This example was found on the site of the old Jenny Lind Brickworks, Near Motherwell, Lanarkshire adjacent to the old site of the Ravenscraig Steel Works.
This was manufactured in England but the ‘RAV’ reference denotes that is was manufactured specifically for the Ravenscraig Steelworks and as such, I have created this page because of the Scottish interest.
Note the use of the backslash in the stamp as opposed to the more normal forward slash.
Many thanks to John Bramall for the following information – “Swank Refractories was a USA firm founded by Hiram Swank in Johnstown, Pennsylvania and claims to be the first company in the world to make casting pit refractories (USA term is pouring pit) in 1856 to service Bessemer Converters that were being built in the USA. Bessemer converters were being installed in Sheffield in the same year and I think that Thos. Wragg of Loxley, Sheffield, claims it was first in the same year but who knows who was first in the world!
TYK Inc a Japanese company bought Swank in 1982 and renamed it, TYK Swank.
I believe Swank licensed their technology to other companies around the world or maybe they licensed their brand. I can recall my dad (when he worked at Wraggs) talking about making bricks for Swanks using a special mixture – perhaps the mixture was imported from the USA or made up by Wraggs to a Swank recipe.
So I guess either the shape of the brick or the constituent mixture or the brand was being used for a fee by Marshall (Thos. Marshall of Loxley, Sheffield) with an additional % of the selling price of finished goods sold arrangement. The shape is a pretty standard ‘reverse taper’ nozzle which were developed in Europe and widely made – my Marshall catalogue has pages of drawings of similar shapes described as ‘German Standard Nozzles’ and Swedish Standard Nozzles’ (with their dimensions).
So I think the Swank product was a Marshall / Swank joint venture arrangement using a Swank mix – it may be that there was a territorial arrangement where Marshalls sold Swank design product in the UK or Europe or elsewhere excluding the Americas perhaps. I’m not aware of any joint company”
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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….
Many thanks to Erik Larson for sending the photos of this Glenboig brick which was found at Hadley, Kasaan Peninsula, Alaska, USA. Erik states – The brick was located at a place called Hadley. I am pretty sure this one came from Scotland with a bunch of others to build a smelter. The smelter operated…
