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Visitors' Comments, Collections
and Brix Pix
July - December 2007
December '07:
Shaun Rumble writes:
Anybody out there interested in a brick made to commemerate charles
and diana wedding in 1981?
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From Maureen Kane:
Are Kane bricks still made today? If so, can you tell me please as to
where I may purchase them. Thank you.
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Kiva Rapattoni writes:
Hi. I am doing some research on the brick floors that are in the
kitchen of a home I recently purchased. The bricks are all from Texas, it
appears, (I, too, am in Texas) but, the gentleman who comes up in all of the
es
I have done for "Antique Texas Bricks" has unfortunately passed away...Pete
Schiller.
Maybe you can help me. You seem to know a lot about bricks, which is a lot
more than me. :)
The bricks in my floor are stamped with the word Ferris or a few have Palmer or
Dallas on them. The floor is in good shape, and I really like it, but I
wasn't sure A) if there is any historical value to the floor (or if LOTS of folks
have brick floors like that) or B) how to clean it up and care for it properly
for use in a kitchen. The house has been empty for some time and we will begin
the process or remodeling soon, so there is and will continue to be a big mess.
How do I get it clean and easy to care for without compromising the integrity
of the brick? For example, can I put a glossy sealer on, or would that be a
bad idea? I have a big dog in the house and so I need easy care/cleaning.
Any incite or opinions you can give would be really appreciated. Thank you,
==========
Bill writes:
Where would I get a brick with the name california in it?
Fred Rieck replies:
Bill, there was a street paving brick made with the name CALIFORNIA
on it by the California Brick Co in Decoto, CA. On the premise that many of them
may have been used locally, the Decoto vicinity may be the area to look around
in landscaping supply firms may be helpful.
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This was sent in from Robert Filkorn:
I found these bricks in the Dover/New Philadelphia, Ohio area. I'm guessing that they were produced in the area some years ago.
Do you have any idea of what they were used for or their age? The brick material appears to be coarse and chunky.
Thank you
Website "guru" Fred Rieck replies:
The OHIO WOODLAND and DOVER are a couple of firebricks made in either or both Parral and Strasburg, Ohio.
According to research conducted by Karl Gurcke, the DOVER you show, may have been made by Dover Fire Brick Co. in Dover. Gurcke also attributes that name to that used by the Robinson Clay Products Co of Parral (and/or/both) Strasburg, OH. (In order that this may be easier to understand, I am suggesting that Robinson Clay... may have assumed operation of the Dover firm at some point in time.) Gurcke further indicates that the Dover trade name was in use between 1921 and 1927.
OHIO WOODLAND, per Gurcke and Jim Graves of the IBCA, was also a trade name used by Robinson Clay .... with locations in both Parral and Strasburg, OH between 1921 and 1942. Both of these brick were made to be used in high temperature environments often resulting in surface checking and blistering.
I found this info on the Web from "HISTORY OF TUSCARAWAS COUNTY, OHIO," WARNER, BEERS & CO., 1884:
(https://www.heritagepursuit.com/Tuscarawas/TuscarawasHDover.htm)
"The Dover Fire Brick Company was established by David Miller & Co., in 1869. Its operations
were attended with only partial success at first. In January, 1871, Mr. Barrett and James F.
Rhodes purchased a half interest and subsequently became sole owners. The capital stock was
$40,000. The old works were remodeled, and since that time have been operated almost
constantly. Ponderous rollers press and pulverize the clay which is then tempered, molded into
various shapes and burned similar to other brick, About thirty hands are employed and 8,000
bricks produced daily. The bricks have established a wide reputation and sell readily
throughout the West."
A bibliography of some useful texts (including Gurcke) on bricks and their manufacturing processes can be found
here.
And slightly off-topic, I stumbled upon a great webpage on the
Ohio paving brick industry.
November '07:
Jeremy Henderson writes:
We found a brick from a fireplace of a house built 140 years ago. The
house was being remodeled and one of the fireplaces was taken out. All the
bricks were red and plain except one that was yellow and had markings on it that
said "D F B C Kimberely". We have been looking for information on this brick and
the company but can't find anything. Is there anything you can tell us about
this brick and if there is any significance to it being the only one of its kind
found.
From Webmaster, Don B.:
I would surmise that you have a Fire Brick made by the A.P. Green/Dixie Fire Brick Company in Kimberly,
Alabama (near Birmingham). D F B C would stand for the Dixie Fire Brick Company which merged with A. P. Green Refractories in 1965.
For information and pics of A.P. Green Click Here.
==========
David Rhodes writes:
Recently got a brick labeled convict made-1912-OSP. I think it it came
from oregon. Any info??
From your Webmaster:
Well, OSP most likely stands for Oregon State Penitentiary. The brick was most probably made in 1912. But let's see if we get a more "expert" answer from
a web site visitor.
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From Sharyn:
I found a bick in my yard with raised letter marked SCHULZ, is this brick common?
From Webmaster, Don B.:
Hi Sharyn, check the spelling. SHULTZ (no C) is quite common (you can find a pic of one and info on our
Shultz Page. If your brick is indeed SCHULTZ I would say it is rare.
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From Captain Bruce Robertson-Dick:
My family did have brickyards in Beacon N.Y.
I have a family brick from the Blair/Aldrich brickyard - it has A/B incribed on it.
From your Webmaster:
Thanks for writing! We love to hear from relatives of the brickyard owners. (See MAYONE, etc)
--Don B.
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From Bob miller:
Would like to know the value of bricks from the barnstable brick
company would be.
From your Webmaster:
I have seen them for sale in Cape Cod antique shops for around $20.
