Strike & Fairlie
1883 - 1884
Charles Archibald Fairlie was an engineer by trade prior to entering the aerated water trade. He bought into the G.A. Strike & Co. business on 22nd June 1881 but retained the company trading name. In wasn't until 1883 that the factory, which was located in Argyle Street, became known as Strike & Fairlie.
The 'Evening Post' ran the following advertisement on 17th August 1883, some two months after the company was established:
By Special Appointment.
To His Excellency SIR WILLIAM DRUMMOND JERVOIS, G.C.M.G., C.B., Governor of N.Z.
STRIKE & FAIRLIE, AERATED WATER
AND CORDIAL MANUFACTURERS.
Tonic Water, specially recommended by the medical profession, prepared from pure sulphate of quinine; also, double AErated Soda Water.
Strike & Fairlie started off on a small scale but later in 1883 they erected a two-story factory in Lorne Street. To recognise this occasion, the following Local (a news story on one's own firm) was published in the 'Evening Post'.
Messers Strike and Fairlie, aerated water manufacturers, of Lorne Street, have recently, in order to keep pace with the exigencies of their increasing business, erected a large factory, which is quite distinct from the old establishment, and the firm yesterday invited a number of mercantile gentlemen and others to witness the starting of their new machinery.
The new building, which occupies a frontage of about 30 feet to Lorne Street by a depth of 75 ft, is of two stories, the basement being devoted to the making of every description of aerated waters, including soda water, ginger ale, and lemonade. The upper story is used as a store, in which are piled tons of sugar, whilst around the place are shelves, upon which are ranged bottles containing the thousand and one essences and tinctures required by the trade.
The machinery consists of an aerated water device, manufactured and patented by Messers Mondollet et Fils, of Paris. This machine, which is stated to be the first of the kind which has been imported in the Australasian colonies.
The bottler, by simply turning a lever handle, not only fills the bottle with gaseous water, but also permits the cordial of essence into the bottle at the same time. The danger to the operator in the case of a bottle bursting is reduced to a minimum by a wire guard, which entirely protects the man. This rack will enable a smart hand to bottle about 100 dozen per hour.
Some idea may be gathered as to the capital employed in the business, when it is stated that they have upwards of 1,000,000 soda water bottles in circulation, and the imported price of which is 6 1/2d per bottle.
The firm are, it may be mentioned, contracted for the supply of the Union Steamship Company's vessels, and this consequently necessitates the use of a larger number of bottles than otherwise be required.
The G.A. Strike and C.A. Fairlie lease on the factory site was transferred to "Strike & Fairlie's New Zealand Aerated Water and Cordial Company Limited" early in 1885.
No complete user-marked bottles from this company are known to exist.
The 'Evening Post' ran the following advertisement on 17th August 1883, some two months after the company was established:
By Special Appointment.
To His Excellency SIR WILLIAM DRUMMOND JERVOIS, G.C.M.G., C.B., Governor of N.Z.
STRIKE & FAIRLIE, AERATED WATER
AND CORDIAL MANUFACTURERS.
Tonic Water, specially recommended by the medical profession, prepared from pure sulphate of quinine; also, double AErated Soda Water.
Strike & Fairlie started off on a small scale but later in 1883 they erected a two-story factory in Lorne Street. To recognise this occasion, the following Local (a news story on one's own firm) was published in the 'Evening Post'.
Messers Strike and Fairlie, aerated water manufacturers, of Lorne Street, have recently, in order to keep pace with the exigencies of their increasing business, erected a large factory, which is quite distinct from the old establishment, and the firm yesterday invited a number of mercantile gentlemen and others to witness the starting of their new machinery.
The new building, which occupies a frontage of about 30 feet to Lorne Street by a depth of 75 ft, is of two stories, the basement being devoted to the making of every description of aerated waters, including soda water, ginger ale, and lemonade. The upper story is used as a store, in which are piled tons of sugar, whilst around the place are shelves, upon which are ranged bottles containing the thousand and one essences and tinctures required by the trade.
The machinery consists of an aerated water device, manufactured and patented by Messers Mondollet et Fils, of Paris. This machine, which is stated to be the first of the kind which has been imported in the Australasian colonies.
The bottler, by simply turning a lever handle, not only fills the bottle with gaseous water, but also permits the cordial of essence into the bottle at the same time. The danger to the operator in the case of a bottle bursting is reduced to a minimum by a wire guard, which entirely protects the man. This rack will enable a smart hand to bottle about 100 dozen per hour.
Some idea may be gathered as to the capital employed in the business, when it is stated that they have upwards of 1,000,000 soda water bottles in circulation, and the imported price of which is 6 1/2d per bottle.
The firm are, it may be mentioned, contracted for the supply of the Union Steamship Company's vessels, and this consequently necessitates the use of a larger number of bottles than otherwise be required.
The G.A. Strike and C.A. Fairlie lease on the factory site was transferred to "Strike & Fairlie's New Zealand Aerated Water and Cordial Company Limited" early in 1885.
No complete user-marked bottles from this company are known to exist.
