Broom Maker

A Broom Maker is a highly skilled witch or wizard who designs, manufactures, and enchants Broomsticks. This profession is fundamental to the wizarding world, as broomsticks serve as a primary mode of magical Transportation and are essential for the popular sport of Quidditch. The field is characterized by intense competition and constant innovation, with various companies vying to produce the fastest and most advanced brooms on the market. The quality and model of a broom are often seen as status symbols within the magical community.

The craft of broom making has evolved significantly over the centuries. Early broomsticks were rudimentary and notoriously uncomfortable, lacking the speed, comfort, and safety features of modern models. Key advancements transformed the industry, such as the invention of the Cushioning Charm by Elliot Smethwyck in 1820, which made long-distance travel vastly more tolerable (Quidditch Through the Ages). The creation of a high-quality broom is a complex art that combines expert woodworking with powerful Magic.

• Materials: Broom handles are crafted from various types of wood, such as ash, ebony, or mahogany, chosen for their resilience and magical properties. The tail twigs are often made from birch or hazel, which are carefully selected and bound to the handle.
• Enchantments: A variety of charms are placed upon brooms to give them their ability to fly, steer, and brake. High-performance models, like the Firebolt, feature advanced enchantments for unparalleled acceleration and balance, as well as goblin-made ironwork for stability and power.
• Innovations: Companies often patent their unique enchantments. The Horton-Keitch company, for example, patented the Horton-Keitch Braking Charm, giving their Comet brooms a distinct advantage in safety and control (Quidditch Through the Ages).

While the wizarding world has seen many broom makers, several companies dominate the market through the 20th century.

• Cleansweep Broom Company: Founded in 1926 by brothers Bob, Bill, and Barnaby Ollerton (Quidditch Through the Ages). The Cleansweep series, including the Cleansweep Five and Cleansweep Seven, were known as reliable, versatile brooms. They were popular for family use and were the brooms of choice for the Weasley twins for a time. Older models were often used as school brooms at Hogwarts.
• Comet Trading Company: Founded as Horton-Keitch in 1929 by Randolph Keitch and Basil Horton (Quidditch Through the Ages). The company's Comet series, such as the Comet Two Sixty and Comet Two Ninety, were competitors to the Cleansweeps. Cho Chang flew a Comet Two Sixty.
• Nimbus Racing Broom Company: Established in 1967, this company revolutionized the racing broom market (Quidditch Through the Ages). Their Nimbus 1000 model immediately became the leading broom of its day. The subsequent Nimbus 2000 and Nimbus 2001 models set the standard for professional Quidditch brooms for many years. Harry Potter's first broom was a Nimbus 2000, and the entire Slytherin Quidditch team was later outfitted with Nimbus 2001s by Lucius Malfoy.
• Firebolt: A state-of-the-art racing broom released in 1993 that immediately surpassed all competitors, including the Nimbus 2001. Its creator is unknown, but its craftsmanship involved individually selected birch twigs and goblin-made ironwork. Harry Potter received a Firebolt as an anonymous gift from his godfather, Sirius Black.
• Other Notable Brooms: Over the years, many other broom models have been produced, implying the existence of other, perhaps less successful or historical, makers. These include the vintage Oakshaft 79, the Moontrimmer, the Silver Arrow, and the mass-produced but slow Shooting Star, which was Ron Weasley's first broom.

Broom makers are vital to the wizarding economy and culture. They supply the primary means of personal flight, which is crucial for both daily travel and recreation. Their most significant impact is on the sport of Quidditch, where broom technology is analogous to engine development in Muggle motor racing. The relentless innovation by broom makers drives the evolution of the game, as teams constantly seek the competitive edge offered by faster and more maneuverable brooms. This industrial rivalry is a major plot point, highlighting themes of wealth and fairness, as seen when the Slytherin team gains a significant advantage with their gift of Nimbus 2001s.

Most of the detailed information regarding specific broom companies, their founders, and historical models is not present in the seven core novels but is elaborated upon in the supplementary book, Quidditch Through the Ages. In the main series, broom makers are only referred to by their company or product names; no individual broom maker is ever met as a character.