(Note – SBH – 12 different ‘Martin’ brickmarks have been found at the Hurll, Gartliston Brickworks, Glenboig).
I believe the Eglinton Silica Brick Company may be the manufacturer behind the Martin brickmark although the simple theory that Peter and Mark Hurll may have manufactured them still exists. — Eglinton Chemical Company Ltd made bricks for the Scotch Steel Works … The next manufactory in point of importance is their brickworks at Dundyvan, Coatbridge, in the very centre of the Scotch steel trade, where the flints obtained embedded in limestone at their Irish quarries, and bauxite brought from the same quarter, together with chrome ore such as is used at their Irvine works, are made, under processes patented by their manager, into silica, bauxite and chrome ore bricks respectively. These are used for lining Siemen’s, Martin’s steel furnaces, copper and gas furnaces, Bessemer’s converters, and for other metallurgical purposes. The flint bricks have already been largely adopted by the steelmakers to the exclusion of the Welsh Dinas bricks, which previously held the chief position in the estimation of the trade.
Advert below – Eglinton Silica bricks made by Eglinton Chemical works for the Scotch Steel Makers
Sir Carl Wilhelm Siemens developed the Siemens regenerative furnace in the 1850s and claimed in 1857 to be recovering enough heat to save 70–80% of the fuel. This furnace operates at a high temperature by using regenerative preheating of fuel and air for combustion. In regenerative preheating, the exhaust gases from the furnace are pumped into a chamber containing bricks, where heat is transferred from the gases to the bricks. The flow of the furnace is then reversed so that fuel and air pass through the chamber and are heated by the bricks. Through this method, an open-hearth furnace can reach temperatures high enough to melt steel, but Siemens did not initially use it for that.
In 1865, the French engineer Pierre-Émile Martin took out a license from Siemens and first applied his regenerative furnace for making steel. The most appealing characteristic of the Siemens regenerative furnace is the rapid production of large quantities of basic steel, used for example to construct high-rise buildings. The usual size of furnaces is 50 to 100 tons, but for some special processes, they may have a capacity of 250 or even 500 tons. Wiki Source
Pierre – Emile Martin b. 18/08/1824 – 23/05/1915
Now the above theory was good but it did not explain why bricks marked Martin were all found at Hurll’s Gartliston Works if they were being made by the Eglinton Chemical Company/Eglinton Silica Brick Company however I believe I have cracked the link between the two with this
1920 – publication – A special report on the Mineral Resources of Great Britain – Refractory Materials and Fireclays. Which states on page 211 – Peter and Mark Hurll Ltd, 144 West Regent Street, Glasgow. Garnqueen and Gartliston Pits. Situation – Glenboig 1/2 mile S.S.W of Station. Geological formation – Millstone Grit, Lower Fireclay. The Lower fireclay is found in the Garnqueen Pit at a depth of 17 fathoms … The beds dip S.S.W at 1 in 5.
At the Gartliston workings, where the lower fireclay is 39 fathoms from the surface, the metals are dipping S.S.E at 10 degrees – the cement limestone here lies 20ft below the pavement of the fireclay seam. At present time no clay is being raised at Garnqueen, the works having been temporarily leased to the Eglinton Silica Brick Company for the manufacture of magnesite bricks from imported material. ( This could account for the number of Martin bricks lying at The Hurll works Garnqueen and Gartliston if the Eglinton Silica Brick Company were making Martin bricks there)
So the Eglinton Silica Brick Company may also have been branding bricks with the customer’s names just as Hurll appeared to be doing eg
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Link to Martin bricks
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Another possibility is Hugh Martin. He appears to have been involved with the Castlecary Fireclay works c. 1884.
Below – 06/08/1884 – Castlecary Fireclay Company – Court action Wm Dixon Limited, Ironmongers sued Hugh Martin Senior, Coatbridge and others including William Logan for £108 6s for unpaid coal.
