Tang Fun Kee Manufacturing Co Ltd – Good Luck bicycle horns, Camel torches, Navy brand torches
HF: Tang Fun Kee was incorporated on 23rd May 1951 and appears to be still in operation.
“…Tang Fun Kee occupied a five-storey building in Larch Street [Tai Kok Tsui – note the advert below has the company at 32-40 Fuk Tsun Street], producing headlight cases, square torches and watches. Electroplating was on the first floor; the production of torches was carried out on the second floor and the production of watch bands was on the fourth floor. The higher the floor was, the smaller were the products.
A Navy brand torch c1950 Courtesy: www.flashlightmuseum.com
The workers could hardly meet the factory boss as he usually worked in an office on the ground floor. When the man conducted his inspections in the factory, someone would tip off their workmates he was coming. Ah Ying worked in the watch band division and dealt with both stainless steel and copper bands. Processes she was involved with included installing watch cases, putting in springs and pressing iron wires. Ah Ying mainly did the latter two jobs.
There were dozens of workers in each floor of Tang Fun Kee with workers lined up in rows of seats, each equipped with pressing machines. When a division was understaffed, the supervisor would deploy workers from other divisions. Operating the pressing machines was a low-skilled job. Workers simply needed to be fast and diligent.
The foremen inspected workers from the back of the workers. Those who were slow or found chatting would be fired. As a result, workers only tended to chat when foremen were elsewhere. The factory manager was very strict and had a stern face which made the workers feel frightened.
Being unskilled labourers, most workers understood that it was not easy to find another job. Lives were not easy, they really cared for every work opportunity…” (1)
1963 Advert Courtesy: IDJ
Location of Larch Street
This article was first posted on 18th April 2016.
Source:
- Hong Kong Memory Project Ah Ying’s biography including her time at Tang Fun Kee
See:
- The Hong Kong Memory Project Hong Kong Memory (HKM) is a multi-media web site that gives free and open access to digitized materials on Hong Kong’s history, culture and heritage. The materials include text documents, photographs, posters, sound recordings, motion pictures and videos.
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My great grandfather started the idea of entrepreneurship in china in the late 1800. He took in homeless kids. He clothed them and fed them. Kids had too much energy and always caused trouble. He started walking them to burn off their energy. He later discovered people would pay lots in exchange for things they didn’t have in that village. He and the kids started walking and trading from village to village. In the early 1900’s he started the factory. His name was Tang Sui Fun. Kee is the translation of “company”. Hence Tang Fun Kee. We had our first major breakthrough by making “dog tags” for the US military
During WWII. It wasn’t until after the war that we officially incorporated, some 40 years after we started trading.
At its peak it employed 1500 people. It was considered one of the “Biggest 4” in the colony. It was a top breeding ground for some of the best mechanics in HK. It offered a 4 year training program. First year they were paid $60 a month, each additional year another $60 increase. Final year they got paid $240 a month. Wages were given out in paper envelopes, in cash, on Saturday afternoons. If they were skillful enough to be retained after 4 years they received a pay increase to $500 a month.. Lady workers “factory girl” received less than first year apprentice.
There were only 3 days off in a year, that I can remember. The Winter Festival, Chinese New Year’s Day and the Second Day.
In the 60’s there was a popular movie, by Chan Po Chu, made “on location” at Tang Fun Kee.
In Ah Ying’s description, the boss man that inspected the factory was my father, Tang Wing Chuen. Workers didn’t need to be tipped off. Because dad always had a cigar in his mouth that one could detect from 100’s of feet away.
Grandfather retired early. My father took over when he was only 22 years old. Grandfather might not have paid top wages but he was all about his employees. Each month he would manufactured a reason to invite employees and their families for an invitation dinner. It was made very clear that no gift was necessary. In the late 50’s grand father built a bunch of flats to give away to employees that helped the family and the factory survived the Japanese Invasion.
My father was a big spender. He was also good. He was worth every penny he spent. Unfortunately his step brothers didn’t see it that way. They forced him to retire in the 70’s, only to have run the business to the ground within 10 years. Today, my 4 uncles are still keeping the company registered. All Tang Fun Kee has left now is my father’s license plate “168”. I put together a deal to buy the plate for HK$5 Million. Uncles wanted 22 million. They can keep it warm for the Transport department.
One more correction – the Executive office was on the second floor.
Rua Tang
Canada
Hello Rua,
thanks for the most interesting article about your ancestor’s company. I am sorry to hear about the companies closure. Five years ago, I found one of your company torches, the small box lantern type. It was on the side of the road discarded in a box as I was bicycling from Chinatown, Toronto to my apartment just north.
As I picked it up, I sensed I would be going to China in 2019 and here I am in Shanghai currently for 2 weeks and decided to bring the lantern with me. I bought some Chines batteries here and it works ! Since being here, I decided to research the company and found your article.
This is the most interesting connection since as your great grand father, I too like to do help those in Chinese community since 2011 in Chinatown especially those that are marginalized
My ancestors are from northern Italy and as your family, my great grand father and his ancestors had a large industry making common shoes and would have the slaughter house to get the leather to make shoes. They lost the company because of financial debts and lost also all the company owned property. My grand father and father were well educated yet had no more affairs with any of the old business.
Please feel free to contact me!
Alessandro Superina, Toronto, Canada, currently in Shanghai until Nov 26/19
I have found Tang fun kee , military Badge (Master Sergeant ) from a battle field site in Hong Kong , was trying to find someone interested.
I would be interested. Do you have pictures of the front and the back please? Thank you.
I have a vintage shop on Etsy.com called OnceTwiceVintageWare, and in my search for vintage items have recently unearthed a leather belt with this amazing belt buckle sporting a battleship. The belt looks to be from the 1950’s and the back of the buckle is stamped “Tang Fun Kee Co., Made in Hong Kong”. It’s a great piece and thought I would share that bit of historical information with your audience. Cheers. Fred Weiss, Canada
Fred:
Thank you for sharing. I checked out the site and your shop as well. You certainly have some interesting items.. I do not see the belt in the site. Have you any idea where it is please? Thanz.
Tang Kai Pan
I have the multi purpose lamp, i don’t find a picture of iT on the internet only the old advert. Belgium
I have the multi purpose lamp, i don’t find a picture of iT on the internet only the old advert. Belgium
Can you send me a few pictures of it please. Thank you.
Hello Rua,
I, too, have a leather belt with a buckle stamped on the back with “Tang Fun Kee Co. Made in Hong Kong” along with the camel logo. The front of the buckle has “BRIGHT” with a horse’s head on a shield and wings coming out from both sides of the shield. I found it among my father’s belongings, who immigrated to the US (where I presume he purchased it) in 1952 from the Netherlands.
Just thought I would add this information to the thread. If you would like a picture, I would be willing to send one to you.
Phyllis
Minnesota, USA
Hi Phyllis
I would love to get my hands on the buckle or anything to do with it, ie., pictures (front, back, over all and close up would be great). Many thanx in advance.
I recently found an early KMB button manufactured by Tang Fun Kee. Would love to know what other buttons they made.
I have a question about a probable Tang Fun Lee product.
Is this site still active?
JUL 2022