The Clean Sweep | October 2025

Newsletter

Do you know that in the early 1800s, Massachusetts farmer Levi Dickenson made the first sorghum broom as a gift for his wife?

I have it on good authority that it’s not a good idea to gift a spouse with a cleaning device; however, Mrs. Dickenson must not have minded because she shared the broom with friends and neighbors. Mr. Dickenson was soon selling brooms by the hundreds. 

Much like Levi Dickenson’s entrepreneurship, my great-grandfather started this company nearly 100 years ago manufacturing brooms. Today, we stock upright and push brooms of all styles, materials and uses, along with hundreds of other products. 

History has shown us that great ideas last. I’m proud to feature our broom line this month and share more about Zephyr’s history with you. We’ve been a family-owned business for almost a century and continue to grow, diversify, and modernize to bring you the best products for your customers.

Product Spotlight: Upright and Push Brooms

Brooms are where we started in 1927. In 1938, we developed and patented the Zephyr Streamline broom, our flagship product for many years. Today, we honor that legacy with the Streamline Warehouse Broom and the Streamline 10” 2-Sew Whisk Broom.

Our full lineup of upright and push brooms includes natural fiber and plastic angle brooms, plus push brooms for wet and dry conditions, indoor and outdoor use, and light, medium, or heavy-duty sweeping.

The Zephyr Story: Nearly 100 Years of Cleaning Innovation

Zephyr Manufacturing began in 1927 as Acme Broom Company, founded by my great-grandfather Harry E. Lindstrom in Kansas City, Missouri. While our early success came with the addition of the Zephyr Streamline broom, we soon expanded our product line to include mops and household cleaning items, incorporated under the Zephyr name in 1946, and moved to larger facilities to keep up with growth.

Leadership has remained in the family for four generations. Harry’s son, Robert, my grandfather, took over in 1957, overseeing acquisitions, patents, and major expansions in broom, mop, and rubber products. His son and my father, John, led the company into the 1980s and 1990s, building new manufacturing facilities and increasing production to serve a growing market. Today, I am continuing the family legacy as president.

From a single broom line to a full range of mops, brooms, brushes, handles, and accessories, Zephyr has evolved to meet changing market needs while remaining family owned. We pride ourselves on quality, competitive pricing, and exceptional service, supplying institutional, industrial, janitorial, and food service markets across North America. 

Nearly a century later, our team remains committed to serving you.

If you have questions about our products or need help finding something specific, call us at (800) 821-7197 or email info@zephyrmfg.com. We’ll make sure you get exactly what you need.