THE COMING OF STEAM LAUNDRIES-1
One is likely to take the facilities offered by the Steam Laundry Company somewhat as a matter of course, and newcomers may imagine that the advent of sanitary public laundering is of comparatively recent date. This, however, is not the case: the first steam laundry came to the Colony a good many years ago, and the present concern is the fifth of its kind, with a history going back over a fairly long period.
Prior to 1864, the Colony was entirely dependent on the Chinese washermen, whose efforts, not always fully sanitary, were confined no doubt to such large pools as offered themselves, with convenient granite boulders nearby. Here, probably, we had the equivalent of the famed Eastern laundryman whose activities were summed up by an American visitor as "trying to split a rock with a shirt".
But in March, 1864, an effort was made to commence an up-to-date French laundry, where sanitary washing was the keynote! However, despite the persistent complaints there had been against the Chinese "dhobies" by residents, they failed to give the new venture adequate support, and the persistent opposition of the Chinese washermen prevailed: the project came to an untimely end.
Forb
The first steam laundry using the latest apparatus, and launched with every prospect of success, opened in January 1877. It met with fluctuating fortunes, however, and appears to have been moribund for several years.
In July 1883 the Hongkong Steam Laundry Company, Ltd., was formed to work a fresh venture, and by October that year the plans for its proposed building had been prepared and the machinery had been ordered. Ground for the site was purchased on the west side of Bowrington Canal. Yet, though there seemed every prospect of success, again public apathy - perhaps from reasons of economy - does not seem to have given the venture sufficient support, and perhaps the opposition of the established laundrymen had again something to do with its failure. Certainly we find no reference to it after a few years, and by the Nineties the hand-laundering establishments must have had a clear field.
Yet an effort seems to have been made to revive the concern, for a company with the same name - the Hongkong Steam Laundry Co., Ltd. - was registered in 1900, with works in Causeway Bay district. In this case, also, the venture met with insurmountable vicissitudes, and it was taken over by a new concern two years later.
So it was not until the close of 1902 that a Steam-Laundry Company, Ltd., came into existence, and its first annual meeting was held in December 1903. At the outset, the company seems to have enlisted Chinese support and co-operation.
Page 165
Page 166
THE COMING OF STEAM LAUNDRIES-1
One is likely to take the facilities offered by the Steam Laundry Company somewhat as a matter of course, and newcomers may imagine that the advent of sanitary public laundering is of comparatively recent date. This, however, is not the case: the first steam laundry came to the Colony a good many years ago, and the present concern is the fifth of its kind, with a history going back over a fairly long period.
Prior to 1864, the Colony was entirely dependent on the Chinese was hermen, whose efforts, not always fully sanitary, were confined no doubt to such large pools as offered themselves, with convenient granite boulders nearby. Here, probably, we had the equivalent of the famed Eastern laundryman whose activities were summed up by en Amer ic an visitor es "trying to split a rock with a shirt".
But in March, 1864, an effort was made to commence en up-to-date French leund ry, where sanitary washing was the keynote! However, despite the persistent complaints there had been against the Chinese "dhobies" by residents, they failed to give the new venture adequate support, and the persistent opposition of the Chinese washermen prevailed: the project came to an untimely end.
Forb
The first steam laundry using the latest apparatus, and launched with every prospect of success, opened in January ^. 1817. It met with fluctuating fortunes, however, and
appears to have been moribund for several years.
In July 1883 the Hongkong Steam Laundry Company, Ltd., was formed to work a fresh venture, and by October that year the plans for its proposed building had been prepared and the machinery had been ordered. Ground for the site was purchased on the west side of Bowrington Canal. Yet, though there seemed every prospect of success, again public apathy perhaps from reasons of economy - does not seem to have given the venture sufficient support, and perhaps the opposition of the established laundrymen had again some thing to do with its failure. Certainly we find no reference to it after a few years, and by the Nineties the hand-laundering establish- ments must have had a clear field,
Yet an effort seems to have been made to revive the concern, for a company with the same name the Hongkong Steam Laundry Co., Ltd. - was registered in 1900, with works in Causeway Bay district. In this case, also, the venture met with insurmountable vicissitudes, and it was teken over by a new concern two years later..
So it was not until the close of 1902 that a Steam- Laundry Company, Ltd., omme into existence, and its first annual meeting was held in December 1903. At the outset, the compeny seems to have enlisted Chinese 'support and co- operation.
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