1931-07-20 — Page 8

THE VAULT DOORS

BURGLAR-FIRE-EARTHQUAKE PROOF

INCLUDING THE

LARGEST

VAULT DOOR IN HONGKONG -WEIGHING APPROXIMATELY 8 TONS.

IN THE NEW

National City Bank Building

SUPPLIED AND INSTALLED

BY THE

SOLE AGENTS

Lane, Crawford, Ltd.

C. E. WARREN & CO., LTD.

CARRIED OUT THE

FOLLOWING WORK

AT THE NEW

NATIONAL CITY BANK BUILDING

Malkin Roman Art Mosaics in the

Banking Hall. Malkin Art Tile Dado on the Main Staircases. Terrazzo Flooring-Staircases and Lavatories.

Erection of the-

ITALIAN Marble anD BRONZE

CAPITALS.

THE WHOLE OF THE

STEEL Office furnITURE

In The New

NATIONAL CITY

BANK BUILDING

By The

THE HONGKONG

NEW NATIONAL CITY BANK.

HANDSOME NEW EDIFICE OPENED.

TELEGRAPH, MONDAY, JULY 20, 1931.

BUILDING DESCRIBED. Imposing Ionic Columns and Marble Interior,

to

The Imposing building ia Oasily one of the handsomest in the

Colony, the feature of the granite front being the massive Ionic columns and the large bronzo doors that open an Queen's Road Central. The build- Ing is

it The new home of the National a typically a bank, having that air of solidity City Bank of New York, situated usually associated with a sound In Queen's Road Central, which is financial house.

BIG CROWD PRESENT.

one of the most handsome and The prominent note In the attractive buildings in the City vestibule is the finish in Italian and a fine example of restrained marble. This marble also plays a modernism, was officially opened large part in the decoration

br. Shen a large crowd, scheme of the lofty banking

on

of patrone, brokera, chamber which occupies the whole representatives, etc., of the ground flour. Marble faced columns reach the 36 feet to the

attended a reception.

All were one in admiration of ceiling, and are surmounted the building, and Mr. F. McD. artistle bronze capitals brought Courtney, the genial manager, who from Italy, There Is further Istood at the entrance of the build-marble in the long counters that

personally to

to receive his cover a large portion of the gucati, was the

ing

Thearty on of many | ground floor, while there is more

These bronze in the tellers cages that were also extended by Mr. Douglas enclose some sections of the C. Jenkin, who, after the building counters, Two huge bronze had been thoroughly inspected by chandeliers suspended from the the visitors, proposed the toast of ceiling supply most of the light of the Bank and its manger. Mr. the banking hall. Courtney.

Only the basement. ground sad Mr. Jenkin said that he would mezzanine doors will be occupied ask them to join the American by the National City Bank. An commuulty in wishing the National automatic lift connects the ground City Bank prosperity in their new and mezzanine levels, while in home, and long life and happiness bullion It at the rear of

the

vault, a practically hermetically sealed room that is fire proof and, of course, burglar proof.

A

no

to Mr. Courtney, the manager. | premises runs between the three. The American community was Down in the basement is the proud of that building, which they owed to it great measure to Mr. Courines

mes in his energy and foresight.

WOR The bank

es massive steel door blocks the en- tablished for business purposes, | trance. This door which weighs and with the primary object of eight tons, is so balanced that making money, but with such it swings easily and needs great bank as the National City more strength than the ordinary Bank of New York, it also had door to open. In addition to lis Interest In the welfare of the

combination it has a time-lock country and of the prosperity of that prevents it being opened the whole world. The National exrept at the time set, City Burk would seek

An additional precaution to the money not only for itself, but the vault is that it stands isolated by Americans, their British friends, in two-feet passage all-round, and runxi all of their friends in by system of mirrors, the night- Hongkong. It was A Hongkong watchman peeping through institution, and would do its best for the community.

to earn

loophole in the wall, can command a view of every inch of the vault's four sides.

Happy Associations.

