The Invention of the Fregona Broom
18 Questions
1 Views

Choose a study mode

Play Quiz
Study Flashcards
Spaced Repetition
Chat to lesson

Podcast

Play an AI-generated podcast conversation about this lesson

Questions and Answers

What inspired Manuel Jalón Corominas to invent the 'fregona'?

  • He saw men cleaning floors with long-haired brushes in the United States.
  • He was asked to create a new cleaning tool by his employer.
  • He read about the benefits of cleaning floors in a magazine.
  • He saw a woman cleaning the floor on her hands and knees in a humiliating position. (correct)

    • What did Manuel Jalón Corominas observe in the United States in 1954?

  • A new type of mop being used by janitors.
  • Women cleaning floors with long-haired brushes.
  • A machine that automatically cleaned floors.
  • Men using long-haired brushes to clean oil from the floor. (correct)

    • What was the initial design of the 'fregona'?

  • A wooden bucket with a short handle and a long brush.
  • A metal bucket with a long handle and cotton strips.
  • A plastic bucket with two rollers and a long handle.
  • A metal bucket with two rollers to wring out the cotton strips attached to the handle. (correct)

    • What was the initial response to the 'fregona' from domestic workers and housewives?

    <p>They believed their arms were more effective than the broom.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who were the first salesmen of the 'fregona'?

    <p>Men who traveled the country demonstrating the product in stores.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When did the press begin to write about the 'fregona'?

    <p>In 1958, highlighting its benefits for both men and women.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the impact of the 'fregona' on women worldwide?

    <p>It has contributed to restoring dignity to women worldwide.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been added to the Spanish Academy's dictionary?

    <p>The term 'fregona', defining it as a useful object for cleaning the floor while standing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Qui a inventé le balai à franges pour faciliter le nettoyage des sols en 1956?

    <p>Deux collègues espagnols, dont l'ingénieur aéronautique Manuel Jalón Corominas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Quel était le problème de santé le plus courant chez les femmes avant l'invention de la fregona?

    <p>L'arthrose et la déformation de la colonne vertébrale</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Quel est le matériel qui a été utilisé pour fabriquer le premier balai à franges?

    <p>Un seau en métal et des bandes de coton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Pourquoi les domestiques et les ménagères étaient-elles initialement réticentes à utiliser la fregona?

    <p>Elles pensaient que leurs bras étaient plus efficaces qu'un bâton avec des bandes de coton</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Quel est le résultat de l'adoption de la fregona par les hôpitaux en 1958?

    <p>Les hôpitaux ont commencé à utiliser la fregona pour nettoyer les sols</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Qu'est-ce qui a permis d'améliorer la fregona?

    <p>L'ajout d'une essoreuse inspirée du casque des gardes civils</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Qui a emporté la fregona avec eux dans d'autres pays?

    <p>Les émigrants espagnols</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Quel est le résultat de l'utilisation de la fregona sur les femmes dans le monde entier?

    <p>Elles ont gagné leur dignité</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Qu'est-ce que les vendeurs de la fregona ont dû faire pour convaincre les gens de l'utiliser?

    <p>Faire des démonstrations dans les magasins</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Quel est le nom de la société fondée par Manuel Jalón Corominas en 1958?

    <p>Manufacturas Rodex S.A.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Invention of the "Fregona"

    • The "fregona" is a type of broom that allows users to clean the floor while standing, invented by Manuel Jalón Corominas in 1958.
    • The invention was sparked by Jalón Corominas observing a woman cleaning the floor on her hands and knees in a humiliating position, leading him to create a solution that would allow women to clean while standing.

    The Inspiration Behind the Invention

    • In 1954, Jalón Corominas was sent to the United States to learn about the maintenance of F-86 fighter jets, where he saw men using long-haired brushes to clean oil from the floor.
    • He adapted this idea to create a broom with long-haired brushes that could be used to clean floors.

    The Development of the "Fregona"

    • Jalón Corominas founded the company Manufacturas Rodex S.A. in 1958 with two associates to manufacture and sell the "fregona".
    • The initial design consisted of a metal bucket and two rollers to wring out the cotton strips attached to the handle.
    • Later improvements included more resistant fringes, a lighter plastic bucket, and an essoreuse (wringing device) copied from the helmets of civil guards.

