The following fire brick core samples were rescued by Joan Faithfull in 2001 when the Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross closed down. They were generously donated to my collection by Joan’s husband, Monty Faithfull and her son, John Faithfull.
Such core samples would be sent to the GR-Stein laboratories for tests and analysis. The ones below were simply kept for reference purposes.
Below – GR-Stein – Fire brick core samples.
Left to right
Spin KM Spin MCP Stein 60 Stein 60P 63D Alro 80R
Hippo 65 Nettle DX 45D Alcor 95 ASD Fosterite Nettle 42
Sill 55 Sill 66 Sill 70 Sill 85 Sill G8 Alumag 5
Supermag A Stein 84P Stein 50 S/Mag GT Ugly 80 Stein 80P (Note – SBH -Does anyone know what HIPPO and UGLY stand for !) (Perhaps Hippo stands for Hipperholme, West Yorkshire which is where one of the GR-Stein works was situated).
Found by Ian Suddaby near Ravenscraig, Motherwell. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – It’s a shame the markings on many of these relatively modern basic bricks are so faint. At least I can just read this one. Why is the C a bit smaller? SPINELLA MC So this was made by General Refractories…
This is in the possession of John Ballantyne. It is a roll of plastic tape. John states – I think ram mix was the clay mix used to seal the tap hole of the blast furnace after the cast was completed. There was quite a bit of research/trialling done to get the mix ‘fit for…
Found by Ian Suddaby at the old Manuel Works, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. 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. Ian states – Tongue and Groove brick with a hole…
Found on the site of the old Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. The manufacturer is unknown as the only stamp on this brick is the hand-applied black lettering – LAB. It is marked twice. This was a product that was likely chosen and marked for analysis at the on-site laboratory. Although the manufacturer is unknown it is…
Found by Ian Suddaby at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. The stamp is stencilled onto the brick. Unidentified manufacturer but this is very likely to have been manufactured on site by JG Stein or GR-Stein etc. . .
Found on the site of the old Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. Ian Suddaby states – A KROMAG brick was found last weekend and I thought this was an American import to Scotland. That was based on the Kromag name being registered to an American company, E. J. Lavino & Co. and a picture of a near…
Found by Ian Suddaby in the Bonnybridge area. This example is not in my possession. Dykehead Fire Clay Works, Bonnybridge, Falkirk. The GR’s refers to General Refractories which bought over the Dykehead Works. . . Below – It is not instantly seen but the motif in the circular stamp on the brick is as per…
The following items were found in spoil heaps associated with the Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge. These items are all related to works carried out in the laboratory at Bonnyside Brickworks. Most large fire clay works, as Bonnyside was, employed chemical analysts and technicians etc in an on-site laboratory. Their products and no doubt the products of…
Found at the old Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge. This was found in a pile of debris that contained large quantities of test samples that were marked for use in the brickworks laboratory. The ‘2’ on the stretcher side appears to have been scratched in after firing so this may also have been a test sample. James…
A substantial collection of silica fire bricks from steel-making furnaces have now been recovered from a dump site to the rear of the Dalzell Iron and Steelworks, Motherwell, North Lanarkshire. All appear to predate the Ravenscraig Steelworks by around 50 years. Cartographic evidence shows that spoil from the Dalzell Iron & Steel Works and possibly…