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Karen writes:
hi - i am not a brick collector, however, i have just purchased a
special brick from a sports stadium for my husband and i want to display it
somehow nice, do you have any ideas or links to places that sell this sort of display
case. Thanks
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From Christine Holtmeyer:
Does anyone have information about a brickyard in Wellston Missouri
I think it was called American Brick Press or something like that I would love
some information
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Ray Corder comments:
Hi just wanted to say that you have an interesting site going on
here, i am a brick maker from England and work for one of the last totally handmade
brick companies, we still make exactly like they did hundreds of years ago,
and use all the old equipment that you would see from those times, wooden
wheelbarrows, coal fired kilns etc, i have quite a few bricks in my collection from
over here as we get sent samples so that we can accurately reproduce them, as
most of our work is for restoration. If you are interested in any pictures let
me know and i will attempt to get some done. These are a few of the places we
have done work for. Hampton Court, St Pancras station, Blenham palace, and a host
of other places to. Thanks Ray
October '07:
Webmaster Notes:
Last Monday, Fred Rieck and I kayaked from the Hudson, NY boat ramp to the site of the old ATLAS brickyard. There is nothing left there now except hundreds of discarded brick all along the shore. We found a number of good ATLAS specimens as well as *DK*. We are still puzzling over what the DK stands for. I also found one B B and Fred found a BARTLETT. Fred believes the B B is Bartlett Bros. (Fred W. and George C.) which became listed in the Hudson City Directory in 1877. Later I headed over to Catskill (by car) and took pics of the site of the XXX (George Washburn) yard, now the Catskill Middle School. Before Washburn, the yard was used by Jerome Walsh. Click here to see an old engraving (L.R. Burleigh, Troy, NY 1889) of the Catskill site. I hope to post ATLAS (Hudson) and XXX (Catskill) pics on the "Our Collection" pages in a few days.
Also this month I heard from Andy Van Der Poel who has sent us a complete list of his fast-growing collection of Hudson River Brick.
To see the list, click here.
I am working on a cross-reference list so you can look up bricks alphabetically by brand (currently, the Collection pages are alphabetical by manufacturer). And a Brick Trading page is in the works.
Happy Bricking!
--Don B.
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From Christine Holtmeyer:
Does anyone have information about a brickyard in Wellston Missouri
I think it was called American Brick Press or something like that I would love
some information.
==========
Ray Corder writes:
Hi, just wanted to say that you have an interesting site going on
here, i am a brick maker from England and work for one of the last totally handmade
brick companies, we still make exactly like they did hundreds of years ago,
and use all the old equipment that you would see from those times, wooden
wheelbarrows, coal fired kilns etc, i have quite a few bricks in my collection from
over here as we get sent samples so that we can accurately reproduce them, as
most of our work is for restoration. if you are interested in any pictures let
me know and i will attempt to get some done. These are a few of the places we
have done work for. Hampton Court, St Pancras station, Blenham palace, and a host
of other places to. Thanks Ray
==========
Brian from the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum writes:
We recently did some fieldwork in the Hudson River, where we recovered several bricks. I was wondering if you knew anything about them, particularly the company and time period.
Brick 1 - Has no frog but raised letters off center- C.A.S - My guess is Charles A. Shultz, but the samples Ive seen didnt look like the one I have.
Brick 2 - This one is an end fragment. It has a frog with raised letters ...OS or it could be SO..., my guess is it is the end of ...Bros, however, the letters are large and ROSE BROS or TERRY BROS doesnt look like it would fit on the brick, any guesses.
My last question is regarding the hudson river brick industry; would all the bricks produced by a company have frogs or did they make some with frogs and some just plain, no frog, no logo? Or was there a company that just made plain brick, no frog no logo. Ive done research and still cant find the answer to that question, my guess is yes a company made both bricks with frogs and logos and ones that were plain, am I right?
Thank you
Brian
Fred Rieck replies:
Relative to whether some manufacturers used both "raised letter" only marked brick and "raised letter frog" ... yes - but I don't think they would have made them at the same time. It seems to be that there was a general change from the "raised letter" marking to "raised letter / frog" around 1895 (+ / -). This is not a precise date, but it's one that I find "workable". This comment is predicated upon brickmark observations of brick manufacturers in business prior to ... during ... and after that time
As you already suspect, some manufacturers never marked their brick. and some would only mark a small percentage of them, generally with raised letters, only. A few featured sunken letters or symbols ... including sunken letters (or symbols) in the frog, ... or even a raised letter in a frog ... in yet another frog.
With respect to "Brick 1", I would concur with you that C.A.S., in raised serif letters would be the mark of Charles A. Shultz. The mark was subsequently changed to SHULTZ in raised letters in a frog. Shultz became East Kingston Brick Company. However, I've seen no evidence that they changed their "brand" though.,
Regarding Brick 2,
"...OS" : There are five variations of TERRY BROS rl/f, that I'm aware of; one B .BROS rl/f (Brophy Bros of East Kingston), and two ROSE BROS. Two of the TERRY BROS variations have tall and thin letters, (comparatively taller and thinner than the others), which may well likely match your description I'd really have to see a picture of the fragment showing letter size relative to the frog and border to be certain.
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From Fred Kabbel:
How many brick manufacturing companies are there in massachusetts
today? Thank you.
Please Identify: brick with raised B.Bros. surounded by elongated
diamond inside frog. Thank you.
Also: Brick with EHPWJ raised in frog with 6 sided star
surounding the P. Thank you.
A Reply from Fred Rieck:
Fred, The B Bros in the [diamond] you describe, is that of
Brigham Brothers.
The EH P WJ refers to E.H. and W.J. Peck.
==========
From Katherine House:
I have found many bricks and half bricks on our land here in
Oklahoma. Many say ap green empire dp or op. Could you tell me anything, age etc. about
these bricks?
