Manchester, again
May 9th 2009, 11:16 pm
#1
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3
Manchester, again
I am a Kiwi returning to NZ after twenty years. I noticed many changes but the one that really bugged me was the "Manchester" sign in Department Stores. I asked people about this and was told 'Oh well, towels used to come from Manchester" as if that explained it. I am fairly sure there was no such thing as "Manchester" when I lived here twenty years ago. I wanted to find out who started the name, and when and why? Nobody knows. I logged on to the forum here and was told "Oh, Manchester. Towels came from there." And Thread Closed. Very frustrating. Can anyone help? Thanks.
May 9th 2009, 11:20 pm
#2
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,787
Re: Manchester, again
I am a Kiwi returning to NZ after twenty years. I noticed many changes but the one that really bugged me was the "Manchester" sign in Department Stores. I asked people about this and was told 'Oh well, towels used to come from Manchester" as if that explained it. I am fairly sure there was no such thing as "Manchester" when I lived here twenty years ago. I wanted to find out who started the name, and when and why? Nobody knows. I logged on to the forum here and was told "Oh, Manchester. Towels came from there." And Thread Closed. Very frustrating. Can anyone help? Thanks.
May 9th 2009, 11:22 pm
#4
May 9th 2009, 11:23 pm
#5
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Joined: Mar 2008
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Re: Manchester, again
I have no idea either but it 'bugs' me as a term. Anyway, most of the cotton mills were in Lancashire so perhaps they should call it that
May 9th 2009, 11:33 pm
#6
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Re: Manchester, again
Its either because the "no 1" company that made them was Called 'Manchester'..or because of the strong links of mills up t'north.
May 10th 2009, 6:46 am
#11
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Re: Manchester, again
Genesis says: "Just googled it and apparently its the former..the company that makes them is called ' Manchester'."
Can you give a few more details, please? What - full company name?, when - are they still operating?, why - hundreds of company make towels and stuff, why them?
Can any NZ'er say when was the first time they had the term "Manchester"?
Thanks, nderby
Can you give a few more details, please? What - full company name?, when - are they still operating?, why - hundreds of company make towels and stuff, why them?
Can any NZ'er say when was the first time they had the term "Manchester"?
Thanks, nderby
May 10th 2009, 11:32 am
#13
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 968
Re: Manchester, again
Wikipedia says
"Much of Manchester's history is concerned with textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. The great majority of cotton spinning took place in the towns of south Lancashire and north Cheshire, and Manchester was for a time the most productive centre of cotton processing,and later the world's largest marketplace for cotton goods.
Manchester was dubbed "Cottonopolis" and "Warehouse City" during the Victorian era.
In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the term "manchester" is used for household linen : sheets, pillow cases, towels, etc."
"Much of Manchester's history is concerned with textile manufacture during the Industrial Revolution. The great majority of cotton spinning took place in the towns of south Lancashire and north Cheshire, and Manchester was for a time the most productive centre of cotton processing,and later the world's largest marketplace for cotton goods.
Manchester was dubbed "Cottonopolis" and "Warehouse City" during the Victorian era.
In Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, the term "manchester" is used for household linen : sheets, pillow cases, towels, etc."
May 11th 2009, 6:13 am
#14
Sleazy Dippin Doodle
Joined: May 2007
Location: wellington
Posts: 1,363
Re: Manchester, again
I am a Kiwi returning to NZ after twenty years. I noticed many changes but the one that really bugged me was the "Manchester" sign in Department Stores. I asked people about this and was told 'Oh well, towels used to come from Manchester" as if that explained it. I am fairly sure there was no such thing as "Manchester" when I lived here twenty years ago. I wanted to find out who started the name, and when and why? Nobody knows. I logged on to the forum here and was told "Oh, Manchester. Towels came from there." And Thread Closed. Very frustrating. Can anyone help? Thanks.
Hate to break it to you but it's not a new term in the slightest. My grandmother uses it and only that. Maybe you just never noticed it before?
May 11th 2009, 7:05 am
#15
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Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Wellington
Posts: 217
Re: Manchester, again
How about china or a sandwich? Or Turkish delight, Indian summer and so on? 
It's not just manchester that is named after a place it is associated with, even though I admit it does sound a bit funny to me...
(As a curiosity: my home town Tampere was known for its cotton mills and textile industry in the 19th and early 20th century, and it is still frequently and quite affectionately referred as Manse, after Manchester, due to M's reputation as the cotton capital of the world.)
Or Turkish delight, Indian summer and so on? It's not just manchester that is named after a place it is associated with, even though I admit it does sound a bit funny to me... (As a curiosity: my home town Tampere was known for its cotton mills and textile industry in the 19th and early 20th century, and it is still frequently and quite affectionately referred as Manse, after Manchester, due to M's reputation as the cotton capital of the world.)