Entrance to the first and second Mr. Courtney, in reply, expressed floors is gained from Duddell thanks for the manner in which Street where a fast lift has been the toast had been proposed and installed. The first floor is to be received, and said he could assure accupied by Wilkinson and Grist, them that he specially appreciated the solicitors, while the American their kind wishes concerning the Consulate will be transferred from second future of the Bank. The National Ice House Street to the City Bank had now been going floor. for 120 years, and, as Mr. Jenkin Architects for the building were had said, Its object was not just to Messrs. Leigh and Orange. make money for itself, hut to

Office Furniture. promote trade all over the

World.

steel A complete set of new The Bank had been associated office furniture has been supplied with the Far East since 1902, by Messrs. Lane, Crawford, Ltd., when the International Banking this being the well-known Allsteel Corporation was formed, taking Products, manufactured by the over the branches of the Guaranty General Fireproofing Co. It in- Trust Company, which had since been absorbed by the National City Bank.

cludes all manner of desks, tables and trays and bookcases. The large vault doors, by the York All the time the Bank had been Safe and Lock Co., were also in operation in Ilongkong its supplied by the same local firm, Association with the other banka | the 10" rectangular door being the had been of the happiest nature, largest vault door in Hongkong. and on behalf of the National It is made up of five layers of City Bank of New York, he would steel, giving a maximum of pro- like to thank the community and tection against fire, earthquake the banks of Hongkong for their and burglary. This, together cordial co-operation.

General Fireproofing Co.

Typewriting Desks, Executive Desks, Standing Desks, Flat Desks, Tables, Letter Trays, Shelving, Waste, Paper Receptacles, Telephone Stands, Book Cases, etc.-

SUPPLIED BY THE

Sole Agents

Lane, Crawford, Ltd.

"with another large circular door, is operated by a pressure system that makes opening and closing a natter of case.

Art Mosaics.

Messrs. C. E. Warren & Co., Ltd., have been responsible for the Malkin Roman Art Mosaics, 80 effective in the Banking Hall, and also for the Malkin art dado tilea on the main staircase. The amo firm also supplied and laid the Terrazzo flooring on staircases and throughout the lavatories In addition, Warren's erected the Italian marble and bronze capitals Bronze Work.

The Bronze Railings round thu mezzanine floor and on the ground floor, and the Teller's Cages werd manufactured In Messrs. Dodwell & Company's workshop, to the Architect's design:

The Elevators

The building is equipped with two Otis Elevators, one for passenger service to all floors and uno for the Bank only, serving basement, ground and mezzanino floors.

The Passenger elevator operated during business hours by an attendant and at other times, by means of a change-over switch, an automatic push button machine.

The cage is mada nt pressed steel by the Tylor Com- pany, with the latest patent Otiz Safety Gate.

This Elavatar is installed in the stairwell and tho ornamental wrought iron enclosure was made in Mosers. Dodwell & Company's own workshop to the Architects own design.

The Elevator is capable of carrying.5 passengers at a spoed of 200 F.P.M. when operated by and 100 F.P.M.

an attendstched over to the

when it is automatic control,

The Elevator in the Bank, known as the Bullion Elevator, is automatically self-levelling, and this is essential on account of the heavily laden rucks which will be wheeled in and out of the cage. This self-levelling device auto- matically comes into operation Fonce the attendant, or In this

(Continued on Page 9.) "me

THE NATIONAL

CITY BANK

BUILDING

THIS BUILDING IS

EQUIPPED WITH

OTIS ELEVATORS

SUPPLIED, ERECTED

AND MAINTAINED

BY

DOWELL & COMPANY, Ltd.

LONDON

TELEGRAPHIC ADDRESS

**DODWELL. HONGKONG.

-HONGKONG

HEATING and HOT WATER

INSTALLATION.

LATEST TYPE RADIATORS ON ALL FLOORS. HEAT GENERATED BY !*RAY" OIL BURNERS.

W. S. Ray Manufacturing Co.

COMPLETE SANITARY EQUIPMENT

INCLUDING PUMPING INSTALLATION.

W. S. Ray Manufacturing Co.

LIGHTING FIXTURES and FANS

Westinghouse Electric International Co.

IN THE NEW

National City Bank

BY

Building

REISS, MASSEY & CO., LTD.

Sole Agents for the above Specialised Equipment: