0:00 - Immigrated in 1951 after communists took over China, sponsored by father and elder brothers, forced to come for survival, worked during the day then took night classes in English, provided by the government, lots of refugees from China at that time, worked at Zhongshan Wet Wash, Toisan native, 1964/1965 was a golden era for the industry, 3000 laundries in New York City alone, 1974-1976 darkest years, non-iron fabrics, home washing machine, business begins to pick back up in 1979-1980
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6:57 - His knowledge is broader than other laundry owners because he has done everything, differ-ence between Chinese and American laundries, Chinese did not update technology/machinery, could not compete with large scale wholesale model, wet wash, shirt press, wholesale in 5 boroughs except Staten Island
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13:25 - Now around 1000 laundries in Manhattan Bronx Queens Brooklyn Nassau and Suffolk counties, wholesale wet wash, shirt press, hand iron, harder back then for older generation, worked at least 16 hour-day six days a week, lived at laundry, only got out to Chinatown on Sunday morn-ings, when first arrived saw many laundrymen sleeping in cot at laundry but not now, Chinese were the last to update to latest model machines
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20:21 - Asked why Chinese were the last to change, forced to update for survival, 1930-1960 Chinese had 24 wholesale wet washes, compared to western/American-owned laundries, decline in number of Chinese hand laundries over decades, Chinese used old old parts for old style ma-chine, have to update to new model when manufacturers no longer made old parts for old ma-chines
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25:15 - Could buy new models but did not like to, difference between old and new models, Chinese hand laundries do what the customer asks, new waves of immigrants from China in laundry in-dustry, laundry work less strenuous than before, Chinese prices have always been lower than western-owned laundries by 15-18 percent, why they could charge lower prices, working owner puts in a lot of the time and labor
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32:14 - Price competition, expenses and costs, employs 90 percent Chinese workers, typically 10-hour work day, wet wash unionized at least 30 years, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America union, membership encompassed only Chinese wholesale wet wash, pay 9 percent of wages in union dues, union regulates pay/hours, pressing pays by the piece, wet wash pays by the hour, current wage rates, pays low wages so it is hard to hire
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37:27 - Wet wash today, machines lessen need to hire labor, less business, around 1960s/1970s need to change out old style machines, describes machine specifications, he did not keep old style ma-chine but has photographs, can introduce to a friend who has an old machine, he operates a wholesale laundry, first one in New York City in 1974 who does prewash, prices he charges, fol-lows American style but still lower price, Chinese laundries one step behind, Chinese prefer old way and resist change
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46:02 - Why the old generation of Chinese are resistant to change, attitude in present era is changing, business competition forced change, 1930s/1940s vs 1960s/1970s machinery ability to clean, can only lower prices if save on labor, the two unions still existing, one aligned with communism, he did not join either, first worked with brother, struck out on own in 1964
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53:50 - Life before immigrating, after high school taught for one year, older sister and younger brother taught at college in Guizhou, he and older brother came to the U.S., grandfather came to U.S. in 1800s and did laundry work, saved money then returned to China around 1910s, he fled and his wife followed later due to U.S. immigration policy, family separation very stressful, could not sponsor them all, endured and struggled, offers to introduce owner of Jung Young Wet Wash at E. 90th and 1st Ave
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