Thanks, Kathy
From Webmaster Don B.:
In "Brick Brands of the United States," Jim Graves lists EMPIRE D.P. as being made by the A.P. Green Fire Brick Company in Mexico, MO.:
An advertisement from the 1918 Standard Atlas of Audrain County, Missouri
© 2006, State Historical Society of Missouri
For a wonderful biography of A.P. (Allen Percival) Green with pics of the brickyard,
Click Here.
To see a map from 1918 showing the eastern portion of Mexico, Missouri, and the A. P. Green Fire Brick Company Click Here.
If you have any more information for Kathy or anyone else here, Contact Us. Thanks!
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Art Di Filippo writes:
I had recently found a brick with the words Killian on it. This was
from a foundation that was underwater. I would like to research it but don't
know where to start. Any info would be appreciated at your convenience, Thanks ,
Art
Fred Rieck replies:
There was a Killian made brick associated with
Pensacola, Florida. Would that be close to where you found yours?
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From henry moses:
hi. i have a brick which i have yet to identify. i found it in the
ruins of the tankerhoosen cotton co. in talcottville ct. now known as vernon, ct.
the cotton company ruins go back to 1794 but i do not know the age of the brick
itself. in the indented area [frog?] the letters are "P & p". can you help?
thx.
henry moses,
brooklyn ct.
From Webmaster Don B.:
In Within these Gates by Dan DeNoyelles, a
former Rockland County historian and decendent of the DeNoyelles brick
manufacturing family, P & P (both letters uppercase) was the brand of Theodore G. Peck & Gordon H. Peck in West Haverstraw, NY. If your brick has a lowercase "p" then it may be from somewhere else.
From Fred Rieck:
I don't know if these manufacturers put their name
on their brick, but Jim Graves, in his listing of American Brick brands lists a
firm by the name of Potter & Potter with locations in East Windsor Hill and
South Windsor,CT
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Dan Barnes comments:
My cousin gave me a brick this last weekend because it has my name on
it "DANIEL" It came from a church he was working on in Alma, Michigan. I was
just curious about where and when it was made.
From Webmaster Don B.:
In a listing of American brick brands compiled by Jim Graves, a member of the IBCA, DANIEL
is the brand of the Jacob Daniel Brick Company in Detroit, MI. In the Guestbook on the web site about the
Leonard Brick Company, Tim Polzin writes:
"Thank you for your history of brickmaking. My grandfather, Jacob Daniel founded a brick company in Wayne County, Detroit area, that ran from the 1860s through to 1953. The company name changed over the years, but was best known for "Daniel" brick. I understand Fairhaven and the old Detroit city hall were built with Daniel brick."
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From John Hobgood:
I have half of a brick that I am trying to learn about. It could be
that it was/is a headstone/footstone marker? I would like to send you a pic as
well. Unlike many of the bricks on your site, this does not have raised
letter, but carved letters. The letters readable are:
"KLIN"
"WN"
I believe the other half would complete it to say:
"FRANKLIN"
"BROWN"
They are is believe to be around 1860s to 1910s ? Material is white.
The brick was found in Brunswick County, NC along the Cape Fear River, across from the city of Wilmington.
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From John J. Glover:
I am a descendant of John Christoph Rieck who worked at the Garner
brick works in Haverstraw about 1840-1850 and noticed that Fred Rieck was one of
your brick experts. Is there a connection? If so, I would like to be in touch
with him. Thanks.
Webmaster Note:
Fred assures me he is not related to the John Christoph (or Christopher) Rieck you mentioned. But it's always great to hear from relatives of brickmakers! For a link to a web site on the memorial windows of the Trinity Church in Garnerville, NY (near Haverstraw), CLICK HERE. One of the windows is in memory of John Christopher Rieck, 1803 to 1885. He and his wife Anna Garner Rieck were in the first Trinity confirmation class and he was later a church Warden.
==========
From Tracy:
Hi, Recently my husband has been doing some renovations and came
across a few bricks. One I havent been able to figure the maker out.
The letters on
it are( M & B 00 ) Could you tell me anything about it?
A reply from Fred Rieck:
Hi Tracy, It would be good to know where you found your M & B CO. Perhaps I can offer a response that may help finders of raised letter M & B CO in the Albany NY and surrounding area. The Albany city directories list MOORE and Babcock as brick manufacturers in the time between 1905 - 1921... and quite likely beyond that date.
As early as 1875, James C. Moore was listed as a manufacturer of brick, subsequently offering front, common and paving brick , ... adding to all this - "Desirable Building Lots."
==========
Diana Burger writes:
I found a brick that states" Layton McKEESPORT. the FO OR FG AND
LETTERS AFTER
September '07:
James Drury writes:
I just found your site and noticed several comments on Drury Bricks.
There are several versions of lettering used in the Drury brick that seem to
correspond to the dates when the brickyard was expanded.
The first bricks were "water struck" - the molds were wet so that the
bricks would easily slide out. Water struck brick have a very irregular shape and
different texture. Later bricks were manufactured with "sand molds." In both
cases, the molds were wooden but in this case the molds were dusted with fine
sand before the clay was pressed in.
I'm still a little sketchy on this part, but I think the first lettering
appeared on water struck bricks when a metal stamp was included in the top (or
bottom) of the brick form. I have what appears to be a water struck brick with this
stamped style lettering. I also have sand molded bricks with this style, making
this the transitional lettering style between the two manufacturing processes.
I have one of these metal stamps but I'm only assuming this was used in the
late 1880s to about 1910. I'm not exactly sure when the manufacturing process
changed.
