The Basement, sub-basement, and laundry

The Basement, sub-basement, and laundry

Laundry

Basements

Descriptions of the Basement, sub-basement and laundry of the Old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel from the 1903 promotional publication assembled by George C. Boldt, then manager and proprietor of the Waldorf-Astoria.

Boldt, George C., 1851-1916

Edition de Luxe.

1903

Falk, B. J. (Benjamin J.), 1853-1925

Histories & Publications

Boldt, G. C. (c.1903). The Waldorf-Astoria: New York. New York: Edition de Luxe.

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English

Text

Waldorf-Astoria Hotel -- 1890-1930

THE BASEMENT AND SUB-BASEMENT are well worth a visit. The former contains the great kitchen, pantries and store-rooms, and the latter the machinery hall, boiler rooms and the great electric plant. The electric plant is the largest and finest isolated installation in the world, and supplies current to over 25,000 lamps, besides furnishing power for the running of elevators, motors, ventilating apparatus, etc. The steam plant has a capacity of 4,000 horsepower, and provides power for electric plant, refrigerating machinery, pumping station, laundry, heating, etc. As evidence of the enormous capacity of the pumping plant, it may be mentioned that it would supply a city of 400,000 inhabitants; and the refrigerating machinery can furnish 150 tons of ice per day, besides cold air to all the various refrigerators throughout the house. There are in all 34 electric and hydraulic elevators. On an avenge l00 tons of coal are used per day.

LAUNDRY. This department handles 65,000 pieces of linen daily. The laundry for patrons' clothing is entirely separate, and no machinery whatever is used in this branch of the work.

promotional materials