The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-12-13
ENTERTAINED BY
THE IMPERIAL
Large Crowd Of Pleas ed Visitors nj
the New Steam Laundry

A large number OF interested Wis
irors, most of them ladies. saw the
nodus operandi OF the Imperial
Steam Laundry Friday afternoon.
The operation OF the new machin-
cry interested all. very few Of the
visitors before having had any ideas
OF the many and intricate machines
required TO attend TO such a simple
operation as washing and ironing a
shirt with its collar and cuffs; but
when one stops to think OF it he will
realize that it is quite complicated
job. and requires elaborate apparat-
u 10 take the place of human fng-
ers
Clothes arriving at the laundry
are first sorted out and labeled. Then
they are turned over to the wash
ing machines, two huge tubs. filled
with boiling water which do the
work by being Whirled back and
forth, the motion forcing the water
thru the materials 10 be washed.
The new laundry has so much
work that it finds itself obliged to
double the number of it's washing
machines, which is a mighty good
proof OF its popularity. Those now
in use often have TO work double
shifts in order to keep up with the
orders
From the washing machines. the
rough dried articles 80 10 the wiring
err. This is big circular machine,
AMI the articles put in it are whirle1
around a. the rate of 300 revolutions
a minute. which takes out nearly all
the moisture. They are then put
thru the ''mangle," which is a mis-
homer, as it is big machine, the
rollers OF which smooth out instead
Of mangling the articles run thru it,
which are all that do net require
starching.
Goods that require starch.ng are
put on iron frames and run into the
drying rooms. where steam heat
rapidly dries without scorching them.
1t may be said here that these goods
are washed with a variety o. the ia
nous Ivory soap. cos ing 1912 cents
pound, which is mighty good proof
of fine work.
From the drying room, the arti-
cies go TO the starching machine,
which is an elaborate affair The
starch is cooked by the scores OF
pounds in Z large copper kettle, and
applied evenly by this machine.
The ironing machine, which viii
finish shirt bosom in couple OF
seconds; is most ingenious affair
| The collar machine next to it is 8
. large and costly apparatus, proof OF
the Importance the average man at
taches to his collar. Next TO it is &
i collar seam dampener and next to il
the collar moulder When one comes
| to think of it. properly ironing {
collar is a job requiring much work
and skill. and no one need be sur
! prised that it requires three ella b
orate machines to take the place o
| human hands.
! Machinery can't do il all. for il
one corner of the building, four col
ored women, all skilled in their call
1 ing, were busy with their ironin!
boards, attending to the most deli
cate work.
The big table near the door wa
heaped high with goods ready 70
delivery. Many of them were NOV
ed away. however, to give hospita
tle Mrs. George Rentz, assisted b
some other ladies. an opportunity t
serve the visitors with delicious ic
cream and cake.
Messrs. George Rentz and w. +
Dodson. the proprietors. met. all tn
callers and explained the working {
the machinery to them, in whic
: they were assisted by Messrs. Ed an
!. Pierce Remit, w w Rilea, F. "
MeIin and J. H. LaRue.
Ocala has been the laundry Ger
ter OF this part of Florida for til
last twenty-five years. The Deal
4 Steam Laundry started about thu
/ time. and its business has steaiil
| increased The new laundry has a
il can do. and must increase its forC
l and machinery, so it is easy TO Sc
that the business is big item in III
roronuoS ~ nnr