MONEY FOR CLOTHES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 12

MONEY FOR CLOTHES

LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY HOW IT MAY BE DONE NEW METHOD OF RENOVATING CARPETS. (Published by Arrangement.) The cost of living may be coming down, and so may be the price of clothes, but wearing apparel, that which goes to make the “oompleat man” —or woman—has not yet descended to that value-level which can be truly described as being "within the reach of all.” People must have clothes, but by all accounts they are not going to tailors and clothing factories to buy them as was their wont before the war. Clothing factories are said to be working short time, and some are considering the question of stopping their machinery altogether, simply because there is a poor demand for the finished products. The reason for this is not far to seek. High prices have ruled for eo long, and the means of meeting those prices have so far receded, that the public has been forced to exercise that virtue which statesmen, politicians, and divers classes of public men have been exhorting us to practise for many a long day now —Economy. Instead of buying new suits or costumes people have their old garments cleaned and pressed, and thus tliZy save money. In so far as economy in clothes is concerned there is one company in Wellington that is, and has for some time been, doing a useful public service, and that is the Victoria Laundry Company, Ltd., 88-98 Hanson Street (telephones 448 and 613). In its dry-cleaning department this firm undertakes the cleaning and renovation of all kinds of clothing, and its business is beginning to boom. Less than six months ago the dry-cleaning branch would "do up” about a dozen suits a TO k-now it handles somewhere between 40(1 and 590! So vastly has the business increased that the firm has added another two-story brick building to its existing premises, and has had to augment to a considerable extent its staff of experienced dry-cleaning experts and repairers. The firm has also extended its operations to the cleaning of carpets, and a complete set of the latest machinery has 'been installed for this purpose. Carpetbeating is not a favourite occupation with most people, and to those who regard it as their pet aversion the news that the Victoria Laundry Company hasembarked upon the undertaking of cleaning carpets should be more than welcome. A firm which shows such commendable enterprise in assisting in the saving of unnecessary labour deserves the utmost support that can be accorded it, and there is little doubt that the public will be quick to seize upon the opportunity of exhibiting its gratification. A representative of The Dominion paid a visit to the Victoria Laundry Company’s dry-cleaning establishment yester- ■ day .and saw for himself that the thor--rugh cleaning of carpets is done by a staff of experts, and no matter what the size or value of the carpets, the work is done par excellence. All old-style methods of cleaning carpets have been discarded entirely, the work being done by a combination of vacuum .and dry-clean-ing processes. Each carpet is first of all treated in such a way that every particle of dirt becomes loosened, and then by the application of vacuum methods the particles are all removed. Next the carpet is subjected to a two-hours’ wash in petrol, which absolutely removes ah stains, and after being dried and dexterously handled by the experts of the department it appears as if it had just come from the manufacturer’s loom. Anyone Who desires that their carpets should be made bright-looking and fresh should ring telephones 613 or 448, whereupon a van will be dispatched for them, and after they have been brought to practically a new state will be returned to the owner’s address. Clothes and carpets are not the only thing that the dry-cleaning department of the Victoria Laundry Company handles, for gloves, hats, curtains, tablecovers, and many other articles are dealt with. The department is under the personal supervision of an expert, Mr. W. Wills, who has had some thirty vears’ experience in the drycleaning business, which alone should be a sufficient recommendation, ia the firm’s behalf. Whatever the n-oods received, they are treated in most finished style, the utmost care being shown in every case. For articles of fin© texture, a small dry-cleaning machine is available, and this should be pleasing news to ladies. Clothing, whether suits or costumes, is dealt with in such a way that it retains the qualities it possessed when it first entered the works. When goods come to hand they are sorted into their different colours, and are afterwards placed in a benzine cleaner, a cylindrical machine, which is filled with benzine from a tank, sealed up, and then revolved at moderate speed, for two hours. This entirely loosens all the. dirt and grease. Afterwards, the articles are passed through a benzine extractor, a machine which is perforated with holes around its sides, and’ which is revolved at a high rate for some minutes. All the benzine having been extracted from the materials, the benzine inns back into a tank, being redistilled before being used again, and thus being made purer, if anything, than what it was before. The goods are subsequently placed for twenty minutes in another large cylindrical machine called a dust wheel, which is superheated by steam coils, and which travels round at moderate speed. As the clothes dry the small particles of dust are extracted by an agitating motion, and, being drawn through a pipe- by an electric fan, are dissipated into the open air. By being put through this machine every suggestion of the smell of benzine is withdrawn from the articles, and they come out beautifully clean and whole- >

some-looking, and appear as if brand new. It matters not how delicate the articles may be, they- are not subject to shrinkage by any of the processes employed, and, as stated Before, the quality- is in no way impaired. From the dry-cleaning department the goods pass to the pressing department, where, after being pressed by one of the most modern systems, they- come out looking as if they- had just left the maker’s hands. One feature of thc Victoria Laundry Company’s ramifications which should not be overlooked is the clothes-repair-ing department. This is situated on the top floor of the new building, and a staff of over half-a-dozen is fully- employed. All garments that come to be dry-clean-ed, after being put through the cleansing process, are very carefully exam-, ined, and if there is only the slightest ’bit wanted in the way of repair, they are at once sent to the -epair-room, where the necessary- work is performed neatly and efficiently. After this comes the pressing, and the clothes once more look spick and span. Hat-renovating and blocking is another branch of the work undertaken, and it practically amounts to manufacturing the hat over again. The expert in charge has had a life-long experience, the work done is first-class, and the cost nothing more than a trifle. The Victoria laundry Company’s depots, at which articles for cleaning or repair may be left, are situated at 12 Molesworth Street; 133 Willis Street, Vivian Street 'just round corner from Cuba Street); 10 Kent Terrace; 4 Rin foul Street, Rona Bay (end of wharf); Terminus, Seatoun; Northland store. Should it not lw convenient to deposit goods at these places, one may ring telephone 613 or 448 and a van will call for them. Country- visitors to Wellington are invited to inspect the laundry- and cleaning works, which are probably the largest of their kind in Australasia. They will be shown over tho works by the management, who will cordially welcome their attendance at any time.'