Later bricks used a carved wooden DRURY that filled with clay to produce the
raised letters. There are two versions of this lettering. The first incorporated
the CBMA symbol after DRURY and I think was used between 1910 and 1920 but my
dates may be off. While I have a sign dated 1917 that shows a brick with this
symbol I do not have any of these wooden letter forms. The second version was
used up until 1963 and did not incorporate the CBMA symbol. I have several of
these wooden blocks.
I'm still working on putting all this information together so please excuse the
inaccuracies.
Also: Anthony asked about a DBCO brick in New Hampshire without the CBMA
sybmol. This is probably from the Densmore Brick Company in Lebanon, NH. Densmore
operated for over 100 years before closing in 1973.
Densmore purchased the Drury Brick and Tile Company in Essex Junction, VT
in 1963-ish and operated that brickyard as well until 1973.
Webmaster Note:
To find all the references to DRURY on this page, hit Ctrl + F, type "Drury" in the box, then click "Next."
==========
charlene comments:
My Father-in-law dug up some bricks along his driveway. They say
Metropolitan Canton, O Block and they have what looks to me like 4 little
footballs on it.(one in each corner) Do you know how old these are? Are they worth
anything at all?
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Jodene Thompson comments:
I have a couple of bricks I'm curious about. They are obviously not
from our Oklahoma clay or they would be red. They are what I would call a cream
color. The dementions are 9"x4 1/2" and 2" thick. The impressed inscription is
A. P. Greene F.B.CC. Empire S. M. They were found on my property in Northern
Oklahoma. They're not new. Any idea how to date them? Any information would be
appreciated.
Webmaster Note:
If you have any information for Jodene or anyone else here, Contact Us. Thanks!
==========
Collin David writes:
Hello! I've sought all over the internet and ID'd almost all of my grandfather's
bricks - but one kind eludes me! I live in the Hudson Valley area, and we have a
dozen or so 'S&R' bricks that I just can't seem to place! Do you have ANY idea
where these could have come from? Here's a photo of the brick in question:
These were actually used to build a grange hall in Putnam Valley NY. The
hall burnt down in the late 80s or early 90s, I believe, and my uncles
absconded with some bricks from there to use in our garden.
From Webmaster Don B:
Jim Graves lists two sources for S&R:
Mrs. C.L. Scott & "Roube" in Haverstraw
("Roube" may be a typo)
and
Sackett & Roubellard in Chelsea, NY.
Dan DeNoyelles lists:
Mrs. C.L. Scott & Thomas Rowan in Haverstraw
and
Sackett & Roubellard in Chelsea.
However, the Haverstraw Brick Museum lists yard #17 being used in 1896 by:
Rowan & Scott (the R before the S).
From Fred Rieck:
OK, your photo, Collin, matches (thin border around frog, square corners in the loop of the letter "R") the brick I have which I would attribute to Stiles and Reynolds of Berlin, CT at this point in time. Also the "S" comes before the "R." Chelsea brick are R & S, with the loop in the "R" having rounded corners. I friend of mine recently got some of these from a masonary contractor who removed them from a site in Millbrook NY. Connecticut brick makes like STILES, Kane and TUTTLE frequently show up in eastern NY.
This is all one person's "take" or opinion. predicated on that person's experience, (or lack of it). Graves derives much information from DeNoyelles, and DeNoyelles was still working on his listings when he had the listing published. We are all still learning and the visitors to this website help add to this knowledge.
==========
Bill Quackenbush comments:
I live on Long Island, NY and have some nice bricks. Here are some of the clearly visible names: ROSE, HUTTON, GARNER, EMPIRE, J J J, UF&JTW, G&C (in a diamond frame). There are a few hundred others, piled against a fence, that I haven't looked at yet. I would like to give them to a collector who could appreciate them. I can't afford to mail them for free though. So if anyone wants any of them, they would have to pick them up.
Webmaster Note:
If you would like to contact Bill, use our Contact Form and I will forward your note to Bill.
==========
Janet Snider comments:
Hello,
Was yours the brick collection I saw on the history channel's modern marvels?
I have just had an old farm house moved, and I had to take down an old
chimney. The old part of the house is 100 plus years old. I am keeping some of the
bricks to use as sidewalk. While I was picking bricks off the site I ran across
one that was stamped Coffeyville. I only kept it because of what I saw on the
Modern Marvels program and how one guy has the brick collection and said he
keeps anything with a stamp on it. I know now it is from Coffeyville Kansas,
which is a bit confusing as I am just outside of Lincoln, Nebraska, and we have
brick makers here ( Yankee Hill for example) closer than Kansas. I am not exactly
sure if this brick came from the chimney, or was one of a number of bricks
someone piled on one corner of the house to prevent errosion, because they are all
jumbled together now.
Anyway, thanks, I find it all very fascinating.
Janet Snider, Raymond, NE.
Webmaster Note:
The collection featured on "Modern Marvels" was that of Tom Sullivan of Haverstraw.
==========
Patrick Morone comments:
This brick mfg article was well done and I very much enjoyed reading about Powell & Minnock Brick Co.
I put alot of blood sweat and tears into that old brick yard and loved every hour spent and there was many, from 1970 to 1978 I was just a young kid.
Moreover my father Philip Morone was the President from about 1967 to 1978 when General Dynamics bought the yard from Bill Minnock in 1967, he was instrumental in the total automation of the plant, adding new tunnel kilns and state of the art even with todays techno it was way ahead of its time.. brick automated setting machines and packaging eliminating hand labor and cutting production labor costs. the 70s was the hay day of that place..
thanks
==========
Robert Haber
writes:
Sept 21, 2007 - I just "discovered" the amazing and historical world
of bricks - I never realized or was even aware that such a unique source of
historical data existed right under my very feet - Just by looking in my back yard
I already found 5 bricks with names on them - WAU, OBRIEN, S & F Co., SHULTZ -
At the web site -these 4 have a bit of history witten about them - It is the
5th brick I am courious about - It is a JMC -Jova Manufacturing Company - There
isn't any attached historical data associated with the JMC brick - However, I
noticed there are other bricks that have JOVA in there name - Is the JMC brick
associated with any of these other JOVA brickworks or is it from a seperate
brickworks company - Any info you could provide regarding the origin of JMC would be
most appreciated - Thank you for your attention.
