BLACKHEAD. (9)
50
GERMAN PIONEER MERCHANT
2
CONTINUATION
ILLUSTRATED
The founding in 1855 of the firm of Blackhead and Co. by B. Scharzkopf was described yesterday. Up to an early part of the present century the firm had a hulk moored in the harbour, with a most interesting history, and also ran the Colony's only soap works which however failed.
The S. C. M. Post of March 1, 1905 stated :
The question is often asked by visitors: What is that peculiar looking hulk with the big red hand on its sides? The answer should be that it is the remains of the Norwegian sailing vessel Botvid, renamed the Jay, which, many years ago, left Hongkong with a general cargo for America. During a typhoon off the coast of Hainan her masts went overboard and at the mercy of wind and wave she was driven ashore. Help was sent down to her from Hongkong on behalf of the insurance company, in form of a steamer belonging to Blackhead and Co. She was refloated and successfully towed to Hongkong where her owners put her hulk up for auction and the successful bidders were her present owners.
She was fitted up for storage purposes. A 'tween deck was fitted into her and on this the firm erected a sailmaker's loft. Here is carried on the only European sailmaking industry at present in the Colony. Sailmaking is really a misnomer, for the bulk of the work is for making awnings, and though the windjammer is seldom seen in these waters now, the occupation of the sailmaker is still as brisk as ever it was. The red hand represents the world-renowned "Red Hand Brand" of composition for the bottoms of iron ships for which F. Blackhead and Co. are sole agents in Hongkong.
In the soap works (at Shaukiwan) the firm manufacture soft water soap, salt water soap, toilet soap, soda-crystals, caustic, carbonate of soda, disinfectants, potash - indeed everything in this line that is required for domestic, technical and ships' use and they have a market for their products throughout the East. The factory is fitted up with modern appliances.
It was established early in the 90's but since then it has been considerably extended. The diversion of the road led to the reclamation of the foreshore and now the firm has ample room to further extend the factory if necessary, and develop any new product that they might have in view.
BLACKHEAD. (9)
50
GERMAN PIONEER MERCHANT
2
CONTINUATION
ILLUSTRATED
The founding in 1855 ) of the firm of Blackhead and Co. by B. Scharzkopf was described yesterday. Up to an early part of the present century the frim had a hulk moored in the harbour, with a most interesting history, and also ran the Colony's only soap works which however failed. the S. C. M. Post of March 1, 1905 stated :
# The question is often asked by visitors: What is that peculiar looking hulk with the big red hand on its sides ? The answer should be that it is the remains of the Norwegian/Jay, which, many years ago, left Hongkong
sailing vessel Botvid, renamed the
with a general cargo for America. During a typhoon off the coast of Hainan her masts went overboard and at the mercy of wind and wave she was driven ashorę. help Vas sent down to her from Hongkong on behalf of the in- rance company, in form of a steamer belonging to Blackhead and Co., She was refloated and successfully towed to Hongkong where her owners put her hulk up for auction and the successful bidders were her present owners.
" She was fitted up for storage purposes.
A 'tween deck was fitted into her and on this the firm erected a sailmaker's loft. Here is carried on the only European sailamking industry at present in the Colony. Sailmaking is really a misnomer, for the bulk of the work is for making awnings, and though the windjammer is seldom seen in these waters now, the occupation of the sailma ker is still as brisk as ever it was. The red hand re- presents the workd-renowned " Red Hand sents-the-world braneh Brand" of composition for the bottoms of iron ships for which F. Blackhead and Co. are sole agents in Hongkong.
"In the soap works ( at Shaukiwan) the firm ma- nufacture soft water soap. salt water soap, toilet soap soda-crystals, caustic, carbonate of soda, disinfectantts potash indeed everything in this line that is r equired for domestic, technical and ships use and they have a market for their products throughout the East. factory is fitted up with modern appliances.
The
" It was established early in the 90's but since then it has been considerably extended. The diversion of the road led to the reclamation of the foreshore and now the firm has ample room to further extend the factory if necessary, and develop any new product that they might have in view.
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