MANUFACTURE OF BROOMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13494, 22 May 1907, Page 8

MANUFACTURE OF BROOMS.

Op the many local industries exhibited at the Winter Show, perhaps one of the most interesting is that of, the manufacture of the Corn, Hair, and Bass Brooms, which are the specialty of the Kapai Corn Broom Co., Ltd., whose factory .is at the corner of Victoria and Coburg Streets, This firm holds .the proud position of j being the Sneer of the corn broom and brushware industry in the colony, and was established b7 U the late Mr.. Thos. J. Harbutt, m the y After some years of strenuous -work, fighting the prejudice then existing against local manufactures, Mr. Harbutt specialised : ; in the American Corn, Broom department, with most successful, results, for the, wellknown "Kapai" ••brand of • corn ; broom is now. used from north to south and east to .west of New Zealand. So well received, fUhdecdv':: is" this .brand, that, it '■ hasfpraetiS- stopped the sate article; and is accepted as the standard: for ■ thecolony. ', .■ "'-'■•;. ." ■ , : ; .L ' ■" ; This, firm holds , diplomas of merit presented at tho following Exhibitions:-The English ' and: Colonial (London), the Melbourne International, South .Sea, ■ Islands (Dunedin), Wellington, ;Auckland,, and ..the < recent New.; Zealand International. (Christ- ' church); V. every case, receiving the highest awards in their class, Binding ot lato years that the local, brush factories were unable to cope with tho growing demands of the trade, the " Kapai Corn Broom I Company decided to re-enter; and cater for these lines. Accordingly they had a portion of their new premises fitted up with the -latest plant; and machinery for the production of, all- kinds of Hair and Bass Brooms, etc. ' . ; Some three years ago. the whole of their factory was reorganised and refitted, with some of .the very latest and, most improved' broom machinery procurable In the United States, and an inspection of these works is - well worth the time so spent. The writer was 'most willingly shown over the premises by the. managing , director, Mr. Sydney J. Harbutt, son of the originator of the Kapai Company, and tho various processes in the development of the finished corn broom were, fully explained. The bales of corn are imported chiefly from the Richmond and. Hunter Rivers, New South Wales, and the first handling is to sort the corn into some 12 different, grades, both as regards quality and length of! stalk. It is then dipped into a tank of water, and also coloured in different shades, according to requirements; then placed in a bleaching room, in which sulphur, is burnt. It remains here over-night, this process, rendering . it soft and pliable by the 1 morning. The broom-handles are locally turned out of white pine, and. aro sized and stained, a handy machine; being employed to print the various coloured brands on same, after which they receive a coat of varnish. So expert are the hands employed that some two thousand handles can bo completed in the day by one man. These handles now .are brought to the winding-room, where a number of men are busy binding the corn around, by means of special machinery, with stout wire, subject to a hoavy strain. This /accomplished, the broom is passed to the sewing machine, a■- most -'* formidable-looking ' affair, in tho centre of which the broom is firmly held, and a needle on cither side passes alternately through the corn, binding it securely. The capacity of this machine averages 30 dozen per day, although a record of 50 dozen has been reached in an emergency. .At this stage the .finishing touches are quickly applied, consisting of passing the corn through a scutcher for removing the seed arid any loose • straws. Then ; a 1 machine trims the business end to the rej quired length. The brooms are now taken by means of an elevator to the top ; floor of the factory, where they arc labelled and placed in high stacks.to thoroughly dry before being packed in bales of' 12 ■ dozen for shipment, or in smaller quantities for the local market. At this particular time a shipment of 150 dozen was being prepared for the Southern boat. Some nine, grades of corn brooms are manufactured, and a variety of hand whisks and toy brooms for; children. \ < . Practically none but skilled labour is employed, and one man stated this was his twenty-sixth year with the present firm, and others have been 12, 15, and 20 years in this factory. In another department the production is undertaken of Bristle and Hair Brooms, and the recent establishment of the dairy factories has caused this company to make special designs of brushes \ to suit the requirements of these' factories in fact, the Kapai Company go so far as to submit to the _ various trades, etc.! a variety of special designs, and are not satisfied until they have made that particular brush for their customers which will be satisfactory. In twisted wire brushes they have those necessary for cleaning separator tubes, and peculiar shapes for use by mechanics generally. The Eleotric Tramways Company requiring an unusual bass brush for cleaning the points, have been suited by this firm, and numerous other similar cases could be cited. - -.-;.■'' :■ „ The Kapai Corn Broom Co. are the largest manufacturers of all classes in their line, and supply only the wholesale trade of the colony. _ , A large ; stock •of general brushware, twines, and paper bags was also in evidence, and the Company are sole wholesale agents in the colonies for the well-known modelling clay "Plasticine," which is so generally in use 'in all our schools.