From your Webmaster:
Hi Robert, welcome to the world of bricks! Speaking of the historical aspect, I've just started, for fun, a new website on the history of Hudson River towns created by compiling my research of bricks in my collection (as seen on BrickCollecting.com). It's called HudsonRiverHistory.com.
JMC indeed stands for Jova Manufacturing Co. and, according to George Hutton in The Great Hudson River Brick Industry, JMC was the brand used for Jova brick made after the Jova Company bought out the Hutton plant in East Kingston in 1965. (The HUTTON brand was retained for a premium line of brick.)
==========
Frank Korvemaker
comments:
This is unquestionably one of the best brick websites that I have encountered
over the years. At the Claybank Brick Plant National Historic Site of Canada we
are endeavouring to link up with brick collectors and researchers throughout
North America, in order to build up a comprehensive database of brick
manufacturing information, including an index to brick brands. This work is also
supported by the Saskatchewan Architectural Heritage Society. To date we have
concentrated on brick factories in the three prairie provinces (Alberta, Saskatchewan
and Manitoba), but branch out to other provinces and states as material comes
our way. We look forward to working in partnership with people like you, and to
developing our website in a manner much like yours, with images of the various
bricks, along with historical information. For more information on the
Claybank project see: www.claybank.sasktelwebsite.net as well as the Sask.
Architectural heritage Society website at:
www.sahsonline.ca/directory.htm Best regards from Canada.
==========
David Lee
comments:
I recently found a brick on the bottom of the St. Clair River with the
lettering 'Hallwood Block Company'. I would be interested in the origin and a
typical use for this brick.
A reply from Fred Rieck:
The Hallwood Block Co. is the marque of Wassall Firebrick Clay Co of Columbus, Ohio. If the end of your brick measures roughly 3 x 3 or 4 x 4 inches, it may be a street paver. Some pavers may have grooves moulded into the ends or large surfaces to help lock the brick into place with filler material. Some pavers have "bumps" on their name surface to facilitate uniform spacing. My HALLWOOD has two groves running left / right on its lettered side.
==========
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoy the web site and learning the histories of so many brick companies. My only suggestion regarding the web site would be to add a trading page. A place where people could list what they have for trade and what they have for "wants". Just something to think about. Anyway I love the web site and I do spend a lot of time there, Thanks.
--Andy
From your Webmaster:
Hi Andy, thanks for your kind comments and what a great idea you have! I will think about setting up a trading page real soon.
--Don B.
==========
David Miller comments:
I have an orange colored brick with the letters J. S. H. in raised
letters. Can you tell me when and where this was made? It came from an old movie house that was being torn down.
Fred Rieck replies:
Dave, If you are in the vicinity of Michigan, the JSH brick you have may well be that of John Strong Haggerty of Springwells, Mich. There is also a brick with the name "Haggerty", in raised letters set into a recess in the brick.
==========
Sheri comments:
My husband returned from Vermont with a Drury brick but with no
symbol as the one shown. Ours has small amounts of morter.
==========
From your Webmaster:
Anthony Egizi sent in these interesting pics:
On the side of the brick is a sign with a photo of U.S. Grant and this statement:
"I certify that this Brick was taken from original Tomb of Gen'l U.S. Grant at Riverside Park, New York City."
JOHN T. BRADY,
Builder of New Tomb
I have found this information on the Web:
William INGHAM born 28 Oct 1791, Cookridge, baptised 11 Dec 1791, Adel, occupation Butcher in 1827, married 30 Apr 1818, in Leeds, St Peter, Mary HEPPER, (daughter of Edward HEPPER and Sarah) died 8 Dec 1871, buried Wortley. William died 22 Jan 1851, Wortley, buried Wortley, of Wortley. Of Greenhill House, Wortley. Owner of Ingham's Brick works, Wortley, absorbed into the Leeds Fire Clay Company by 1916. Note the mention of "Inghams" on this Leeds Fireclay Co relief moulded plastic clay match striker made c1910:
Robert INGHAM born 1820, Armley, baptised 4 Sep 1820, Armley,20 died 6 Apr 1897,29 buried Wortley, of Wortley. Gravestone states that he died a bachelor. 1881 census; 60, unmarried, J.P., firebrick manufacturer, born Armley. Living on Greenhill Lane, Wortley in Bramley with sisters Mary A (unmarried, 55) and Eliza Hannah (unmarried, 43), brother Charles (unmarried, 41, Currier and Leather) + cook and housemaid.
NPC: Robert Ingham of Greenhill House, Wortley, Leeds, firebrick and sanitary tube manufacturer.
Henry INGHAM born 15 Aug 1822, Armley, Yorkshire,61 occupation Firebrick manufacturer, married 12 Aug 1846, in Leeds Parish Church,23 Hannah BINNS, born 28 May 1824, Wortley,66 (daughter of James BINNS and Hannah FLETCHER) died 5 Feb 1903, Heaton Lodge, Wortley,29 buried Wortley. Henry died 20 Dec 1891, Wortley, Leeds, Yorkshire,29 buried Wortley, of Wortley.
Henry was a partner with his brother Robert in Ingham's Brickworks, Wortley after their father and Chairman of the Bramley Board of Guardians (1880 - 1890) and in the Commission of the Peace for the West Riding. Probate was issued to Arthur Ingham, estate agent, William Ingham, firebrick manufacturer and James Curtis Ingham, tanner.
