of some posts,what is the oldest bit of kit you have?,mine is my 10 year old hose from streamline-perfect after all those years,next comes the pf controller,replaced this year only because i like the leds from daquas controller,poles aside wats your oldest bit of kit?

 

[tench0771]

mmmmm think mine must b my clx ha still in the van lol its nackered but still ok for a extra long trad pole /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[PTWC]

Still got my first mop and squeegee from 1988

(I didn't come over to the dark side until this summer)

 

[jimmyboots]

Is this WFP Kev ? Only been WFP for 2 years. If Trad, first thing to mind is my trusty 'A' ladder still going strong from 1991, nearly 24 years . :thumbsup:

 

[tench0771]

ah come to think of it i still habe my old 14inch unger blade over 6 years old

 

[Natty1972]

I've still got my first b& q hammer holder on my unger belt , I put my brass ettore blades in it. 5 yrs still going strong.

 

[Smurf]

That would have to be me obviously

 

[kevinc250]

Is this WFP Kev ? Only been WFP for 2 years. If Trad, first thing to mind is my trusty 'A' ladder still going strong from 1991, nearly 24 years . :thumbsup:[/QUOyes either trad or wfp,i'm just intrested more so the basic wfp gear which just lasts forever,also trad-just bought a new mop after 10 years -gutted!-i spend more on wfp stuff but whinge when i have to buy rubbers-don't know why

 

[Posh]

Up until Friday when some clown reversed over it I still had my same bucket I bought 5 years ago. Gave it a good burial. /emoticons/sad.png:gush:

 

[PTWC]

at 1988 it looks like I've got the oldest stuff so far. ldy:

Didn't expect that.

 

[Smurf]

Was this the clown?

View attachment 3326

Up until Friday when some clown reversed over it I still had my same bucket I bought 5 years ago. Gave it a good burial. :gush:

 

[Smurf]

My pole is a wee bit older than that /emoticons/tongue.png

at 1988 it looks like I've got the oldest stuff so far. ldyidn't expect that.

 

[Duncs]

my A frame was my old,ist bit of kit loved it so reliable great bit off kit

until my ladders came off my old van wagon drove over the top of my Aframe snapped it in two

so lucky there was no body hurt, now have my ladders inside my van short triple set they are **** but wont have roof rack

 

[PTWC]

never saw any WFP in 1988 smurf

 

[Smurf]

I was on about my pole /emoticons/biggrin.png

But here is a brief history if interested?

1950’s

After the Second World War, Irv Tucker began a business in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA, recovering scrap aluminium from aircraft and manufacturing gas hot plates and heaters for agricultural water tanks.

In the early 1950’s, this evolved into Tucker® Manufacturing Incorporated.

In the search for new products, the inventive Irv Tucker introduced a car and home washer kit that had a 3′ to 6′ pole configuration. This was the forerunner of the Tucker® Pole System.

1960’s

Originally introduced in the consumer market-place in 1955, the concept moved into commercial use in the 1960’s. Hospitals, college campuses, schools and businesses soon began to appreciate the advantages of being able to wash windows at high level without the necessity of ladders and scaffolding.

Initially, the Tucker® Pole was sold through direct mail and newspaper advertising. Surprisingly, an advertisement in ‘The Rotarian’, initiated international sales when an enquiry from Japan brought about Tucker® Pole’s first overseas distributorship – a relationship which has lasted to this day. Canada, New Zealand and Australia all became markets for the Tucker® Pole throughout the 1970’s. Thirty percent of sales are now outside the US.

1970’s

At first the Tucker® Pole used a single rubber hose with or without an optional soap dispenser. Standard brushes were horse hair and deluxe brushes used Chinese pig bristle. It was a natural progression that vinyl hose eventually replaced rubber enabling the design of a dual hose possible. Today the Tucker® Pole is still the only fully integrated, dual hose pole washer system in the industry.

During the 1970’s, semi-automatic brush making equipment brought many changes to the way brushes were made. Nylon became the established material and Tucker® Pole now has the widest range of brush formats and sizes available in the industry. All brushes are designed and manufactured by the company in their 4806 sq metre (53,400 sq ft) factory.

United Kingdom & Europe

The Tucker® Pole was initially unsuccessful this side of the Atlantic. Water marks and stains resulted and this was totally unacceptable. Unfortunately, in Ireland and the UK, water quality problems are varied and complex and the window cleaning industry failed to appreciate the importance of linking pole washing with water purity. It has only been since the late 1990’s that the necessary water treatment implications have been understood and combined with the marketing of water fed poles in the UK.

