Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), Saturday 2 May 1914, page 24


AN ENTERPRISING

FIRM.

MESSRS. CHARLES MOORE & CO.'S

NEW PREMISES.

AN IMPOSING STRUCTURE.

A CREDIT TO ADELAIDE.

Within a few days Messrs.Charles Moore and Co. are to throw open to the public a store, which, in point of view of fittings, equipment, comprehensiveness, and appear-ance, probably has not a pen in Australia, unless, possibly, Farmers, of Sydney, can claim precedence. Messrs. Moore & Co.'s new premise, at the corner Gouger

street and Victoria-square, are a monu-ment to the enterprise of a firm that has already done much for the advancement of that part of the city, and a distinctly ac-ceptablc addition to the architecture of Adelaide. On one of the finest blocks in the metropolis—for the growth of the southern portion of the city is as inevitable as time or tide—the firm has erected an edifice whichis imposing in the extreme. It stands out from its surroundings like a tall gum on a bare hillside. The trees of the square throw it into even greater re-lief, and one can imagine how it will act as a beacon light to draw the hosts of bar-gain hunters its counters. Nothing has been spared to accentuate the magnetic attraction the premises are intended to ex- ert, and the fair fame of Adelaide will be enhanced by the construction of such fine building. From the outside, it appears what it really is —a substantial, up-to-date establishment, that at once impresses customers with confidence that they will re- ceive inside courtesy and satisfaction. The architectural adornments add dignity and distinctiveness, without the slightest sug-gestion of garishness. There is such a fine harmony about the entire scheme that everything falls naturally into its proper relative value, and the whole aspect

is pleasing.

Mr. Moore's Enterprise.

It is a cause for much gratification to residents of Adelaide that premises of

such magnitude and attractiveness should be going up in the heart of the city, and the enterprise which was directly respon-sible for their erection must inevitably find its reward in the support accorded it. It is just about a quarter of a century since Mr. Charles Moore opened a shop on the block now occupied by the People's Stores, and from that time on   he has never looked back. Eight years ago he moved into the premises he now occupies in Gouger-street, and his custo-mers followed him; for it is a characteris-tic of human nature that where satisfac- tion is received people should be loth to change. Mr. Moore, Mr. W. J. Wearne (his manager), and the members of the staff, have always endeavored to give customers every satisfaction, and on that basis they have founded a prosperous and steadilygrowing business. Customers have come once, been satisfied, and come again, even-tually to swear by a firm that treated them with so much courtesy and consideration. As the custom increased the big emporium became congested. It could hardly accommo-date the large and varied stock required for the trade that was being done, and Mr. Moore therefore determined to build a shop on the vacant block next door, on scale that would meet all requirements, and establish his firm still more soundly in the esteem of his patrons. The building that has now been erected represents only half of the complete scheme. As soon as the goods have been removed from the old to the new premises, and business has

been concentrated into its new channels, men will set be set to work to demolish the old.building, and out of its ruins will rise —as the Egyptian phoenix rose from the

ashes—the twin hall o£ the edifice that is at present exciting as much interest and admiration. When the whole is com-pleted, the structure will be one which Adelaide can pride itself, and which cus-tomers may enter with a distinct feeling of

pleasure.

Some Interesting Figures.

The first thing that impresses one in in-specting the new emporium, is the remark-able care that has been taken to ensure the most effective possible display. Pro-bably no establishment in Aus- tralia has such complete pro-vision for displaying its goods as has

this latest addition to Adelaide's architec-ture. Glass is everywhere. The whole of

the street front on three sides for a total distance of 310 ft. round the building is of plate glass, unbroken, save by thin cop-per stays that do not in the least obstruct the view of the goods displayed. The en-

trance porches are enclosed in glass, and the whole of the backs of the windows all round the building are of plate glass, too.

