Found Manuel Works, Whitecross.
Alro is confirmed as a GR – Stein brand. It is a chemically bonded product.
GR – Stein also made a high chrome alumina brick branded ALCRO.
Richard John Bramall notes – Alro products were never just ‘Stein’ products – they were GR products and then ‘GR-Stein’ products.
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 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 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). https://www.belref.com/ They are now specialized in preshaped products…
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. 80% Refers to the Alumina content. It was a chemically bonded product. This is a very dense, heavy brick. Alro is confirmed as a GR – Stein brand. It is a chemically bonded product. On being bought over by the Cookson/Vesuvius group it’s manufacture was transferred to its Polish operation at Skawina near…
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 by Ian Suddaby at the Niddrie Fireclay Works in Edinburgh. This example is not in my possession. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. . . .
This example was found in Edinburgh and is in the possession of Ian Suddaby. This is not in my possession. Unusually for a firebrick, one stretcher face has a rough finish and the other is smooth. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic…
Found at Drum Farm, Bonnybridge. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge works in 1973 and closed Chapelhall in 1980. Therefore between 1972 and…
Found at Drum Farm, Bonnybridge. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge works in 1973 and closed Chapelhall in 1980. Therefore between 1972 and…
Found by Tucker Kennedy in Ayrshire. Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co Ltd, Bonnybridge. alt Calder Firebrick Works, Airdrie, Lanarkshire. alt Chapelhall Works, Lanarkshire. Hepworth Ceramic Holdings plc (GR-Stein Refractories Ltd. parent co) bought the Bonnybridge Silica & Fireclay Co. Ltd in 1972, closed Bonnybridge works in 1973 and closed Chapelhall in 1980. Therefore between 1972…