From Fred Rieck:
You have an interesting brick there. I don't have any info on either KEATOR & Co/NEW YORK, or INGHAM & SON/WORTLY,/LEEDS, ENGLAND. This brick appears to be an enamelled brick, imported from INGHAM & SON of Wortly,Leeds,England by/for Keator & Co. Enamelled brick have been generally used where cleanliness and sanitary conditions were important factors. These brick could be had in various colors and shapes.
Someone subsequently pasted the image of Grant on the edge of it.
I wish I had more info for you.
==========
I FOUND a BJ&A Co. brick while digging large Sonna tube Holes at my house and with the help of a man in Calif I found where it came from. There where many halfs there also and probably more used as fill because its along a walled up brook side of my driveway which was a WPA project and I was installing some guard rails...found you under the Hudson River Brick Makers site...
--Gil bagley, Massachusetts
PS also found S&H Bricks have a few of those
Webmaster Note:
I assume you mean BJA & Co. This was made by Brewster J. Allison & Company in Grassy Point, NY. A picture of one in rather poor condition is on our Hudson River Brick Collection: A-L Page.
A pic of an S&H (Stiles & Hart) is on the Hudson River Brick Collection: M-Z Page.
==========
Sandy comments:
I have an old brick that came from my grandmothers house. The house
dates back to the late 1800's maybe earlier and is located on Hoopers Island, in
Maryland. I was doing a little reserch on the brick and found the manufacture on your
site. But I have a question if you would. The brick is white and looks like it has a
ceramic shell. It has Sayre & Fisher Co spelled out and formed in the brick as
well as the word Sayerville NJ. I'm thinking this is firebrick? Do you know if
they made them as well, and I was thinking about the age of the brick with
regards to a seperate kitchen that I know existed, but being the grandchild, I
don't recall ever seeing anything other than the gas stove. Any ideas?
==========
From Dan:
Hi, great site you got here. i have been finding bricks for about
three months now, and i have about 40 different brands. i have TEN that i can't
i.d. though maybe you can help me out with.
O.B.& MC C(RAISED LETTERS)
WILLET(RAISED LETTERS)
J-D(RAISED LETTERS, BUT FROM SIDE TO SIDE)
XXX
HG
HOMESTEAD
SHMULTS
CALVERT
F.T.
*DK*
Web site "guru" Fred Rieck replies:
OB MC = O'Brien and (either) McConnon or McConnell. Its not settled in my mind which one
WILLET = Theodore Willet of South River, NJ.
J D = ...probably John Derbyshire
XXX = George Washburn - Catskill, NY
HG = A listing of American bricks compiled by Jim Graves, a member of the IBCA, indicates the H G marked brick is probably that of Henry Gardner of Little Ferry, New Jersey.
HOMESTEAD = Homestead Brick Co, Homestead, PA
SCHMULTZ = Ed Schmultz of Hackensack, NJ
F.T. = Frank Timoney - Dutchess Junction
DK =If the DK is flanked by a double outline of two stars, one to the right and another to the left of the DK, we know Hudson, NY was one location it was made. I don't know who made it.
==========
From Andrea Latocha:
I have a few Hutton and Washburn bricks, Do these
have any value? Thank you
From Sagar Durbal:
I own a historic building in Washingtonville, NY. We took down 3
chimney's and found these bricks with JJJ on them. Question do you know what they
are worth and where I can sell them.
From Brian Zook:
I recently found a large number of stamped bricks buried in a
friend's yard. I am looking to sell them to collectors and was wondering if you can
tell me a good place to start looking for buyers.
Webmaster note:
We get a lot of inquiries regarding how much brick are worth and if they can be sold.
There are companies that will buy used brick but they usually have minimums of several thousand units. For a link to
one such company CLICK HERE. Also look for the Google ads on our web site.
Regarding how much a brick is "worth," web site "regular" and fellow IBCA member, Fred Rieck writes:
Most collectors would say, in one way or another, that brick are generally worth
another brick. This may sound somewhat "flippy" until one realizes that most
collectors don't buy their brick. They find them dumped or discarded or where a
friendly demolition contractor will let them help themselves to what they can
carry. Many collectors are "seniors" and collecting bricks offers them an
interesting preoccupation with lots of sympathetic friends.
Secondly, many collectors swap their doubles and extras by the trunk, or
trailer load for about as many others they don't have. ... and nobody keeps "score".
That is not to say some collector may not shop a brick he / she values for one
of special interest to him. It is also not to say that some collectors won't
buy a brick here and there if it fits a particular purpose. Many non-collector
decendents of brick manufacturers, upon learning their ancestors were engaged in
brick manufacture, may desire a brick from that company as a momento.
It may be important to note that there are usually more bricks available than
collectors to give them a "home." If one collector were to purchase a brick from
another collector and word gets out that another collector has a "ton of them"
for trade or to simply give away, ... hard feelings are apt to follow.
==========
Harry Coleman writes:
I have a red brick recovered from a shipwreck off Atlantic City NJ. It
is marked CATSKILL BRICK. Can you tell me anything about the company?
Webmaster Note:
According to Jim Graves in "Brick Brands of the United States" the CATSKILL brand was made by the Eastern Paving Brick Co. in Catskill, NY. Does the brick you found have an indented "frog" or are the letters just raised from the surface?
SPECIAL OFFER:
Webmaster Note:
I am delighted to announce that we are currently offering
George Hutton's landmark book,
The Great Hudson River Brick Industry at a Special Discount Price for all
visitors to brickcollecting.com! George has firsthand experience in brickmaking at the Hutton Company in Kingston, New York.
Click Here for Complete Info. And here's a link to our HUTTON Page.
