Disclaimer: All of the Harry Potter universe belongs to JKR, even the Firebolts. Pity, I could have used one.
August 1993
Breaking News: New Racing Broom Finally Released
Finally the newest addition to the market for racing brooms has been released.
As rumours of a new racing broom were heard (please contact our archive for "Unbased Rumours Try to Unseat Nimbus Company"), the main producers of high-class broomsticks did their best to ignore those, claiming there was no such a broom in development. Now they can't deny their new business rivals any longer.
Although officially it's only a prototype released by broom maker Randolph Spudmore, his invention is already one of the most talked about new brooms. The Firebolt came into shops like a bolt of lightning, unannounced and unstoppable. With the Firebolt easily surpassing all competition, the Nimbus Company now has to try harder than they ever had to in order to hold costumers.
The Firebolt achieved an acceleration of zero to one hundred and fifty miles per hour in under ten seconds, the best score the racing broom market has to offer. Safety test have also proven that marketing claims are indeed true and not a fraud as competitors like to claim (for full coverage about those, see "The Shameful Attempts to Prevent the Firebolt" in our next issue). The unbreakable Braking Charms are actually unbreakable, unlike the Braking Charms on most other brooms. The balance is superb, the precision is the highest ever achieved and as a plus, the Firebolt hovers in mid-air when released, an effect almost sure to be a new standard introduced. In addition, the broom is supposed to be unbreakable from bludgers, an important factor for Quidditch teams both local and national.
The handle is made of ebony, the only feature designed mainly for show as ebony as a broom material is thought to be withstanding and enduring, but not more than other woods as well. The twigs however, are always tailored to costumer preference. The Firebolt comes with either birch or hazel, those two widely believed to be the best woods for broom tails.
The true novelty about this broom is not the woods used or the charms, it is the metal work. Until now, broom production and innovation has only focused on the woods and charms employed in producing the brooms, and neglecting the development possible in the metal work. Being the only broom maker who did pay attention to this mistake, Randolph Spudmore now has a definite first mover advantage. He uses goblin wrought metal work to manufacture the foot stands and other various aspects. How he persuaded the goblins to work for him remains a mystery though. A minor new detail is also the numbered plaque on each broom, indicating the low numbers produced.
Being such an outstanding broom, the Firebolt has achieved instant popularity, especially among professional Quidditch players. It is rumoured that the Irish national team has ordered a set for their team, this has yet to be confirmed. Should this prove true, sales are sure to rise like a comet. The production will probably be unable to fulfil those predicted sales as the goblins involved in the manufacturing process are prone to strikes and the remaining production is done almost entirely by hand, making the Firebolt a real advantage to those than can secure one.
However, professional Quidditch players are likely to remain one of the few able to purchase a Firebolt, as due to the difficulties in the production process and the limited number of brooms produced make the price the highest yet in the racing brooms market.
All the same, the Firebolt has set new standards and the Nimbus Company will have to watch out not to fall behind.