Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for the following information.
This brick is in the possession of Grisha? and believed to have been found in the Donetsk region of Ukraine.
Both Vladimir and I believe this to be a forgery of a Glenboig, Scotland brick. Glenboig bricks were renowned throughout the world for their quality and reliability as a firebrick. It comes as no real surprise that someone somewhere would try and forge the brickmark to pass it off as the genuine article.
Vladimir states ‘the first letter is a “C” instead of “G” and of course “N” is simply reverse Russian “И”.
Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire.
Alternative brickworks include:
The above brick is very similar in many aspects to this forged Glenboig which was manufactured in Ukraine and may well have been manufactured by the same maker. Click here – Kuznetsov
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A c.1913 Glenboig Union Fireclay catalogue states – The fame attained by the Glenboig brands has led to some dishonest imitations by makers of inferior goods. The word Glenboig which is our trademark and trade name is used in various ways by the parties referred to, who also imitate the form of our stamps and purposely stamp indistinctly. We would, therefore, warn buyers, when not buying directly from the Glenboig Union Fireclay Limited, to make sure that one or other of the brands shown at page 9 is clearly impressed upon the goods and not to be satisfied by any other use of the name Glenboig.
The Scottish Refractory Industry 1830 – 1980 book by Kenneth W Sanderson states with regards the section on the Glenboig Union Fireclay Company “… Reports were received that firebricks made in Germany and shipped from Hamburg and Antwerp to the Black Sea ports were branded with Russian characters which translate phonetically as ‘Glenboi’. Customers in Southern Russia were circulated to warn them of this attempt to mislead them”
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 .
Found in the Alloa area. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire .
Found by Claudio Ernesto Rios. Claudio states – The bricks were found in the City of Zárate, Buenos Aires, Argentina. In a fridge (almost totally destroyed today) the fridge’s name was Smithfield Refrigerator of English capital, built in 1903, so I would believe those bricks were manufactured in the last decade of the 19th century….
Found by Gary Hibberd near Penicuik. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire
Found by Flipp Metlin in a basement floor in Saint Petersburg, on Vasilievskiy Island, Russia. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig, Lanarkshire It is likely there is a dash and a downward arrow stamped on the right of the brick…
Found by Ian Suddaby by the Firth of Forth in Central Scotland. 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….
Found by Amin Hz who states ‘This brick was found in an old oil well drilling company, probably 50 years ago, in the area of Koh Bink, located 23 km from Ganaveh Port, Iran’. Glenboig Union Fireclay Company, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Glenboig Star Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Glenboig Fireclay Works, (Old Works) Glenboig,…
Found by Ian Suddaby at Clydebank, Glasgow. 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 Below – This is a hanger brick with the hanger slots on the stretcher side. .
Found by John Musty in the Derby area. 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 were found in Suriname, South America by Marnix (John) Visser. Marnix states – I have found several bricks on an old Scottish plantation in Suriname South America with the name Waterloo and located in Nickerie at the border with Guyana. James Balfour was the plantation owner. . . Below – Hurlford –…