A wide promenade is provided between the counters and the windows, and by this means customers are enabled to inspect the displays from inside as well as outside. Even the counters, of which there are 25, are all of glass, with tops of glass and fronts of glass, and with glass shelves in

them for the further display of goods. There are also 23 upright show cases all of glass, and two or three "New-way" cases

—glass cabinets which display the goods in such a way that they can be inspected

from all sides, and any separate article in the case can be got at. These cases, which, together with most of the interior fittings, were supplied by the Thomas Duff Proprietary, of Melbourne, and erected by their representative, Mr. C. Clark, are

most ingenious in their conveniences and method of working. The doors slide back into a groove along the side, and taking up no space when open, and the whole stand, on which the coat or hats or other articles are hung, can be drawn for- ward and revolved in the case as desired. One such case is already in use in the present shop. It holds 308 hats, and any-one of them can be secured without dis-turbing the others. To facilitate inspec- tion and purchase, the innovation seems in every way adaptable. In fact, the whole design of the new premises and their fit tings seems to have been conceived with the idea of complete and effective display and speedy and satisfactory attention to customers. With 100 assistants employed in the shop, and all the latest facilities for inspection of goods, the public should be assured of every satisfaction.

Brilliant Lighting.

The building is to be brilliantly lit both inside and out. Suspended round the building are 28 nitra half watt (600 candlepower) lamps of the latest design, and so arranged that all or each alternate lamp, can be used at will. The windows will he lit up with 188 Phyllis [Philips?] metal filament lamps, with the latest mercury reflectors, and so arranged that the lighting can be altered to suit the window-dressing. In the porticoes, the lighting and lamps have been so arranged that they merge into the scheme of leadlights and give a finished as-pect to the whole. The leaded lights, bythe-way, form a conspicuous feature in the treatment of the fronts, and the three large entrance domes. They were specially designed and executed by Messrs. Thomp-son & Harvey, of Flinders street, and re-flect credit on the firm's artists. The domes over the main entrance are particu-larly striking. They extend from inside the building, over the footpath to outside of verandah, with a width of 28 ft. to Gouger-street, Victoria-square, and Pagestreet respectively. The leadlights are a treatment in blues, brown, and amber, while the main ground is in pure white flemish. Some selected opalescent and venetian antique glasses have been used with discretion. When the building is completed something like 10,000 square feet of leadlights will have been used in the treatment of fronts, domes, ceiling lights, &c,. Reverting to the lightning, one finds the same almost extravagant provision for lighting carried on indoors. There are five 500-candlepower lamps and 80 Osran metal filament lamps, of 100-candlepower each, fitted with the super-lux reflectors, and the latest anti-vibration fittings. The lighting throughout the shop is controlled from one of the finest switchboards in the Common-wealth, and another electrical installation is the provision of a most up-to-date and elaborate system in the two towers of the building for purposes of advertising. The whole of the electrical work has been car-ried out by Mr. C. Holloway, representing Messrs. Kay & MacNichol, of Melbourne.

Other. Details.

The shop "covers an,area of 1,627 square yards, and the whole floor has been con-structed of permasite, a comparatively new flooring material, which promises to wear well and look well. From floor to ceiling is a height of 23 ft.—about the highest shop in Australia—and the ventilation is excelent. The ceilings are all fire-proof, and are relieved by fibrous plaster orna- mentations of the most artistic design, exe-cuted by the firm of Otto Waschetz, of Melbourne. The glass work, which was in the hands of H. L. Vosz, and reflects credit on their workmanship, aggregates 8,000 square feet of plate, and 1.500 square feet of mirror glass. The entrance from Victoria-sqare is 27 ft. square, and is most imposing. It is tiled with mosaic work, in which the name of the firm is artistically merged, and many architectural embellish-ments impress one with a sense of its beauty and tastefulness before the shop itself is entered. The architects for the building were Messrs. Garlick & Jackman, and the building itself was erected by the South Australian Reinforced Concrete Com-pany. Messrs. McCarty & Pearman were the contractors for the work after the skeleton was up.