    The Reception of the "Fregona"

    • Initially, sales were slow due to resistance from domestic workers and housewives who believed their arms were more effective than the broom.
    • The first salesmen were men who traveled the country demonstrating the product in stores.
    • The press began to write about the invention in 1958, highlighting its benefits for both men and women.
    • The "fregona" became popular in hospitals and eventually spread to other countries through Spanish emigrants who took it with them.

    The Legacy of the "Fregona"

    • The "fregona" has contributed to restoring dignity to women worldwide, selling millions of units.
    • The term "fregona" has been added to the Spanish Academy's dictionary, defining it as a useful object for cleaning the floor while standing.
    • The inventor, Jalón Corominas, has been recognized for his innovative contribution to society.

    The Invention of the "Fregona"

    • Manuel Jalón Corominas invented the "fregona" in 1958, a broom that allows users to clean the floor while standing.
    • The invention was inspired by Jalón Corominas' observation of a woman cleaning the floor on her hands and knees, leading him to create a solution that would allow women to clean while standing.

    The Inspiration Behind the Invention

    • In 1954, Jalón Corominas was sent to the United States to learn about F-86 fighter jet maintenance, where he saw men using long-haired brushes to clean oil from the floor.
    • He adapted this idea to create a broom with long-haired brushes for cleaning floors.

    The Development of the "Fregona"

    • Jalón Corominas founded Manufacturas Rodex S.A. in 1958 with two associates to manufacture and sell the "fregona".
    • The initial design consisted of a metal bucket and two rollers to wring out the cotton strips attached to the handle.
    • Later improvements included more resistant fringes, a lighter plastic bucket, and an essoreuse (wringing device) copied from civil guard helmets.

    The Reception of the "Fregona"

    • Initial sales were slow due to domestic workers and housewives believing their arms were more effective than the broom.
    • Salesmen demonstrated the product in stores, and the press wrote about the invention in 1958, highlighting its benefits for both men and women.
    • The "fregona" became popular in hospitals and eventually spread to other countries through Spanish emigrants.

    The Legacy of the "Fregona"

    • The "fregona" has contributed to restoring dignity to women worldwide, selling millions of units.
    • The term "fregona" was added to the Spanish Academy's dictionary, defining it as a useful object for cleaning the floor while standing.
    • Jalón Corominas was recognized for his innovative contribution to society.

    La Fregona's Origin

    • 20 years ago, the author moved to France and discovered that the French had different cleaning habits than the Spanish.
    • In 1956, two Spanish colleagues, including aeronautical engineer Manuel Jalón Corominas, invented the fregona, a broom with fringes, to make floor cleaning easier.

    The Need for La Fregona

    • Before the invention of the fregona, women had to clean floors on their knees, leading to health problems such as arthritis, back pain, and knee bursitis.
    • The fregona was inspired by the cleaning technique used in the hangars of Chanute Air Force Base in Illinois, where men used long-haired brushes to clean oil from the floor.

    The First Fregona

    • In 1958, Jalón Corominas founded Manufacturas Rodex S.A. and created the first fregona, composed of a metal bucket and two rollers for wringing out the cotton strips attached to the stick.

    Adoption of La Fregona

    • Initially, domestic workers and housewives were hesitant to use the fregona, thinking their arms were more effective than a stick with cotton strips.
    • Salesmen had to demonstrate the fregona in stores to convince people to use it.
    • In 1958, newspapers started writing about the invention, and hospitals began using it.

    Evolution of La Fregona

    • Improvements to the fregona included replacing the steel bucket with a lighter plastic one and adding a wringer inspired by the helmet of civil guards.

    Global Diffusion of La Fregona

    • Spanish immigrants took their fregonas with them, which quickly gained popularity in other countries.
    • The fregona became a revolutionary and useful object, restoring dignity to women worldwide.
    • Jalón's creation is now listed in the Spanish Academy Dictionary as "an object used to scrub the floor standing up."

    Studying That Suits You

    Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

    Quiz Team

    Description

    Learn about the history behind the invention of the fregona broom, a cleaning tool that allows users to stand while sweeping, and its impact on women's lives.

    Use Quizgecko on...
    Browser
    Open
    Browser
    Browser