Found by Drew Mitchell in the Dalgetty Bay area of Fife.
Unidentified manufacturer.
Find location would suggest Scottish origins but …
This fire brick is most likely to have American origins as per the Monarch Fire Clay Co, Portland, Oregon.
Jean Bear states “Sometimes it is quite hard to determine where US firebricks were made, as small companies were purchased by larger ones, and the brands continued to be produced. There were MONARCH bricks produced in Pennsylvania, but I do not have one. Some research (Brick and Clay Record, Vol. XV, no.3, p. 239) indicates that the Monarch Fireclay Co. of Port Washington, Ohio, had just been incorporated (1901). Oral reports indicate that bricks were made at Monarch, PA, but I have no proof. But at least between 1930 and 1935, bricks with the MONARCH name were made by North American Refractories Co. at Curwensville, PA. NARCo was a much larger company with many brickyards in the US. NARCo may have made these in other locations at various times”
Below – This is an example of a Monarch stamped fire brick from the USA. Many thanks to Jim Graves for the photograph. Jim states the origins American, Monarch stamped bricks are either
1. Monarch Fire Brick Co, Portland, or.
2. North American Refractories in Curwensville, PA. (I think this example is from PA but I am not sure).
Brian Tarbuck states this brick was found in Augusta, Maine, USA while replacing a water pipe. Allan & Mann, Port Eglinton, Glasgow Alternative brickworks include: Rutherglen Pottery, Glasgow. Mallsmire Works, Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow. ,
Found by Ken Sousa in Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Found by Janet Archey in an avocado grove in Fallbrook, California. . . . . . Below – Nettle – D brick 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. Below – Douglas – D…
Found by Travis McIntyre and his sister Kim on the Kennebec River, Augusta, USA – next to Fort Western. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
Found by Victor Rodriguez in Patillas, Puerto Rico. Allan & Mann, Port Eglinton, Glasgow Alternative brickworks include: Rutherglen Pottery, Glasgow. Mallsmire Works, Myrtle Park, Crosshill, Glasgow. .
Found by Mark Weston in a burned-out house in the Santa Cruz Mountains of California, USA. Heatheryknowe Fire Clay Works, Glasgow. . . . .
Many thanks to Charlie Terry for the following photographs and information. Charlie states – My great-grandfather worked at the Beaconsfield and Lefroy gold mines in Tasmania. He was an assayer. Some of the bricks are still in their original boxes and have been stored in a shed for decades. Below – An example of one…
This brick is in the possession of John Hicks, West Monroe, Louisiana, USA. John is uncertain where the Docken brick was found in the USA as he picked it up at a brick swap meeting. James Dougall & Sons Ltd, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. Alternative brickworks include: Bonnyside Brickworks, Bonnybridge, Stirlingshire. .
Found by Jeffrey Valli on the railroad tracks in Truro, Massachusetts, USA. Gartcraig Fire Clay Works, By Millerston, Glasgow. . . . .
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…
