steved44

Can someone answer a couple of questions for me?

Just what exactly is manchester?

and...

Why in God's name is it called manchester?

Have you found any other naming oddities?

Bo-Jangles

During the late part of the 19th, through the early stages of the 20th centuries; Manchester in the UK was famed for its textile industry.

New Zealand, being a new country at the time was reliant on imports for textiles & linens and Manchester Linen became sought after for bedding, due to it's superior quality. Over time, where once they would have asked for 'Manchester Linen' this became shortened, so Kiwis and Aussies now call bedding Manchester.

Bo-Jangles

Some other oddities around brand names of things, we Hoover the Carpet, they Lux the carpet.

We have Tippex, Kiwis have Twink - can cause a bit of confusion and blank looks in the office, if you ask for the wrong thing.

Pollyana

Australia used to have a brand of sticky tape called Durex......you can imagine the confusion (and pain!) that could arise there

sr71

I have never heard that said at all. Its always been Hoover or just vacuum in NZ.

southerner

No - luxing is fairly common, although starting to be less so as Electrolux is no longer the dominant brand.

Some other oddities which are falling out of use over time:

Belguim - luncheon sausage
Super heater - hot water cylinder

Kiwiprincess

Belgian is I think just in the South Island. I don't know if it was used much in the North Island where luncheon sausage was used instead.

My grandmother uses 'lux'. My mother uses 'vacuum' and goodness knows where I pick it up but I either say vacuum or hoover.

Wooly_Cow

Another common one is 'Executive House with outstanding views' = garden shed with steep steps .....but then real estate descriptions are a totally new thread!

southerner

Amazing what you can find out in seconds with t'internet.

During the war
Source: www.teara.govt.nz

southerner

Speaking of north-south differences, I notice that the term 'crib' for holiday home still seems to be holding its own in the south despite 'bach' being overwhelmingly used elsewhere.

kiwinow

Lux is more predominant in the South Island, I've found. People down here still "lux" the carpet with their brand new Hitachi.

While a South Island bach is called a crib, we hear very few people using the term "crib" now, while everyone understands bach.

southerner

I think crib has always been a Otago/Southland thing, and is still almost universally used in 'the south' as compared to the South Is

southerner

Of course there's always one exception - and that's Queenstown where a crib is called an 'executive apartment with spectacular views'

RobClubley

Talking of names, how come the stop-cock on your house is called a toby?