NELSON LAUNDRY, LTD.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1372, 24 February 1912, Page 16

NELSON LAUNDRY, LTD.

AN ENTEnPRISINC CONCERN. WHAT AN lIP-TO-DATF, LAUNDRY FLANT IS LIKE. Tlio Nelson Laundry, Limited, whoso handsome factory building and oHlcos are photographically reproduced in this issue, is ono of the most modern establishments or its kind in Now Zealand. .Started on now lines, with a now building and' the most up-to-date and labour-saving niachinery, tlio coiujianv haii just: finished its first half-yearly run, and the report received leave* no" doubt as to the success of the business. The output has greatly incrocd since the company commenced operations, and the greatest satisfaction has been expressed by as to the work turned out. Indeed it is only fair to state as a Tribute to capable supervision and modern machinery methods that (lie ironed linen is probably not excelled by any other New Zealand laundry factory for glossiness and finish. The'factory'building, which measures 70 feet by 40 feet, is situated in Wiumcn Street in a most convenient town position which 'enables prompt collection of articles and quick distribution. Tho' linen is brought in first to a receiving room, where it is sorted and placed in the rotary washing machines of which there are three. These machines rivo each load of linen two boils and four rinses. The. clothes are then placed in a hydroextractor, which is a sort of diving machine similar in. principle to that used at fellmongerv works lor _ drying sheep-skins. The machine is circular in shape and whirls round nt a tremendous rate, the momentum pressing the linen against its sides and squeezing out Die water. The small articles are thou placed in a drying-room on

moveable, upright drawers fitted on rollers, for quick handling. Tablecloths, sheets, and similar articles of siz6 are' 'pufrit.liTough- -n--ste»m>-colander, •audvaroironcd and dried in the one passage through tho machine. H is worthy of note that when landed, some'seven months ago, this steam colander Was tho first of its kind introduced to New Zealand. It possesses h' two-speed- gear, with a reversible motion, which, enables the operators in tho event of creases appearing in the articles to turn them back and smooth them out before finally passing them light through tho machine. Four girls operate on this machine, and, finger-guards make it impcssible for them to place their fingers between the heavy rollers. Linen which requires to bo starched, such as shirts and collars, passes first through tho bar-rell-stardher, thenco to tho mechanicallyheated rotary culf and collar ironers, which aro hollow cylinders similar to tlioso used on printing presses. Tho linen is first blocked out, thon placed in a similar machine and glazed, the collars being curled in another contrivance. All fancy articles of ladies' lingerie, etc., aro ironed by. hand, and attended to with sciupubus care. Washing and ironing finished, tho goods aro then aired in an airing room, and then parcelled up and forwarded to customers. The whole of tho machinery is driven by a 20 horsepower engine. Thero is an abundant supply of water, and tho factory is fitted with every convenience. In addition to laundry work, the company do dyeing and cleaning, and already are doing a good deal of business in this line. The manager of tho company is Mr. F. 0. Helliwcll, who possesses very extensive English experience, and under whoso supervision the business is in. a most flourishing condition.