Found at Stein Castlecary Works, Castlecary.
From invoices recovered at the Stein, Manuel Works I believe these metal-encased bricks may be ‘related’ to:-
Contex MAG CSD – R Metal cased 230mm x 178mm x 76/70mm – £336.80 per tonne.
Contex Mag CSD/W metal cased 300mm x 175mm x 90mm O/ALL pos FR2/1 Steel sheeted (22 gauge) with Detrick recess suspended ends – £315.90 per tonne.
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Below – This example below measures approx – 230mm x 120mm x 70mm
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Below – And this example measures approx 375mm x 125mm x 70mm
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Below – 1968 – John G Stein & Co Ltd. A film held by the National Library of Scotland – These film stills show you these steel-clad bricks being made at the Stein Works – the steel sheath oxidises in the heat and welds the bricks together forming a self-supporting arch.
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Below – The 2 photos below were taken within the Manuel Works c.1980 and appear to show the steel-clad bricks being made.
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Harley Marshall, ex Export Manager at the Stein Manuel Works states the bricks were manufactured as chrome magnesite or magnesite chrome bricks. He remembers them being called 18/8’s or 25/20’s and recalls this referred to the nickel/chrome or chrome/nickel content of the steel plating. He states the basic bricks were made at the Manuel Works and transported to the Stein Castlecary Works to be clad in the steel jackets.
They were hung back to back on special hooks or tabs from perhaps a furnace roof. In the heat, they fused together forming a strong self-supporting roof.
It is believed the MAG CSD stands for Magnesite Chrome Steel- clad Dense
These bricks were rebranded to the Contex name on the merger with General Refractories
Below – Further information on steel-clad bricks taken from a John G Stein publication of unknown date.
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Below – 03/1964 – The Refractories Journal – Steel cased bricks.
Julkia Rizzi states this Thistle brick was photographed as part of a coal-burning fireplace in a house in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. 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 . .
Found by John Barnard at Fitzroy, Falkland Islands. 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 .
Many thanks to Vladimir Smirnov for highlighting this brick to me which was found in the vicinity of the St. Petersburg Region, Gatchina Region, Russia by a brick collector, Alexander Korolev. It was discovered the stove of a private house. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein &…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. 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 .
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. 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 .
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. 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 .
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. This is a ‘hanger’ fire brick. The last number is unclear but it looks like a 2 with the ‘bottom’ missing. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co, Anchor Brickworks, Denny, Stirlingshire. Milnquarter Fireclay & Gannister Works,…
Found by Eddie McLean in the Glasgow area. 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 .
Found at the Manuel Brickworks, Whitecross by Ian Suddaby. This example is not in my possession. Ian states – This IVOR kiln hanger brick is damaged but it’s still the best by far I have ever found. I don’t know whether Ivor was a brand name or a company name, once again there’s a lack…
Found and recovered from the John Lysaght Normanby Park Works at Scunthorpe, Lincs by Jim Stevens. Now in the possession of Ian Suddaby. This example is not in my possession. It measures roughly 14″ x 10″ x 6″. Stein, Castlecary Fireclay Works, Castlecary, Stirlingshire. Stein, Manuel Firebrick and Refractory Works, Whitecross, Stirlingshire. Stein & Co,…
