History of the Hose
Ever wondered where the hose originated from? Well, it was over 2,415 years ago when some ancient Greeks ripped out the intestines of an ox! They carefully removed it, still attached to the large stomach bladder, and this became the first flexible pump & fire hose. It was filled with water and the large bladder compressed, then the stream of water was aimed at the fire.
The intestines are very stretchy but didn’t last long in ancient times. Even as late as the 8th Century, the Greeks used solid and flexible hoses as flame throwers at sea. Most people have their reservations about this theory of how the hose came to be, so the more verified story originates in Holland in the 1600s.
Dutch inventor Jan van der Heyden used leather stitched together to make the very first manufactured flexible hose. It would have looked similar to this riveted model, but was stitched instead.
Did you know that the garden hose originated from the fire-fighting hose? In Australia, bush-fire season can be incredibly damaging to lives, homes, wildlife, flora, and livelihoods, and firefighters and their hoses are crucial to the prevention of severe damage across the country.
Many advances were made over the next 300 years, from leather, to canvas, sailcloth, cotton and linen. All were heavy and prone to leaks. Then, rubber virtually took over from 1870 onwards, with many variations coming in and out as time went on.
Later the revolution of synthetic fibres occurred. This became the front runner to our now familiar garden hose. The latest trends are occurring now toward lighter and stronger hoses with thinner but extremely strong walls.
Who would have thought we'd go from ox intestines to PVC?! Hoses have certainly come a long way...thank goodness!
What materials are used to make hoses?
Polyvinyl Chloride, otherwise known as PVC, is the third most widely used synthetic plastic polymer. It comes in both a rigid and flexible form; the flexible form is what you see most commonly use in hoses. Some hoses are reinforced with other materials such as wire to create more strength and durability. Other materials such as silicone, natural rubbers and even nylon are also used. To create the perfect hose for the job, a rigorous amount of testing is required, which is exactly what Owner and Founder of Hoselink, Tim Kierath, went through in order to design and perfect the Hoselink Hose.
What makes Hoselink Hoses special?
Over 20 years ago, founder Tim Kierath invented the Hoselink Hose Connectors you know and love today. From there, he naturally ventured into hoses. Specifically, hoses that would stand the test of time in the toughest of Aussie conditions, as well as never leak or burst. It was a long journey for Tim and his family, but what a worthwhile one as Hoselink continues to bring out innovative products like the hose fittings to make watering easier for Australians everywhere.
With several options available, Hoselink has a hose for everyone! Hoselink's most popular garden hose, the Superflex, has a 9/10 kink resistance rating as well as an 8-Year Warranty. It's the perfect solution if you are living in an area that is prone to frost or extreme heat, and, better yet, you get Hoselink's no leak, no burst fittings pre-fitted to the hose!
Hoselink's Superflex Hose has been tested up to 500psi in water pressure, guaranteeing strength and durability for years to come. Hoselink hoses have UV protection as well as abrasion resistance. So, it's safe to say we have come leaps and bounds since the 1600s!
How the Retractable Hose Reel came to be
Whilst the hose itself was a huge advancement all over the world that changed the way we water, the Hoselink Retractable Hose Reel would come to revolutionise watering as we knew it.
Fed up with tangles and the manual labour involved in having a loose hose, Owner and Founder Tim ventured into automatic retracting hoses. In 2010, the Retractable Hose Reel was born!
Today, Hoselink's Retractable Hose Reel has the ability to swivel 180 degrees, giving you the ultimate range of motion and flexibility while watering. It also has a ‘stop-anywhere’ automatic locking mechanism, once again giving you the freedom to stop and water wherever you like with ease. Once you have finished watering, a light tug on the reel will neatly layer the hose back inside the casing and there you have it! A tidy, fuss-free hose that takes all the effort out of watering the backyard.
You’ll be happy to know that gone are the days of the leather flexible hose first created in the 1600s! Today, Hoselink stocks two types of Retractable Hose Reel - the Hi-flow (14mm diameter) and standard (12mm diameter) reels in two colours designed to suit a wide range of homes. If you want an added layer of protection and vibrancy, you can try one of our Hose Reel Covers.
Not wanting to leave anyone out, Hoselink also went on to create a 10m Compact Hose Reel to accommodate smaller spaces that still wish to use a tidy and convenient hose solution. Our hoses and reels come in several different sizes, which make them ideal for any outdoor space, no matter how big, small, or uniquely shaped they may be!
The versatility of hoses today
Today we have dishwasher, washing machine and many other variations of hoses that assist us in using household appliances, mechanics of cars and other machinery. Yet the garden hose is still a must-have backyard staple in Australian homes.
Is there anything more Australian than your mum and dad getting the hose out on a hot day and letting the kids play and run wild to cool off? It’s a rite of passage! But seriously, our hoses are used for so many things, it's hard to imagine how anything got done back in the day. Today we wash and water our boats, cars, dogs, surfboards, wetsuits, kids, driveway, deck, garden, lawn, clothes and even horses and other wildlife. The possibilities are endless!
Hoses have proven to be incredibly important to Aussies all over the country, including Australian businesses. Whether they are used for washing cars, keeping our Australian flora hydrated, giving animals a convenient way to have a drink or be washed, there is no job to big or small for a Hoselink Hose.
Hoses have also been incredibly valuable to our understanding and education of water conservation. Did you know a leaking tap can waste up to 15,000 litres of water per year? Hoselink prides themselves on helping you save water by using high-quality products designed never to leak. Hoselink is an Australian-owned family business who has been striving to help make watering easier and create healthy habits when it comes to using hoses. Hoselink’s flow control lever featured on some of our sprayers and hose ends has been designed to prevent water wastage by allowing people to turn off the water flow without heading back to the tap. While convenience is absolutely a factor in this, environment is also at the forefront of our minds.
Hoselink is proud to create products that hold up to tough Australian conditions and help individuals' lives easier, more convenient and more water conscious.