HANNAH'S BOOT FACTORY.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1189, 14 December 1894, Page 30

HANNAH'S BOOT FACTORY.

It would be difficult to find a better example of the activity and enterprise of the Wellington man of business than the boot factory erected by Messrs R. Hannah and Co., boot manufacturers, between Lambton quay and the Terrace. The necessity of a central site is, of course, apparent in a business of this character, but to place it in such a position shows an amount of enterprise which reflects the greatest credit on the firm, more especially when the difficulties encountered in its erection are taken into consideration. The plans for the building* were prepared by Mr Thos. Turnbull, architect, and tenders were invited in due course, but in spite of an extension of time being granted, on the final day of closing no tenders had come to hand. Under these circumstances Mr Hannah came to an arrangement with the architect that they should do the work between them on the basis of the estimate which had been drawn out, Mr Turnbull to undertake the task of superintending the erection of the factory. This was done, the result being a building which from its position is unique in Hew Zealand, and affords a splendid, example of what can be effected by pluck and enterprise. The sub-contractors were : bricklaying, Mr Biggs; carpentering, Mr Johnston; plastering, Mr Pratt j plumbing, &c., Messrs Hayes and Go., all of whom carried out their respective portions of the work to the satisfaction of the supervising architect and the firm. The factory is built right into the front of the Terrace, and is a structure in every respect adapted to the purpose for which it was erected. Had such a building been placed in a more open position it would have attracted the attention of all visitors to the Empire City. However, as convenience was of more importance than display, the structure was erected on the present site so as to be in close proximity to the firm’s business premises in Lambton quay. The building is of brick, faced with cement, and has a front elevation of 70ft. The ground floor is 45ft x 4>sft, and each succeeding floor goes 12ft further back, the second floor thus being 57ft long, the third G9ft, the fourth 81ft, and the top floor 93ft. It is made so as to be capable of carrying another story if necessary, and there is every prospect, we understand, of the addition having to be made before very long.

The ground floor is used for storage purposes, and for receiving and delivering bulk goods, for -which purpose a tramway has been laid from the edge of the kerb on the Quay right into the building. On the second floor are stored largo quantities of imported goods in hulk, from such wellknown makers as Pinet, Bostock, Cove and West, Pollard and Son, Otto Herz and Co., A. and W. Flatteau, T. G. Hawkins, James Branch, S. Woolf, &c., while there are also thousands of pounds’ worth of leather ready for use: —French ooze, Russian, calf, glove and calf kids, glace kids, porpoise, kangaroo and wallaby, tan,' morocco, sealskin, &c. On the third floor we come to the open imported stuff, for filling up odd sizes and supplying general demands. In a recess to the left orders on the firm for branches and country districts are prepared, and are then booked and despatched to their various destinations. A very busy little corner is this, and one in which a very good idea of the immense business done by the firm can be obtained. On the same floor are wooden horses, on which the goods as they come from the factory are hung, preparatory to being checked, sized, and put away, to be subsequently taken ’ out and disposed of. The finer quality goods are placed in cupboards to keep them from the dust, and near at hand is what is known as the “ upper room.” All the uppers made in the clicking department of the machine room are brought down here, and a correct record taken of them, after which they are sent up again to be dealt with by the benching department. Boxes in which to place pairs of boots and shoes when complete are made by means of two box machines, manipulated by an operator who can turn out an extraordinary number in a very short space of time. The labels are then affixed, and the

\ result is the neat, strong package wellknown to purchasers of the “ Palace G ” brand of boots. Mounting to the fourth floor we get the first real glimpse of the amount of work that is being done within the four Avails of the building. There is very little talk going on, and drones are unknown in this hive of industry, but during the working hours the' ceaseless rattle of the machines and the tap-tap of hammers give the visitor an insight into the extensive proportions of the business transacted by the firm of Hannah and Co. The clicking-room, in which all the uppers are cut out, occupies one corner, and the machines are ranged down the centre and side of the room, which is in charge of Mr Ellison,who has been in the employ of the firm for the past eight year 3. The machines are of a most interesting character, and show the immense strides that have been made in the boot-making trade of late years. There are the Demon eyeleting machine, for punching and putting in eyelets; the skyving machine, which planes the leather at the sides to a uniform thickness, and which has quite superseded the oldfashioned method of skyving with a knife ; machines for punching various designs on toe caps, each fitted with a number of dies ; machines foi placing hooks into the fronts of boots ; vyax - thread machines for putting : rows bf strong stitching on boots or for closing heavy uppers ; blocking machines ; machines which fasten the buttons into boots, quickly and strongly, in place of the needle and thread formerly used for this purpose; machines fpr putting in elastic sides ; cylinder machines for joining goloshes to the uppers ; beading machines for folding in the edges of work; perforating machines, &c. There is also a very useful machine for making button-holes, which it does with a neatness and despatch which are simply wonderful. When it is remembered that the charge for button-holing boots used to be 5s per pair, and that the operation took a very considerable time, the value of such a machine as this, which does thfs work in about two minutes, can be properly appreciated. Another machine of great usefulness is that which is used for putting a double row of stitching down the backs of the boots. It is provided with two needles, and the stitch is locked over underneath, making a stay which is much less likely to give way than the stiffening which Avas inserted under the old process. The top floor of the building, which is occupied by the male hands, presents just as busy an appearance as that immediately below it. It is in charge of Mr Haslam, who has been connected with the firm for a period of 14 years. The work done in this portion of the factory is benching and finishing, and the machinery employed is of the very latest description. The cutting out of the soles is done by a Pearson arid Bennion's press (the only one of the kind in New Zealand), which is capable of accommodating four men, and can be regulated so as to deal with any kind of leather used. .The old lap-stone on which the patient ! bootmaker used to hammer away at his material with such energy is entirely superseded by a machine which performs the operation far more quickly and satisfactorily than it could be done by hand, and there is also a ranging machine, which is used to ensure all the boots being of the same substance. A splitting machine cuts the leather for soles to any thickness which may be required, and can be regulated so as to ensure absolute equality of substances, and in the far left hand corner is a large tank, capable of holding two bales, in which the leather undergoes a process which makes it wear at least two months longer than it otherwise would. A fairstitch machine is at work, capable of turning out work equal to sewing by hand, end there is a machine for sewing round th© bottoms of soles. The gas jets used to heat the finishing irons are regulated by a contrivance which only leaves the merest flicker burn- ] ing when the irons are not being heated, | thus effecting an immense saving in the cost of gas and the lowering of the temperature of the room. Outside this room is a flight of steps leading to the roof, from which floats a red flag bearing the inscription "li. Hannah and Co., G Boot Factory.” All the machinery in the factory is worked by a powerful gas engine, which also runs a lift extending from the ground to the top floor, certified to lift 15cwt. Separate lavatories are provided for the male and female hands. The offices on all the floors are provided Avith fireplaces, and the establishment is also connected with the Telephone Exchange. In fact, in the matter of appointments the factory is a splendid example of completeness, and the regularity and order that prevail within its walls reflect the highest credit on those who are responsible for the management. Some idea of the extent of the business may be gathered from the following particulars The number of hands on the pay-sheet is 338, and the wages paid average about <£6oo per week. The present output of boots and shoes is about 3000 pairs per week, although the plant and premises are capable of turning out 4500 pairs per week. • The work done embraces every kind of foot protection, from a split copper-toe boot to a lady's best patent leather, tan, glove kid or glace kid boot or shoe, and from a boy's rough nailed boot to a gentleman's patent, glove kid, or porpoise hide boot or shoe, and, further Still, to the latest styles in polo boots.