Found at the Stein, Manuel Works, Whitecross.
Manufacturer unknown.
Find location would suggest Scottish origins but …
I suspect this may be a Stein product but from what stage in the Company’s development I do not know. It is, however, more likely it was made by Davison Refractories.
Davison’s specialised in refractory and acid-resistant bricks. Charles Davison’s Ewloe Barn Brick and Tile Works and Old Ewloe Works were active from 1933 to 1951 and were later merged with General Refractories Ltd, and then taken over by the firm of G. R. Stein Ltd. The site closed in 1967.
General Refractories, Sheffield actually took over Charles Davison & Co and in turn, merged with G. R. Stein – so it is possible this is a General Refractories Stein product but not necessarily manufactured in Scotland – see reference in The Colliery Guardian 01/10/1913 which states –
General Refractories, Ltd. The company has acquired the whole share capital of Charles Davison and Co., Buckley, Flintshire, which produces adamantine linings for rotary cement kilns, and bricks and linings of obsidianite for use in chemical works.
Ron Millward, former Office Manager at Davison’s, states the name Obsidianite derives from Obsidian which is a term for molten lava which has set solid and would withstand exposure to most acids. It didn’t like exposure to fluorine gas though. He stated they were used a lot by cement manufacturers to line the tops of chimneys where acid formed and eroded traditional bricks
Obviously, bricks stamped Obsidianite and Davison were made by Davison but were the bricks stamped ‘Obsidianite’ alone made by Davison also or elsewhere?
Below – A variation of the stamp on a circle brick found at Scremerston, Northumbria by Anne Innes.
Below – Found during excavations of an old industrial area in Glasgow. Possibly they have been used on a site occupied by the Clyde Portland Cement Company. These were manufactured by Davison.
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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,…