"This long overdue account is recommended reading for anyone who wants to learn about this fascinating industry. Without this writing, essential technical information would have vanished forever."
--William Minnock, President (retired), Powell and Minnock, Brickmakers
"The colorful history of this, now almost-forgotten, major industry is here told in entertaining and lucid style for the first time by one of the few surviving people with personal experience in brickmaking. This is the most comprehensive book on the subject written for the general reader, but still provides basic technical information. A landmark book in its field."
--Arthur G. Adams, author of The Hudson Through the Years and The Hudson River Guidebook
==========
My publisher told me about your website - which is really quite good, and
a real boost to the brick world. If there's any help I can provide, let me know.
--George Hutton
==========
August '07:
From Celia:
My husband and I kayaked to Democrat Point Fire Island, NY in July
and while walking on the beach found a brick stamped SAGE in the surf. I was
wondering if anyone knew anything about it. Is it old or newer, where did it come
from? It is very worn but maybe thats erosion from the sand/surf?
What a coincidence! On the very day I received your note, I found a SAGE while on vacation in Martha's Vineyard. Preliminary research finds a listing for SAGE BRICK CO. in the 1910 Greenport LI. Phone Book.
Another source: on Page 52 of the 1934 Eastern Long Island Almanac and Guidebook their "Business Directory" under Greenport has this ad:
"THE SAGE BRICK MANUFACTURING COMPANY--Brick by Truck to any Eastern L.I. point--Main Road--Phone 3"
(Sources: https://longislandgenealogy.com/almanac.pdf
https://www.geocities.com/dodiknapp/Grounds.html)
And there is the Brick Cove Marina on "Sage" Blvd in Southhold, NY (they also list an address at "1670 Sage Boulevard Greenport, NY").
--Don B.
webmaster
==========
Holly Hunter comments:
I am trying to find factory responsible for bricks stamped "NEBCo". I
am currently salvaging 40,000+ brick from a schoolhouse in Walton, NY.
Looking for history and buyer.
Webmaster Note:
NEBCo is most likely New England Brick Co.
See our Collection Page M-Z and scroll down to the Ns.
Also see our page on New England Brick Co.
==========
From Eric Johnson:
I have a brick that reads 1926 Convict Made Ohio State Beick.
I am curious as to its origins, etc.
==========
Sandra Pietrofesa writes:
For pat stewart - re: rose brick co - you can find these bricks north
of the Town of Ulster Park on the Hudson. A kayak is the best way to oollect
one. The brick says "rose"
==========
From Michael Scolpino:
I work in construction on various projects in the New York city region. I recently found an old brick during demolition, with the initials " SSBCO ". Can you please tell the name of the company and its origins?
Thank you for your help in this matter. Best Regards,
Mike Scolpino
Hi Mike,
SSBCO is Sutton & Sudderley Brick Co. They were located in Coeymans, NY
--Don B.
webmaster
==========
While not a collector really, I have a Drury Brick Co. brick that I found while digging a water/electric line. I understand that these must be fairly common in the Vermont area and therefore not very collectible, am I right?
--Earl
Earl, DRURY may be common in VT but not in the rest of the country and are still of interest.
Do you know anything about the history of Essex Junction, VT where the yard was located?
--Don B., Webmaster
Hi Don, the only thing I know is what I have been able to "Google out". Here is a brief history of Essex Jct. I found which states that J.K. Drury came in around 1860 to start the brickyard. I think the yard changed hands to Densmore Brick Company around 1960 and closed completely shortly thereafter. I have attached a pic of one of the bricks.
I believe they were from a chimney due to the blackening on one side. Oddly though, there is no mortar on any of the bricks. I like how it has the CBMA symbol on them. Would that give any clue as to how old the bricks may be? Let me know if any one has an interest in them.
Thanks.
--Earl Knight
==========
Need some help identifying these bricks if you would be so kind:
Covert found Dutchess Junction
F T found Dutchess Junction
McNamara found Dutchess Junction
MC & D found Dutchess Junction
P A N found Dutchess Junction
McCabe found Ulster Landing
Thanks for your help.
--Andy
A reply from Fred Rieck:
Hello Andy, your "finds" are getting more challenging. Ok ....
Covert is/are Nathaniel and Alonzo Covert, a/k/a Covert Brothers.
F. T. = Francis Timoney, or his son Frank. Francis apparently owned the yard (and a grocery) and Frank became the listed manufacturer after 1887. and remained listed as a manufacturer until, in 1905, when a Beacon City Directory and the 1905 NY State Quarry and Mining Industry reports both list Margaret Timoney as a Dutchess Jnct. brick manufacturer.
MacNamara = John C. MacNamara is listed in the 1901 Breed Publishing Co. Directory of the NY Central and H.R.R.R. In another directory, ... of 1905 vintage, there is an entry of The Anchor Brick Co., also of Dutchess Jnct. along with those of John C. MacNamra and Nathaniel Covert as being associated with that firm (evidently) located at the Covert Brothers yard.
MC&D I don'k know this one ... thought I had copy of newspaper clipping on this one - maybe misfiled it.
P.A.N. = Pierre A. Northrip. A 1905 NY State Mining and Quarry report lists him as a Newburgh, NY manufacturer with his plant located at Dutchess Jnct. Other research indicates that there was a Pierre A. Northrip on the staff of one of the prisons - Mateawan, if memory serves ... though I never found any P.A.N. bricks there.
McCABE: A 1922 Beacon directory lists a Frank J. McCabe as a brick manufacturer living in Beacon with his plant located in Ulster Landing.
