The following Scottish bricks were found by Consuelo Bravo Antúnez in the heart of the Atacama Desert, Chile.
The Atacama Desert was a huge source of sodium nitrate (saltpetre) which was mined on a large scale until the early 1940s. The UK imported many many shiploads of the saltpetre and it appears they supplied many of the fire bricks required for the industrial processes involved in the production of the fertiliser.
Other stamped bricks found were ‘Hanningtons’ from the NE of England and a broken mystery brick stamped ‘Balka?’
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Below – A brick stamped ‘Glenboig’.
Below – Bricks stamped ‘Morningside’ and ‘Forth’.
Below – A brick stamped ‘Scotia’. The maker of this brick is still unidentified but it is thought to be of Scottish origins.
Below – A ‘Coltness’ brick. This is a building brick and such bricks are rare on foreign shores. Normally it was the more important refractory or fire bricks that were exported out of Scotland.
This square cesspool or grease box was found by Jimena Valenzuela. Jimena is an archeologist and lives in Iquique, Chile. Jimena states ‘While I was digging out an excavation in Bilbao’s zone (which is a historical part of our city), I dug out a chamber that has the Gartcraig stamp. Baquedano Street in Iquique was…
This brick was found by Omar Pérez near Villa María, in Córdoba, Argentina. Omar states – I am a philatelist and scholar of the Argentine railways and their traveling postal brands. I am about to edit the first whole of a book. More than 40 years ago we found with a friend, now deceased, some…
The following ‘Stein Glasgow’ brick is in the possession of Ari Solzi. It was found in Santa Fe, Argentina. Below – Stein Glasgow – 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 Chris Graham on the Solway Firth. This example is not in my possession. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
The following bricks are in a collection owned by Josh Bra. They were recovered from an old garden path at a house in Chinchen Street, Islington, New South Wales. . . . Below – Gartcraig – Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. Below – Glenboig – Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include:…
Found at Glenboig by Eddie McLean. This example is unfortunately broken on the left-hand side so its original length is unknown. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire.
Found at Glenboig by Eddie McLean. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire. .
Found at Glenboig by Eddie McLean. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire. .
Found at Glenboig by Eddie McLean. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire. .
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire. .