Aquafactors Limited (established in 1988), first became involved with pole systems in 1997 through a number of companies experiencing difficulties with water quality. This led to the company obtaining the rights to market Tucker® Pole, in the UK and Ireland, in the autumn of 1998. We operate from a factory, in Basingstoke.

Since then, the company has evolved a specific range of water treatment systems to produce the 99.9% purity of water required to wash windows successfully. We have a considerable level of experience in water quality and this has spearheaded the design and type of systems currently being recommended to customers.

This specialised knowledge in water treatment has enabled us to sell systems to some prestigious customers. The remarkable London Eye has used our equipment since this major London tourist attraction was first opened. A reverse osmosis system is housed on one of the platforms. Heated pipe-work runs to various locations on the structure so that the poles can be “plugged in” to give flexibility of operation regardless of weather conditions.

Other UK customers include systems operating for the Royal Navy, London Underground and Edinburgh University. Both the largest cleaning companies in the UK, Mitie Cleaning and OCS, now use our equipment.

Although glass washing is the main function of a water fed pole, it has also been found to be the ideal way of cleaning all kinds of high level surfaces such as fascias, cladding and high level signs. A number of different brush types are now produced for this work, including a mini brush to clean high mounted CCTV camera lenses.

Tucker® Pole has moved into mainland Europe by setting up an agent in The Netherlands. The operation has established a large customer base even though Holland has more stringent rulings applicable to poles. Local Authority consent must be gained before a pole can be used on any building and certain safety precautions must be taken. Poles were included in the 2004 Dutch Labour Agreement, for the first time, for use up to 10 meters. In the UK, we are fortunate that poles do not come under such strict rulings on use and safety

Health & Safety Responsibilities

The advent of the ‘Single European Market’ (EU) has imposed responsibilities upon all employers. Most organisations are now requesting a risk assessment and a statement of working methods from cleaning contractors intending to use poles. Additionally, the 2005 ‘Work at Height Directive’ has had an enormous influence on the way buildings are cleaned.

The outcome of this is proving very positive in two ways.

Firstly, it is highlighting the many advantages of using high level poles, compared with the obvious problems associated with ladders, scaffolding and hydraulic platforms.

Secondly, it is creating considerable interest from local Health and Safety Officers and Facility Managers, who are viewing poles as a very important development in the industry and encouraging their use.

Water Treatment Implications

The popularity of poles is seeing a momentum by several external sources. This is good news for those in the industry but, because the equipment requirements are still evolving in such a young business, there are some considerable differences in the compilation of competitive systems, particularly the water treatment implications.

This is a field in which Aquafactors has much expertise compared with the competition. The company is a corporate member of the United Kingdom Water Treatment Association (UKWTA). The company takes an active role in various technical committees.

The experience gained in water treatment, over many years, has contributed to a wealth of knowledge unequalled by our peers. We openly admit we often do things differently from the competition who have been criticised for over engineering their systems. We believe in “keeping things simple” as much as possible and this is reflected in the systems provided and our pricing structure.

The company is always moving forward. In 2004 the company took the important step of patenting a new type of integrated baffled tank for use in trucks, trailers and vans. In 2006 a new aluminium pole clamping system was introduced. In early 2008 the company launched a carbon fibre pole with a new head assembly.

http://www.aquafactors.com/about-us/water-fed-poles-a-brief-history/

 

[PTWC]

My pole is a wee bit older than that /emoticons/tongue.png

It has only been since the late 1990’s that the necessary water treatment implications have been understood and combined with the marketing of water fed poles in the UK.

well there you go then.

When did you first start window cleaning Smurf?

 

[Posh]

Was this the clown? /emoticons/biggrin.png
View attachment 5291

That's scary

 

[Smurf]

Not quite as long as this chap. Bless him

[media]

 

[Matty H]

mmmmm think mine must b my clx ha still in the van lol its nackered but still ok for a extra long trad pole /emoticons/biggrin.png

Lol Tench you obviously didn't read post he said poles aside /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Smurf]

I had some scrims that I found in the garage that were so old they turned to dust when I tied to pick them up /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[Matty H]

I had some scrims that I found in the garage that were so old they turned to dust when I tied to pick them up /emoticons/biggrin.png

Sounds like a scene from an Indiana Jones film /emoticons/tongue.png