Following consultation with Moses Jenkins, HES, it is believed that bricks marked Woodison Steel (and recovered at the Hurll Gartliston Works, Glenboig) were another Hurll product manufactured for the overseas market and marked with the customer’s name. Woodison is very likely E J Woodison Company, Detroit, Michigan – I will go with this theory unless shown otherwise!
E. J. Woodison Company, one of the founding members of FEMA – The Foundry Equipment Manufacturers Association. This company was very involved in the beginnings of the Detroit auto industry and was a supplier to the several foundries that were developed to support this new industry. Products included such items as: fire brick, stove specialties, molders’ riddles and shovels, flasks, sprayers for blacking cores and moulds, pouring devices, crucible tongs, coal barrows, skids, hammer core machines, shakers, sand mixers, hoists, metal band saw machines, melting furnaces, cleaning and exhaust mills, sandblasters, moulding machines, much more.
Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire
Alternative brickworks include:
Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Below – A comprehensive illustrated catalogue of products available from the E. J. Woodison Company. C 1920
The above book is for sale in June 2015 – I have been in contact with the American seller and she states that there is a reference ” that the company’s Scotch Firebricks are only available through their Canadian foundry”
Further research reveals the following – The E.J. Woodison Company, Limited Foundry Requisites, Firebrick, Fireclay and Equipment Toronto, Ontario Branch Warehouse: 261 Wellington St. Montreal, Que.
Below – Letterhead for E J Woodison Company dated Nov 1920 (Apologies for the quality).
“If better bricks could be made – we would have them” All shapes carried in stock. Also, fire clay. A very refractory clay, especially adaptable for cupola linings, middle in walls of blast furnaces, hot blast stoves, boiler linings, and similar purposes requiring not only a highly refractory brick but a toughness that will give long service under the abrasion incident to this class of work. canisters used with clay to daub ladles, cupolas and furnaces, heatproof cement. This plastic asbestos compound sets hard as a rock and is absolutely heat-resisting. Used extensively for boiler settings, bridge walls, boiler arches and fire door linings, annealing furnaces, billet heating furnaces, case hardening furnaces, brick kilns, forge furnaces, heat-treating furnaces. Reline your cupola, furnace Etc., while business is quiet. The E.J.Woodison Company, Limited Foundry requisites, fireclay, firebrick and equipment Toronto, Ont, Montreal, Que.
Below – Image from page 574 of “Canadian foundryman (1921)” (1921)
Below – 1921 – Canadian Foundryman – Woodison fire bricks – “… We have selected bricks from different localities …”
Many thanks to Charlie Terry for the following photographs and information. Charlie states – My great-grandfather worked at the Beaconsfield and Lefroy gold mines in Tasmania. He was an assayer. Some of the bricks are still in their original boxes and have been stored in a shed for decades. Below – An example of one…
This brick is in the possession of John Hicks, West Monroe, Louisiana, USA. John is uncertain where the Docken brick was found in the USA as he picked it up at a brick swap meeting. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Jeffrey Valli on the railroad tracks in Truro, Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Chris Lowe for the following information. Chris states the bricks were found in an old fireplace on his family’s property in Oregon, USA. There may be a thumbprint to the top right. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings…
Found by Len Baird in East Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Len states – I have found GartCraig brick pieces in East Lebanon, New Hampshire at the remains of a former slate mill from the mid-19th century. It is immediately adjacent to what used to be the Northern Railroad which came from Boston up through New…
Thanks to Mark Norstad for the following information. . Mark states – The ‘Heathery Knowe’ was found underneath an old house in Marin County, CA (near San Francisco). The age of the house is unknown. Below – Heathery Knowe Patent Glasgow – Heatheryknowe Fire Clay Works, Glasgow. (Note – SBH – Heathery Knowe appears to be…
03/11/1934 – Coatbridge Leader – Glenboig brick romance. Knocking about ocean bed for twenty years. A fireclay brick which was one of a consignment of 47,500, despatched twenty years ago by the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company made quite a romantic reappearance on Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Company held in Glasgow. Mr Robert…
Found by John Lowe in Long Island, New York State, USA. J & M Craig, Perceton Fireclay Works, Dreghorn, Ayrshire. . . . .
Found by Chris Sakelarios in Redwood City, California, USA. Chris states – The brick is in a garden of a Victorian home built in 1857. It was occupied by John Offerman and his family from 1857 until their passing. It is still standing in Redwood City, California. I will be operating a specialty coffee house and saloon….
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire The ‘B & W’ is likely to stand for Babcock and Wilcox. Babcock and Wilcox history. 1881 – Nathaniel Pratt, who would be B&W’s…
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