Below – Dean ventilating brick. J & R Howie Ltd, Hurlford Fireclay Works, Kilmarnock catalogue dated 1952.
At the rear of the catalogue an entry states “Dean ventilating air brick in salt-glazed fireclay, for the fumes from gas boilers, gas fires etc. 4 1/2″ x 6” in section. Made to suit wall of any thickness.
From the information below it appears these ‘Dean’ gas ventilation bricks were originally the invention of W H Dean & Son of Victoria Works, Accrington Road, Burnley. From the Hurlford catalogue, they state they manufacture The Dean gas ventilation bricks so did they do so after the patent ran out or did WH Dean perhaps lease out the patent on some sort of franchise. WH Dean appears to have had some connection with Glasgow whether it be an office or manufacturing premises?
Graces Guide – W H Dean & Son of Victoria Works, Accrington Road, Burnley, Lancashire. Also at London, Birmingham, Cardiff and Glasgow. Telephone: 2129/2120. Telegraphic Address: “Dean, ‘Phone, Burnley”.
1895 – Company founded.
1936 – Public company.
1937 – British Industries Fair Advert for Gas Heated Washing Coppers (assorted); Copper Water Heaters; Rustless Cast Iron Pan Boilers; Gas Heated Washing Machines. Copper Urns for counter use, in restaurants, workshops, etc. Flue Piping. Corrugated Elbows, Bafflers. (Gas: Industrial and Domestic Section – Stand No. Ca. 410).
Below – 1938 – Graces Guide. Sole makers of ‘The Dean’ specialities.
Below – 22/07/1933 – Burnley Express – The Dean specialities.
1945 – Patent – Improvements relating to the casings of domestic wash boilers and washing machines.
1948 – Patent – Improvements relating to domestic clothes washing machines and wash boilers.
1955 – Merger with Burco, also of Burnley. Converted to a private company.
1961 – Engineers, sheet metal workers, iron and aluminium founders and galvanizers, specialising in the manufacture of gas heated wash boilers and washing machines. 200 employees.
Below – The following ventilating air brick is in the possession of Thomas Hayman. It was recovered in Barnstaple.
This example is not in my possession.
.
.
Below – Found at Castlehill, Carluke.
This looks like the same sort of ventilation brick as detailed above. It is a longer version though.
It is salt-glazed.
It is unmarked and thus the maker is unknown but very possibly, due to the find location, it is a J & R Howie, Hurlford product.
Ventilation brick. 15″ x 5 3/4″” x 4 “. The rectangular opening (On both sides) measures 3″ x 3/4”. The end circular air vent measures 2 3/4″ in diameter.
.
.
.
Below – Two similar vents in the possession of Ian Suddaby. The smaller was found in Barnstable and the larger in Shrewsbury.
Below – An internal view of the smaller vent found in Barnstable.
Below – The vent found in Shrewsbury.
.
Below – An internal view of the vent found in Shrewsbury
Found in a reclamation yard in Blackburn, Aberdeenshire by Ian Suddaby. It was left in situ as it was broken. J & R Howie, Hurlford Fireclay Works, Galston Road, Hurlford, Ayrshire. McRae’s Patent Regd No 18808 J & R Howie sole makers. I am informed that the patent/registration of this item dates from 1884. 1) A…
Found on the site of the old Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge. J & R Howie Ltd, Hurlford, Kilmarnock. Ignis is a J & R Howie trademark. Surely, ‘Ingis’ is supposed to read ‘Ignis’? Why do so many ‘Ignis’ fire bricks turn up at the Bonnyside Brickworks? Did Dougall, Bonnyside Brickworks take over the brand name at…
Found at James Dougalls old works, Bonnyside, Bonnybridge. J & R Howie Ltd, Hurlford, Kilmarnock. . . . . Why do so many ‘Ignis’ fire bricks turn up at the Bonnyside Brickworks? Did Dougall, Bonnyside Brickworks take over the brand name at some point? Below – 1952 – A page from a Howie catalogue –…
Many thanks to Colin Rogers for the following information and photographs. This white enamelled sink stamped J & R H Ltd, was found in Montevideo, Uruguay by Colin’s wife, Sonsoles Baison. Colin states – Part of the stamp says “Made in Britain” and in Spanish “aprobado por A.N.D.A.” which means approved by Anda. There is…
Many thanks to Shayne Campbell, President & Executive Director Settlers, Rials & Trails – Argyle Museum, for permission to use the photographs of their Scottish bricks. The following bricks are in the possession of the Argyle Museum, Winnipeg, Canada. The bricks were obtained from a junkyard in Winnipeg and are believed to have been salvaged…
Found in Selkirk and kindly donated by Vicky Wood. Hurlford Fireclay Works, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . . .
This was photographed in the Selkirk area and left in situ. I am not in possession of this example. Hurlford Fireclay Works, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . .
Found in the Leadhills area. Hurlford Fireclay Works, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . . .
Found in the Leadhills area. It is hard to tell from the photo but the lettering on this example is raised. Hurlford Fireclay Works, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . .
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Leadhills area. Note the words Fire Clay Works have capitals and are sans serif which is different to my other example. Click me. Hurlford Fireclay Works, Hurlford, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. . . .
