Mr Hodren's Factory.

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 195, 19 December 1893, Page 2

Mr Hodren's Factory.

As the majority of people like to know how the good things of this life are produced, it may be of interest to see how Mr Walter Hodren, of the Standard Steam Aerated Water Works, fills " the cup that cheers and not inebriates," or gives us a "a cdoling draught for a sultry clime." An inspection of his premises shows scores of bottles of various shapes and sizes. The first thought that strikes the casual visitor is a desire to sample the contents of a bottle, and, being satisfied as to the excellence of these, the next query is, 11 How is it made ?" We will endeavor to describe this process by commencing with the gas, which is made in a simple machine known as a generator, in which the required ingredients are placed and the gas is generated. The gas passes from the generator and is conducted into a water tank, where it is purified by rising through the water into the gas-holder, and any particles of dirt which may be in, it are washed out by this means. From the holder it is led by a pipe to the aerating machine, wli3re it is mixed with filtered water, A pressure of from 601bs to SOlbs is re* quired to make all cordials, with the exception of soda water, which requires 1401bs. The aerating machine in this factory is by Messrs Hayward and Co., of London. From this machine the aerated water is led to the fillers by pipes, and in the bottling operation the essences, which are in separate'barrels according to the cordial required, arc mixed, Mr Hodren uses three fillers. One is known as the "cork bottling machine," by Barnett and Foster, London, with a glass syrup pump and silvered fittings, it being used for filling ordinary bottles. Another one, known as the " Paragon turnover filler,'* is by Dan Bylands Company, Limited, Man* Chester, and has just been imported. It is also fitted with a glass syrup pump and is used for filling the patent bottles with glass marble stoppers. The third is a tube filler by Homer and Barker, of Manchester. The bottles, having been filled, are placed in boxes ready for sending away. The water used by Mr Hodren is obtained from a well in which there is a never-failing spring. It is pumped from the well into a large barrel, in which is placed a filter filled with charcoal, and the water is forced up by a hydraulic power through the charcoal and then out into a receptacle which supplies the aerating machine, The filter is always cleansed before using by having water forced through it the reverse way, j»ad, periodically, steam is blown tlirough it. In all, Mr Hodren tarns out eight different kinds of aerated waters and eleven of syrups a large quantity of which he always has on hand. The machinery is driven by a two-horse power stationary vertical boiler and engine combined, made hv Mr IX Murray, ofWauganui. Attached Mhc main room is ft syrup room, wliero ail the syrup essences are stored, and it might be weutionetl that these are ail

filtered through charcoal previous to using. It is a noteworthy fact in connection with this establishment that Mr Hodren manufactures himself all the flavorings used by him, and this is the secret of the excellent quality of his beverages.