Title: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Wellington Provincial District]

Author: Cyclopedia Company Limited

Publication details: The Cyclopedia Company, Limited, 1897, Wellington

Part of: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand

License: Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 New Zealand Licence

Share:

Empire Steam Laundry (Grant and Co., proprietors), 51 Kent Terrace, Wellington. Telephone 637. Bankers, National Bank of New Zealand. This prominent establishment, which was founded in 1874, is said to be the oldest steam laundry in the Colony. The freehold premises comprise wood and iron buildings of one story and two stories in height, having some 7000 square feet of floorage space. In the engine-room a nine-horse-power horizontal engine with automatic adjustment is driven by a multitubular steel boiler of sixteen-horse-power. The various departments, which are admirably arranged, and fitted throughout with the electric light, include receiving and sorting, mangling, ironing, starching, and drying rooms. There are two wash-houses—having concrete floors—the one being set apart for handwork, while the other is fitted with four large washing machines, having a gross capacity equal to five hundred sheets or shirts per hour. Here also are two powerful hydro-extractors, which revolve at the rate of twelve hundred per minute, and are driven by separate steam engines, each of four-horse-power. In the mangling department there is a large ironing mangle, having steam-heated cylinders, and a powerful box mangle also driven by steam. There are three drying closets with a capacity of 150 shirts each, and a large brick drying-room, all heated by steam coils, the latter being capable of holding 1000 pieces. The ironing-room, which presents a busy scene, has a large pyramid stove which heats three dozen irons at once. As the accommodation is inadequate for the demands of the trade, large additions to the buildings and plant are contemplated. The Empire Steam Laundry, which employs a large number of hands, has a good hotel and family connection, two vans being engaged in collecting and delivering. The firm, who do the laundry work for the Huddart-Parker line of steamers, have done a great deal of work for the shipping companies, including the Shaw, Savill and Albion, and Union Steamship Companies.