Laundry Machinery For The Colonies.

Hokitika Guardian, 18 September 1920, Page 4

Laundry Machinery For The Colonies.

(From a London Publication)

The demand for all classes of laundry machinery from the Colonies, which was first manifested about ten years ago, has steadily increased, though the war period naturally gave rise to a lull in tho export of this type of machinery, duo to the fact that the majority of the firms engaged in its manufacture were controlled by the Government and engaged in the manufacture of some production of greater national importance. With the signing of the armistice an improvement in shipping facilities, the demand is now remarkably keen and looks like developing into a steady export trade. In the great city hospitals and infirm aries of this country the steam laundry has always been regarded as a unit of the utmost hygienic importance, and consequently the equipment in any of the large public institutions is thoroughly efficient in all departments and costs many thousands of pounds. The power drivcn-machines arc of large size, capable of washing, say 100 'bedshccts at one load, which at six loads per day means that one machine will wash 600 sheets per day. Now as a modern hospital plant will include as many as six washing machines, it will be seen that the amount of labour saved in washing such a mass of linen by power is enormous. Then in the drying chambers we now find a drying arrangement of moving conveyors in which the goods being dried pass through a stefim-heated wooden house, and are delivered at the opposite end ready for ironing and finishing. This is known as the conveyor dry-room system, and is much quicker than the older method of hanging up on horses. In the ironing room our modern hospital laundry plants often include a massive machine with six or eight large drying and ironing cyolinders, which carry out the combned process of drying and iron ing, and will absorb four or five thousand pieces a day, including a large percentage of bedsheets, quilts, arid heavy articles of a like nature.. A machine of this type will weigh as much ns 12 tons, and costs a large sum of money—but it is worth the cost. When you come to think of the labour ‘which would be involved in handling the continually flowing volume of- work from the wards of a hospital containing say, 1,500 beds, by any other means than by modern machinery, it will be recognised that mechanical genius could not bo better employed than in designing and evolving new methods of still decreasing this labour. Then again, in Great Britain tho public wash-houses are far in advance of those in any other country both in regard to accommodation and equipment. In this connection, however, the fact is not lbst sight of that the problem of housing and the providing of proper conveniences for doing the family washing at home is more acute than ill the case abroad. The flat or tenement substem especially in Scotland has rendered the providing of municipal •wash-houses an absolute necessity. In the city of Dundee some very fine examples of modern wash houses arc in daily operation, including splendidly equipped washing stalls and power extractors. Even more advanced schemes are in contemplation whereby the hand Washing will be abolished altogether, and all the work will he done by power 1 at a nominal charge.

In Australia and New Zealand, and also in South Africa, the hospital laiundi J y in the majority of cases is a more primitive affair than it is in this country, but there is a move on at present to bring these institutions more into line with British institution practice. In Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Wellington and Christchurch ,there are quite a number of first-class hospital laundries, and several schemes of reconstruction are inf progress.. South Africa is quite as far advanced, but in ’ India native labour is still largely used instead of power machinery. Indications', however, point to the fact that in all our Dominions overseas, laundry machinery is being rapidly introduced, not only into public institutions, but for commercial purposes as well. The steam laundry, if well equipped and managed, has always been a paying enterprise in Great Britain, and wherever there are Europeans resident abroad they always prefer to have their washing done by machinery than by hand, as it- means less handling, and incidentally is not detrimental to the linen. For the benefit of public institution authorities abroad who may have the subject of a steaiii laundry under consideration, it might bo permissible to give here a few practical suggestions regarding modern practice on this side. In the first place, have the steam boiler large enough to permit of easy and economical firing. With a small boiler working up to its full capacity, t It means a big fuel bill for a tively small return, as tlie bulk of the heat goes up the c hininey. For the laundry alone the Cornish boiler fiorn 10 to 20 nominal horsepower is required and where kitchen apparatus and heating of corridors is drawn from the same source, it must he larger still. Never attempt to economise in the size and cost of the boiler, as it is a false stop which costs a big sum and endless worry to remedy. Where possible divide up the departments of tho laundry into units, and drive by separate electric motors.

Machines suitable for independent driving are the hydro extractors, ventilating and hot air fans, calenders of all kinds, gas compressors, body ironers and collar plant. Let your metal washing machines be of large size, preferably long, divded into two compartments and double geared. One big machine giving plenty of space for the clothes to tumble about is worth three small ones and will pay in the end. Do not under any circumstances put in wooden machines, as they last no time, and are not sanitary. For hospital use there is a foul linen machine for dealing separately with tliis class of goods or for the treatment of any articles coming from the beds of infectious disease patients. Install a good hydro extractor, not less than 30in diameter basket, and drive it direct with a motor. Allow about 50 per cent margin of power in tho motor, as this machine starts m> under heavy “torque”.- For drying the latest practice is the continuous drying chamber with a conveyor and ventilating and circulating fan. In ironing and finishing machinery there has boon a big advance in mechanical ideas during

the last few years. The main object aimed at is output, which, with the multi-cylinder machine, has reached a high lovei. One machine operating in several London hospitals dries and finishes 5,000 pieces of good size per day

Machines of this typo will take the heaviest bed sheets or quilts direct from the hydro extractor and iron, dry, and finish them in one passage through the .roUbrs. No hanging up in the dry. room is necessary. Tho important point in those large machines is the saving in labour, which in the central idea hi all the latest laundry machines designed within recent years. With, a big machine the output, compared with a. small machine, is increased three, four or as much as six-fold, and the actual labour is not increased more than 33) to 50 per cent. For example, a two roller calender ■ ironing and finishing, say 50 sheets per hour,' requires four girls to attend to it, whereas a six-roller machine of the latest typo, with two big ntiqng rolls underneath, requires- no more than six girls, and turns out from 3 to 400 sheets per hour. . The writer, who has handled laundrv schemes for hospitals, infirmaries, asylums, commercial laundries, etc., all over tho world, will he glad to act : s consultant for overseas authorities and furnish particulars of Die best machines and lay-out plans. It will be good news to many that curtains may nonbo cleaned at home by using Kenworthy’s newly-invented “Handy” Curtain Frame clothes drier, airer and draught screen. Particulars can be had on application to E. N. Kenworthy and Co Alpha. Works, Townfield, Oldham, whose specialities also include the “Paragon” washing machine, the “Equipoise” wringer and ipangle, and the “Canadian” washer. [

The finely produced catalogue of modern laundry machinery issued by Janies 'Ritchie, Glenavon . Engineering Works, Patrick, Glasgow, includes every im aginable demand and gives prominence to the firm’s pressure washing machines. Those are made to suit varied Requirements and can be made in compartments to suit the convenience of users Any of the firm’s standard washing machines (pressure or noil-pressure) can he fitted with two speed gears. This is a distinct advantage when finery or flannels are being washed, ns the speed of machine can be altered at will of operator. All types of gas, or high pres sure air and gas are produced, the weights of the irons ranging from Gibs to 281bs.