Sorry I can't be more helpful
--Fred
==========
I am very interested in obtaining a listing of brickyards in Central
Pa. I do not know how to go about this. Would appreciate any help you are
able to give me. Thanks
--Donna R. Bierly
==========
I have some paver bricks from under the asphalt roads of
Cincinnati, Ohio. The only thing printed on the brick is "20th CENTURY" covering most of the brick. All i would like to know is aprox. production date, and where it came from. THANK YOU.
--dave busch
==========
I found a brick that has hocking block on the face and 4 [ ] on each
corner it is about 9 x 4 x 3 1/2 inches
--tom
==========
Hello, I have some older bricks which are tan in color, and are
stamped with the name "keystone". I also have another brick that appears to of the
same material and color stamped in the same fashion with the word "stockton"
(I'm assuming Stockton, CA since that is where I found them) Any help with the
age and origins will be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
--Talat
July '07:
I've always wanted a brick path meandering through the back garden. But I didn’t want it to look new; I wanted it to look old and weather-worn. And, I didn't want to pay a professional hardscaper to install it. As luck would have it, earlier this spring I was down at a lumber yard on the banks of the Hudson River that has been in continuous operation by the same family for more than 150 years.
Across the road is an old, crumbling remnant of a brick factory built back in the mid-1800s, typical of those that lined the old waterfront during the industrial revolution. Most evidence of the factory is long-gone, but a few walls are still standing high on a steep hill, overgrown with trees and vines, shown here:
At the foot of the old wall lies a lot of rubble, with fallen bricks and bits of mortar. I asked the owner of the lumber yard if he happened to own the land that the old factory was on, and indeed he did. In fact, his family has owned the land for generations. I asked if I could "harvest" some of the bricks, and he said sure - but that I better hurry, because the state was going to purchase the land to make improvements to the nearby overpass structure, shown in the upper corner of this photograph:
So I spent several weekends this spring climbing up the steep hill, digging out bricks by hand, and hoisting them down to the lumber yard below. There I loaded them up in my SUV and brought them home. I then carried nearly 1,000 of them - 8 at a time - down to the back yard, where I laid them in place to make a path:
The path winds its way all the way from one gate to another:
And here’s a bird’s eye view taken from the second story window:
One of the most interesting things about this project is that about one out of every dozen bricks had the company name O’BRIEN stamped onto it, shown here. I began wondering if it were possible to trace the company, so on a lark, I did an internet search, and was amazed to find a website by the name of BrickCollecting.com. It’s devoted to the historical documentation of the Hudson River brickmaking industry. The website features photos of numerous brick designs, including the company names and logos that were often stamped onto bricks. And sure enough, there was a photo of the same O’BRIEN bricks I now have in my backyard. As it turns out, the company was in operation in the nearby village of Verplank during the 1850’s, and made bricks for many of the factories built along the Hudson River, including the one from which I salvaged these bricks.
--Mike
==========
Following the link www.road.ru/vsmirnov/foreign_b.htm please
find some bricks, which I managed to find in St.Petersburg area in Russia. Most
of them are from U.K. and Scandinavia, but some I still didn't identify. Sorry
for several vague images, but firebricks are easy to damage.
I'm a brick collector from Russia and have about 400 bricks from local
manufacturers.
--Vladimir Smirnov
==========
I am looking for a DOLAN brick. James Dolan made bricks with partner
Dunn in Haverstraw. Later had a yard in Centre Island, Oyster Bay,NY. Later
moved to Staten Island. My cousin,89, has one. I kayak in the Hudson River ,lots
of brick picking at low tide. James was my great-grandfather.
--Jack Donohue
==========
I don't have a collection, but I do have a question on a certain type
of brick. On the brick itself it says Medal on one end and the other end it
says 1892. there is also a letter in each corner with a picture in the center.
the picture has a man on the left posing like leader with what looks like firing
kilns on the right of the picture. Can you tell me anything about this type of
brick?
--T. Henderson
==========
I have several bricks outside my house that say " Metropolitan Block
Canton.O" I would like to know where they are from if I could. I live in
Franklin, Warren Co, OH.
--Crystal Organ
==========
I have recently come across a brick in south Troy, N.Y. stamped
"TROJAN". If anyone has any information about the this brick company I'd appreciate
it. Thanks.
--bill fazioli
==========
I am looking for 2 bricks,one "rose" and one "gardner." These bricks
will be a gift for my son who lives in peekskill. He is an avid gardner,with
roses his specialty. In his postage-stamp-sized back yard,he has nearly 100
different varieties roses plus many annuals and perennials. The path thru this
garden is made of about 1200 bricks hand-carried down from a high old wall in
peekskill and carefully put, 8 at a time, in his back yard. He would love to
have 2 old bricks that, together, say "rose gardner."
Please let me know if you can help me.
Pat Stewart
==========
Stumbled upon a brick outside and in the ground of an old shoe factory
in Stoughton MA with the letters P B Co on the face a search on the web didn't
provide any positive ID of the comapny. Do you have any idea's on the Brick
Company
--Jon Kniskern
From your Webmaster:
In "Brick Brands of the United States" Jim Graves lists "PBCo" as the brand for the Park Brick Company in Elmwood, CT.
==========
In response to "1926 Ohio State Brick Plant Convict made 1926 Ohio
State" These bricks were made at either of two of Ohio State Pen's satellite
prisons. One was located just outside of Junction City Ohio, the other was just
outside of Roseville Ohio. I have found them used for sidewalks, houses, and
privies all over Perry County Ohio. I am guessing that they are end marked as
opposed to being top marked, and should be an incuse marking instead of being
embossed. Some of them are marked with an R or JC, but not all. Hope this helps
--
Josh
==========
I have a brick that was found in the ruins of the Breithaupt Tannery
here in Kitchener (formerly Berlin) Ontario, Canada. The name on it says BEST
SCOTCH. What is the origin of this brick?
--Tim Willcox
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