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The theories below are ponderings regarding the manufacturer of the Martin bricks prior to ascertaining the link to the Eglinton Chemical Company so I have left them here for interest’s sake
A theory – Martin Brothers Ltd., established in 1837 (Thomas and Edward Martin)
1871 – International Exhibition, London – Pottery – Terracotta, Stoneware, firebricks – page 74 – “The Martin Bros, England make bricks from refuse kaolin and selected washed sand. They are formed of 76% silica, 21% alumina and 1.7% iron oxide”
I have actually found a Kaolinit marked brick at Gartliston amongst the Martin bricks.
Below – 1882 – Advert for Martin Bros.
Glasgow Iron and Steel Co of Wishaw – 1844 Company established. In 1853, the Glasgow Iron Co acquired the derelict works at Motherwell of the West of Scotland Malleable Steel Co for £42,050. The works were managed by Thomas Martin, who improved, and patented, the refining and puddling of iron.
Thomas Martin (1831-1883)
West of Scotland Malleable Steel Co – Probably the first malleable ironworks in Motherwell was the West of Scotland Malleable Steel Co, which started in 1849. This Company erected works at Motherwell on a site adjoining the new railway. Although its chief partner was Mr James Merry MP, it was not a success and closed down in 1851.
In 1853, the Glasgow Iron and Steel Co acquired the derelict works of the West of Scotland Malleable Steel Co at Motherwell for £42,050. The works were managed by Thomas Martin, who improved, and patented, the refining and puddling of iron. The works closed in 1902.
One other theory of course and it would have been my theory of choice were it not for the Eglinton Silica Brick Co info above, is simply that Hurll themselves made these bricks for Pierre- Emile Martin and marked them accordingly. This is still a major contender but until proven otherwise I will go with theory 1 above meantime!
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06/11/2020 – This information regarding William Martin and Sons recently came to light and is relevant to this discussion.
During WW1, the Eglinton Silica Brick Company Limited leased Hurlls Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig in order to manufacture fire bricks, in particular silica and magnesite based bricks. They also had a large brickworks in Dundyvan Road, Coatbridge. Adjacent to these works were the Dundyvan Ironworks which no doubt used high numbers of fire bricks during the course of their business. These works were established in 1844 and were operated by Hugh Martin, William Martin, Alexander Neilson under the company name William Martin and Sons. This certainly appears to have been the case in the period around 1922. So perhaps the bricks found bearing the stamp ‘Martin’ which are predominantly found in the area of Glenboig, where the Eglinton Silica Brick Company Limited operated, were manufactured for William Martin and Sons and stamped accordingly.
Found in the Bo’ness area. I am not in possession of this example. Although this is broken there is little doubt it was stamped 60 – 69 and was a circle brick. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Found at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross. This is a broken special product. The top, left and right sides are intact and shaped as you see them but it is broken along the bottom edge. The manufacturer is unknown but the find site would suggest it was made at the Manuel Brickworks. GAH may well represent…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. (Note – SBC – the letter ‘U’ is slightly smaller than the rest. It is believed that this stamp may have been used by a specific moulder or…
Many thanks to Robert Clark for the following photographs and information regarding Scottish bricks found in the Ottawa area of Canada. Below – Govan – This is very likely to be Scottish and manufactured at a works in Govan, Glasgow. The exact works are unknown as there are several possibilities including Mallsmire Fire Brick Works,…
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. 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 The ‘B & W’ is likely to stand for Babcock and Wilcox. Babcock and Wilcox history. 1881 – Nathaniel Pratt, who would be B&W’s…
Found Manuel Works, Whitecross. Probably a J G Stein product. 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 Alternatively, this looks like it may be a cement-based refractory castable and thus may have been manufactured…
Found by Ian Suddaby near Plean. This example is not in my possession. The manufacturer is unknown but RB is a recognised stamp for P & M Hurll although it is not known what it stands for. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works,…
Many thanks to Karen Spruce for the photograph. This brick was found at an unknown location in Australia. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel.
Found by David Walsh in the Falkirk area. Garnqueen Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire Alternative brickworks include: Gartliston Fireclay Works, Glenboig, Lanarkshire. Building bricks at Garscadden Works, Drumchapel. . . . .
Found by Ian Suddaby on the site of the old Manuel Works, Whitecross. This example is not in my possession. ST Mull = Stein Mullite 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 KTG is…
