Found at the old Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge.
This was in a pile of ash and waste that contained many test samples from the Bonnyside Brickworks laboratory.
The letters of the stamp are all raised.
UCB = Union Chimique Belge S.A.
Belref is a distributor in Mons (Saint-Ghislain).
They are now specialized in preshaped products and fire bricks but perhaps this is an old brick from their past range.
Below – Belref – Societe Belge des Produits Refractories Usine de St Ghislain.
Below – UCB = Union Chimique Belge S.A.
27/09/1962 – Belfast Telegraph – W. J. Fraser & Co Ltd, Romford, Essex. Phosphoric acid plant (St Cobain/Union Chemique Belge Patents).
Below – This 1989 GR-Stein brochure shows a relationship between Belref and Hepworth.
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This firebrick is in the possession of the Falkirk Council collection as part of the Falkirk Archives. Its manufacture is attributed to GR-Stein Refractories Ltd, Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. John Bramall comments – This H shape of brick was developed for use in the heat regenerators of glass melting furnaces. There was also an I-shaped brick…
Found at Manuel Works, Whitecross by Ian Suddaby. This example is not in my possession The manufacturer of this checker is unknown although the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Works, Whitecross’ Scotland. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor…
Found by Ian Suddaby at the site of the old Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – A huge block of fireclay incorporating a nozzle/cone-shaped vent has been exposed by tree clearance at the Manuel Works near Linlithgow, Scotland. Although there is no name, this will be likely be manufactured…
Found by Ian Suddaby 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. AL – 80 = 80% Alumina content. Höganäs Borgestad, brick manufacturers, Sweden. At Höganäs Borgestad, we started producing refractory bricks in 1825,…
Canmore – Whaling Station, 1904 Gaunt remains of a long-defunct industry, with a lone, tapering red brick chimney rising from the foundations of the boiling house/desiccator. Little else but the carcass ramp survives. Founded by a Norwegian, Karl Herlofsen, the factory was acquired by Lever Bros in 1922 when the market was declining but was…
The following bricks were found by Jacob Serge at a demolished military camp at Leopoldsburg, Belgium. . . . . Below – Castlecary – Castlecary Fireclay & Lime Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Below – Preston Grange – Prestongrange Brick, Tile and Fireclay Works, Prestonpans, East Lothian.
These two bricks were found in the tidal muds at Grangemouth, Scotland and in the same location as a number of confirmed Russian stamped bricks. Their ‘yellow’ colour, size (narrow) and visual composition suggest they may be early Dutch bricks. One would appear to have the imprint of an anchor or perhaps it is a…
Found by Ian Suddaby. Ian states – Down and dirty at low tide in the bed of the River Carron at Grangemouth on the Firth of Forth. Even though I’m very close to the wharf where many Grangemouth bricks were shipped out in the years before WWI, I never expected to find three foreign bricks….
Found at the Manuel Works, Whitecross. This will likely be a Stein or GR-Stein product. These items may be part of a nozzle or tuyere or a burner segment or a quarl block for a burner. Mullite M is 72% Alumina. It is possible the small square holes are for secondary air bleeds to help…
Found in Avonbridge by Joe Pason. Unidentified manufacturer. ‘RESCO’ or ‘RESGO’? The find location would suggest Scottish origins but … The stamp has the look of a Craigend Refractory, Falkirk stamp and it is of note it was found alongside a ‘Craigend Falcon’ fire brick.( Craigend Refractories also manufactured fire bricks stamped ‘Falcon A’. It…
