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 identical brick on a website for Californian bricks. But, in his book ‘Stein Of Bonnybridge’ (1985), Kenneth Sanderson describes the development of basic bricks at the Manuel Brickworks in Scotland. He states that chrome-magnesite bricks were replacing silica bricks in the side walls of open-hearth furnaces and that J. G. Stein agreed to pay royalties to both General Refractories and E. J. Lavino & Co. in respect of their Patents for chrome-magnesite bricks. He further states that production of these bricks started at Manuel in April 1938 using chrome ore from Cuba or the Philippines and magnesite from Manchuria. Orders were secured from Colvilles Steelmakers in Britain but post-war, the development of steel-cased bricks changed the production focus again.
Below – The second photo shows where the bricks were found at Manuel. Layers containing burnt (used) bricks aren’t common there and it might be that this layer represents an early test of the Kromag bricks, the other firebricks are almost all STEIN GLASGOW which were phased out in the early 1940s.
Below – A superior quality stamp was found by Ian Suddaby at the same location.
Below – Found at the same location by Ian Suddaby. This is believed to be some form of chrome ore and was probably sourced from either Cuba or the Philippines and used in Chrome-Magnesia (KROMAG) bricks. Made initially it seems by E J Lavino & Co of California and later (1937) by J G Stein in Scotland.
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…
Found by Ian Suddaby near Ravenscraig, Motherwell. 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.
Found by Ian Suddaby in Perth. 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.
Found by Ian Suddaby in Perth. Perhaps the stamp is meant to read ‘Perth’ ? 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.
Found by Ian Suddaby at the Manuel Works, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. The example below is a hanger brick. 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.
Found by Ian Suddaby at the Manuel Works, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. ST – Possibly stands for ‘Stein’. Note the reversed ‘S’. The example below is a hanger brick and although the manufacturer is not stamped, the find location is highly suggestive that this is a Stein product. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay…
Found by Ian Suddaby at the Manuel Works, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. Stein made such bricks under licence. M. H. Detrick – The M.H. Detrick Company is a heat refractory manufacturing company, based out of Mokena, Illinois. The company primarily sells suspended refractory constructions and industrial heat enclosures to various businesses. Founded…
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. .
The following Scottish bricks were found by Tracie Perrie on the shore at Borden, Prince Edward Island, Canada. Below – ‘Glenboig’. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire Below – ‘Gartcraig Scotland Gaskil’. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow….
