New Premises for Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Auckland

Progress, Volume XIII, Issue 2, 1 October 1917, Page 33

New Premises for Messrs. Whitcombe and Tombs, Ltd., Auckland

Chilwell and Trcvithick, A.R.1.8.A., Architects The illustration shows a view of Messrs. "Whitcombe and Tombs Ltd's. new premises, from Queen Street and Durham Street corner. It is a five storey ruilding in reinforced concrete, Hanking the south side of Durham Street from Queen Street to High Street, a distance of 187 feet 4 inches, with a 33 feet frontage to Queen Street. The rise from Queen Street to High Street, following the line of Durham Street, is about 20 feet, which entailed a considerable amount of excavation for the shop, which runs through on Queen Street level to High Street wall, practically giving free access to the public from one end to the other, as shown in our illustration, it is well lighted for its whole length, that portion nearest High Street receiving top light from a side arcade for a distance of GO feet. A staircase in addition to the goods and passenger lifts leads up from shop to offices and packing room on first floor, the remainder of the first floor being allotted to tearoom, with a separate public and kitchen entrance from Durham Street to same. The factory entrance is from High Street, also cart dock and service to and from goods' lift, with parcel delivery from packing room, also strong room and lavatory mezzanine floors between cart dock and second floor.

The second and third floors are devoted to factory needs, such as folding, binding, litho., and machine work, with space for reserve stocks. The fourth floor is designed with subsidery beams and floor slabs reinforced in both directions to take heaviest floor load, for paper and bulk store with Queen Street end, top lighted for linotype and composing room, and High Street end devoted to dining rooms for the firm’s operatives. The factory is served with two enclosed staircases well lighted, and two lifts, one of each being continued to roof of building, which is flat, and designed to carry full working load equal to second or third floor.

Messrs. Fletcher Bros., Ltd., were the contractors, and associated with them are the following subcontractors: —A. and T. Burt, Ltd. (plumbing and electric lighting) ; L. Bater (plastering) ; Briscoe and Co., Ltd. (steel windows) ; Phillips and Impcy, Ltd. (glazing) ; M. J. Bennett and Co., Ltd. (painting) ; Wilson and Kelly, Ltd. (ironwork) ; Carrara Ceiling Co., Ltd. (fibrous plaster) ; Neuchatcl Asphalt Co., Ltd. (asphalt work) ; J. Bouskill (marble work) ; Faina Flooring Co. (floor covering) ; Redpath and Sons, Ltd. (“Rubline” floor covering) ; E. Bourne (tiling) ; C. and W. Hayward, Ltd. (fittings) ; Lamson Despatch Co., Ltd. (pneumatic cash tubes). The Electrical Construe-

tion Coy. supplied the two lifts installed, viz: One tor passenger use, which has full automatic control, a carrying capacity of 10 cwt., and a speed of 145 feet per minute, the other is a goods lift, with switch-in-car control, and carries 40 cwt. at a speed of 100 feet per minute. Both lifts serve the five floors. Messrs. Chilwell and Trevithick, A.R.1.8.A., were the architects.

being fitted with book shelves for part of its length, to height of plaque rail. On first floor there are five bedrooms, dressing room and bathroom, and sleeping balcony' with direct access to the two principal bedrooms. The walls, as seen from photograph, are rough cast picked out with a few encautic tiles, and stained kauri trim, and roof covered with slates,