HF and Elizabeth Ride (ER) New information in red. Linda Granfield left the following comment in November 2022: Hi–Re 1896 for your earliest mention of the Vacuum Oil Co. in Hong Kong–I found an 1895 Jurors’ List that list a fellow as an assistant at the Vacuum Oil Co, Kowloon Hotel. Same info in the Carl Smith Collection, Government Records […]
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PRODUCT OF THE MONTH – August 1955 A waterproof rubber flashlight Illustrated above is an all-purpose, industrial flashlight, the latest product from the factory of V K Song & Co., Ma Hang Chung Road, Kowloon. The flashlight itself is of seamless aluminium, completely sheaved in a strong easy-to-grip, seamless rubber jacket rendering it absolutely watertight (a British patent has been […]
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Jane Taylor: My grandfather, Robert Taylor, appears to have started out in Macau in 1912 and moved to Hong Kong around 18 months later. He served as manager of the Green Island Cement Company, I think from the late 1920s, until his retirement in 1949. Recently discovered family photographs show the manager’s house clearly, and also its pre- and post-war […]
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York Lo: Island Paint, Kin Kwok Lacquer and HK Paint Products – the three Forgotten Players of the HK Paint Industry A few articles in this group have touched on the HK paint industry, especially China Paint, Camel Paint and Swire Duro which are still active. This article will shed more light on three prominent players which has since faded […]
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York Lo: Corney & Co – Glass Merchant and Mirror Manufacturer Established in 1902 (although not formally incorporated til 1921), R. Corney & Co Ltd (明新有限公司) was a leading glass merchant and mirror manufacturer in Hong Kong which produced glassware, mirrors, light fixtures and other glass-related products. Despite its long history, limited information is available about the firm. A R.Corney […]
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York Lo: Hop Sing Lung Oyster Sauce (合勝隆) When it comes to oyster sauce, most consumers automatically think of Lee Kum Kee (李錦記) given its dominant market share and in fact Lee Kum Kee’s founder Lee Kum-sheung is often credited as the one who “accidentally” invented oyster sauce in 1888 in Nansui (南水), Zhuhai when he left his oyster soup simmering […]
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Our article, Charles Weiss, Hong Kong chronometer and watchmaker, c1844-1856, ends: Charles left Hong Kong permanently in 1856 and transferred his business to Henry Vaucher, formerly of Canton (Friend of China 2 June 1856). Thanks to Richard McGeough for re-typing the extract from Carl Smith’s RASHKB article linked below. The article continues: Henry Vaucher was either French or Swiss, he had been […]
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York Lo: The Hong Kong Rattan Industry and some of its key historical players Rattan is one of the oldest industries in Hong Kong and astute merchants and skilled craftsmen in southern China had long profited from importing rattan cane from Southeast Asia (the majority from Indonesia with the remainder from Malaysia, Burma and the Philippines), weaving them into beautiful […]
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James Chan: I came across this industrial building when out for an urban walk. The Amoycan Industrial Centre, Block no.1 at 7 Ngau Tau Kok Road, Kowloon Bay. The “Amoycan” part of the sign is very similar to the script used by Amoy Canning. I wonder if this building had a direct connection to the latter company? I took the […]
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York Lo: China Dispensary: Maker of Pinocine (白蘿仙) and Dermoline (丹杜蓮) For almost half a century, Pinocine Building stood in the heart of Central business district at 80-82 Queen’s Road Central and was known for the many medical practices that were tenants. The building was developed in 1964 by China Dispensary (中華大藥房), a leading local manufacturer of Western medicine in Hong […]
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