THE TINWARE COMPANY’S FACTORY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 17

THE TINWARE COMPANY’S FACTORY.

§? ' [by otjr special reporter.]

Manufactories are always interesting objects of inspection. The processes through which an article goes, whether that article be a brick, wool, or a water pot, are not only interesting—they are instructive in no small degree. During the last few years many factories have been born in Wellington, and are now in full swing ; and to one of them—the New Zealand Tinware Company’s, at the corner of Waring Taylor and Feathenstonstreets—l paid a visit yesterday. This factory has been established now for some years, and it has gone ahead to such an extent that it is now one of the principal local industries in the city, employing a large number of hands, and turning outwork which is equal, if not superior to the imported article. In a large room at the rear of the front shed large quantities of the raw material —block iron and sheets of tin —are stored. It is of block iron that the greater number of baths and similar articles, which must be specially Bburdy and strong, are made. The material is duly hammered and curved and fashioned into the desired shape, and then the bath (or whatever the article may be) is pickled. That is to say it is placed in large lead tanks and soaked in some sort of acids. Having been duly “ pickled,” the article ia takep to the galvanising pot. This pot is a large one containing, apparently, molten zinc. All round and underneath the pot fires are kept constantly burning, and the presiding genius here is a man who continually stirs up the zinc, and “keeps the pot boiling. ” He brings in from the pickling room a block iron lid, black, smoky and dingy. He seizeß the lid with a pair of tongs : holds it up for a moment, as if he were reflecting npon the mutability of appearances, and then dips it. A moment later he lifts the lid out again, dips it into water, and then, holding it up, Bhows you that the lid is a bright tin color, and that its face has that sheeny appearance that you see on galvanised metal. So much for the galvanised block iron. Now the article having been gal-

vanised may require further adornment, and in that case it goes upstairs to the japanning room. Thiß department is especially worthy of comment, for the work done in it is really very fine. It is under the charge of Mr Jevons. Here trunks are japanned, etc., and the work of gilding, graining, and writing is done. In the shop downstairs, there are a number of articles which have hadtheir outside coats put on in the japanning room, and the ornamentation is in every case ohoice in design and capitally executed. Recently, it may be mentioned, Messrs Cameron and Plimmer have received a number of sewing machines fvom a local establishment to be japannedo In this part of the factory a specialty ia *- the U.S.S. steel travelling trunk.” This is a trunk made of steel, nicely finished, &c., apparently a durable and useful article, which will'no doubt become popula/r. The tin work is distinct from that in block iron. The article made of tin is, when it is made, taken upstairs to a polishing 'oom, where a bright face iB put upon it. Then it is taken to the papering and labelling room, where the articles are packed for the market. There are to be found all sorts of utensils In tinwarebillies, teapots, buckets, coffee pots, measures, pannikins, kettles, candlesticks, watering pots, and others which, like the extras in an auctioneer’s advertisement, are “too numerous to particularise.” Messrs Cameron and Plimmer do not confine themselves to the manufacture of articles ; they also Invent and manufacture on their own designs. One of this class is the strapped side bucket, which has a galvanised iron rim, and looks strong enough to kick. Toilet requisites in variety of make and shape and color, are also displayed here. The patent milk strainer is ian invention which Messrs Cameron and Plimmer have patented, and its virtue is that the strainer can be taken out at will and cleaned, and replaced when worn out. In the strainers generally used, the netting is not movable, and consequently, when it wears out, the strainer’s occupation is gone. The manufacture of milk-coolers is also a specialty with the Company. Large numbers of meat-tins are made at the factory for the preserving companies, and machinery for stamping, pressing, &c., is to be seen upstairs. Biscuit and lollie-tins are made in great variety. In fact, everything that can be constructed of tin and iron and zinc is turned out in this factory. Apart from the departments already mentioned, other appliances are necessary ; and a blacksmith’s forge, the bellows of which are worked by waterpower, has recently been added in the yard. Large quantities of small accessories, which would be called “ fixings ” in America, are kept in stock, as well as articles of a more complete and costly nature, .on sale. The show-room, or' shop, downstairs, is stocked with articles of various kinds, such as baths, chandeliers, &c., of which only such as could not be made in the Colony have been imported. The number of hands employed in this factory range from 25 to 30, Mr Evans, as foreman, having control over the factory. The proprietors, Messrs Cameron and Plimmer, are to be complimented on the success which has deservedly attended their enterprise, for the factory is well patronised in and outside of Wellington.