Which was created first, Portable or Truckmount?

That could depend on how loosely you define what a truck mount is. There are picture over 100 years old of equipment in horse drawn vehicles for removing the dust from rugs. These included horse-powered vacuum devices.

The first portable extraction machine I knew of was from the folks that started Kleen-rite. This was very early 70's. I did not see a truck-mounted extractor until 2 years later. I had heard of the Ball-Webber and the Bates Big Red but the first I used was aJ udson in the mid 70's.

Scott Warrington

Scott, My Dad told me we made a Mobile Steam Cleaning unit in 1969. My Dad also told me that it was some 40 years ago. And does not remember the exact date so it could have been before that. But said it was definitely in the late 60’s. He said his brother was behind most of the project. Bill Bane says he made one in 1969. Some guy in California claims he was the first. I heard the guy in California was from Chicago. Which is where our company originated in 1938. A couple of people claim to have made the first Truckmount. My name is one of them.
As for the portable, I am pretty sure it was invented before the TM.

I believe it may have been Gene Bates "Big Red" Lawndale Ca...i bought the FIRST one they made!

can you share some of the pics ??

can you post some of those pics ?

can you post a copy of the photo ?

can you post a copy of that photo ? could be front page TMF stuff ...

Wasn't there a Treewax brand from the UK. I seem to recall that Don Neilson from TMI broke away from them in the late 60's or early 70's, and started Timbucktoo with his wife, Joann. Her Brother Que runs it now, after Don and Joann retired. I heard Don is somewhere up by Sacramento, Ca. I bet that guy knows some history on the CC Industry.

John

I've seen those pictures your talking about Ed. Interesting stuff. If I recall it was just a giant vacuum cleaner. Hardly what we call a "truckmount" today. In my opinion, if it doesn't have pressurized hot water and vacuum then its not a "truckmount."
If so, then I guess we can say the first car was a horse and buggy too.

Not sure which was first in portables but the Steamex out of NC was very popular. I believe that was the Hines Brothers. Forerunners of Sun Belt.

Lee Pemberton told me once that Ken Hines was a mentor to him so that is a pretty strong statement.

Earliest Extraction Machines

The US Patent office has a portable extraction machine from 1964 that I do not believe ever made it to the marketplace.

The earliest Portable extractors that I have a picture of were made between 1966 and 1968. They were the Steam Way 100, A portable built by Gene Bates (who later founded Steam Genie, and then Big Red), a Mr. Steam portable by who is now Windsor Industries, and a Deep Steam Extractor (DSC Chemicals came out of Deep Steam Equipment, I believe)

Scott is right that the first "extractors" were the horse drawn, steam engine generated , air blowers. I have pictures of a one horsepower and two horsepower model from Dave Burgin, who was with Certified for many years.

Certainly, some of the first truck mounts came out in the early 1970's - Ballweber, Judge Hot CC, Judson, BaneClene, and Hydramaster. By the late 1970's there were several other companies making them.

Mybe Tre and I can put something together on the history of carpet cleaning. I also have pictures of the first Host and Von Schrader Machines, and of the first Certified Pile Lifter that was made from a belt sander.

This is not an extractor but an interesting note, I think. When I bought Hild from the Roti's I was told that the Grandfather (not godfather) Joe Roti developed the shower feed brush back in the 40's. If that is true than Hild is the originator of on-site carpet cleaning.

John

Would love to see what ever you have Even the one photo here can'T see it ? can you o

Even the one photo here can't see it ? can you e-mail me or post here if you have some time ??

Thank you so much

first truckmount etc..

I remember back in the 80s a friend of mine had what looked like a Bane-Clene . Nowhere on the machine did it have any name on it except on the wand which looked like the wands Bane Clene was using then.
The wand had the words Steem Karpet or Karpet Steem right above where the carpet met the wand.

In the United States several people claim to be the first but when you consider that many people built their own equipment ,it will be difficult to prove who was the first. Bane Clene does have an old Dodge Truck with their first machine which looks just like the one that Ed V. was reffering too.

Jan Sullins
American Kleen Pro

My Brother has and ad from 1850's that shows a horse on a treadmill type machine that runs hoses into a home Ill see if I can get a copy and post it.
Neil
Carpet and Floor Cleaning for New Jersey and PA