McCallums Group

Started by James Arnold McCallum and his wife Myrtle in 1927, the now McCallums Group Ltd was originally known as A McCallum Tailor and Drycleaner. Textiles were in the blood with James and Myrtle meeting whilst  working together in the tailoring department of Herbert Haynes in Tay Street. Invercargill.Using a 44-gallon drum cut in half and placed on legs, the drycleaning business began in earnest in 1927; also in Tay Street. By today’s standards the early days of drycleaning were very rudimentary, clothing was hand washed in petrol, spun in a hand-operated hydro and then hung out to dry. The pressing of garments (and McCallums famed ‘razor-sharp’ trouser creases) was an equally simple but effective process involving a length of board, a damp cloth, a 3 foot piece of railway track and a heavy cast iron hand-iron.In 1930 this somewhat simple plant was easily moved to an 18x12’ shed in the back yard of the McCallums residence, the first staff member was employed and James was kept busy making and altering suits – McCallum Tailor and Drycleaner was now fully established and busy.Having purchased a household {Easy{ washing machine with spin dryer, the business had invested smartly in the latest washing technology. Washing clothing in petrol was now out, replaced with white spirits and caustic soda; seen as a far superior chemical combination for drycleaning purposes.OUR Services include:    General drycleaning of all garments    Same day service for garments brought in by 10am    Press only service    Specialist cleaning and repairs of wedding dresses and ball gowns    Removal, professional cleaning and rehanging of drapes & curtains    Garment waterproofing    Drycleaning duvet inners, sleeping bags, blankets and woolrests    McCallums even wash horse covers and rugby gearYou can depend on McCallums drycleaning to get the job done, done well and done when you expect it.