Rushden Research Group: Express Dry Cleaners - Mr Mills

Kay Collins, 2007

Express Dry Cleaners - Mr Mills


Arthur Mills' Traction Engine	Arthur Mills in the 1960s with his organ

The organ

This picture was taken by Arthur George, a well known photographer in Rushden.

It shows the Fairground Organ owned by Mr Mills, proprietor of the Express Dry Cleaners whose works were on Wellingborough Road. Mr Mills often took the organ to stand near the Rose & Crown and played music and carols for the crowds at Christmas time.

The steam engine that was used to take the organ to events around the area (below)

The organ in transit

A give-away contained soap leaves

An advertising gift containing soap leaves tells us there were 21 branches of the "Express Cleaners" in its heyday.

Photgraph of the organ in transit - from Clive Wood.

Soap packet from the RDHS archive.

This advertisement card was "Presented by Arthur Mills".

The caption is:

Express Cleaners
Mammoth 89 Key Gavioli Fairground Organ.

The Motto on the end of the trailer reads:

Whilst Looking to the Future,
Let us not Forget
The Glories of the Past.

Another view of the fairground organ


Express Drycleaner's Van outside Hamblins Garage c 1990	The Higham Ferrers shop

Rushden Echo and Argus, 6^th January 1950, transcribed by Kay Collins

THE EXPRESS DRY CLEANING SERVICE

Phone RUSHDEN 2876

MODERN PLANTAND EXPERIENCED CRAFTSMEN

ENSURES

DRY CLEANING AT ITS BEST

THREE DAYS' SERVICE

Our vans collect in Rushden, Wellingborough, Bedford,

Northampton, Kettering and Corby. Agents throughout the county.

WORKS AND RECEIVING DEPT.:

MIDLAND ROAD, RUSHDEN

Call, write or phone: RUSHDEN 2876

A coat hanger from the cleaners

A coat hanger from the Express Dry Cleaners

Mr Mills lived at 'Highbury' in Irchester Road, next door to Mr Joseph Knight at 'Rosemount'.

Mills Fairground Organ