Aspirator Vacuum Station (https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/equipment/aspirator.html)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/chemistry/equipment/aspirator.html)
(https://www.thevespiary.org/rhodium/Rhodium/hive/hiveboard/picproxie_docs/000475332-file_xlzc.jpg)
And this is a pdf page from a catalogue with various jet pumps:
http://www.geocities.com/wolfgang_boxhead/apps1027.pdf (http://www.geocities.com/wolfgang_boxhead/apps1027.pdf)
I haven't measured the pressure of the set-up yet but it sucks like a tart on Hugh Grant's organ.
I was thinking that if Yankees are using waterbed pumps that perhaps these are not as efficient as a laboratory pump and need more pressure and water flow to get a decent level of vacuum. I haven't managed to find a waterbed pump in the UK but then not as many Britons are sufficiently obese to require 10 hours a day lying in a flotation device.