The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-06-28
Tup vrpc1S1. BRICK CoMpANY.-One Of

which has taken place in our city occurred
yesterday at the yard Of this newly organ
lied company. The exhibition was the
operation of Gregg's patent brick machine
In the almost miraculous labor OF makiDg
thirty three thousand six hundred beautl-
iul STOCK brick, equal in all respects to the
handmade bricks of Baltimore, In the
space of ten hours. A brick machine, to
be truly valuable requirement, demands
many seemingly antagonistic qualities and
requirements, and hence it is the "eycel-
sior brick press" invented by Mr.. Gregg
is truly wonderful machine, and chal-
lenges general admiration.
The clay used is tempered by an almost
instantaneous action, whereby the compo-
nent PARTICLES OF the mass are SO tho
roughly amalgamated that the atoms are
allied with all the natural tenacity OF the
clay in it's original state. 1t is not passed
through the enervating process of super
tluous and frequent manipulations, but 1t
is tempered thoroughly, being passed
through two revolving discs or rollers, the
one running at the rate of four hundred
and the other two hundred revolutions per
minute. Passing through these rollers it is
carried by series of bands to the reser-
voir, some twenty feet above the distri-
bueing chamber, on its way to the moulds.
Here it is again subjected to further
tempcriDg process, and falls into the cham
Der over the moulds, and thence into the
moulds themselves. BY its weight it de-
sccnds, and in the hopper receives two Sc
parate prcssureS; and passing beneath
rcpressure plate, the nearly formed bricks,
seven in number, are raised to receive the
third and finishing pressure, securing In
the consecutive operations no less than
three hundred tons pressure upon each
brick-an enormous power, which, how
ever, no single operation could readily I'M
part.
1t becomes in all such machines ncccs-
sity to apply oil to the moulds, and in this
machine the oilng, cleansing, and deliver
ing processes are well performed and eft-
ciently effected. \ dry brush revolvcs in
advance Of the oiling brush, which oils the
top of the ejecting followers, and thus at
the same moment two distinct operations
are performed, while for the delivery OF
brick, after completion, a nice adjustment
is made by crank with movable centre;
and at either side of the hopper, alternately,
seven bricks are delivered, perfectly
finished and so compressed that they weigh
nearly eight pounds as they are borne to
bc "stackcd."
In the anticipation Of various tempcra-
lures and qualities of clay, steam box IS
placed Just above the hopper over the
moulds, so that when clay is too dry or
too sticky, or perhaps we mis sht say muddy,
jet may be forced through it, and thus
the whole body permcated, as required,
with either heat or moisture.
We might be much more explicit, but
our space torbids, and we must turn to the
very extensive scale upon which the Viz
ginia Brick Company have entered upon
the business.
The grounds of the Company cover
nearly or quite ten acres; upon one side
an extensive clay bank presents itself, and
ranged along the other are the fine large
driving sheds, one hundred feet by twenty
six. These are provided upon either side
with movable Stats, so that the rain may
be excluded at moments notice, while III
another the air may have, almost unlnter-
ruptedly, action over the whole space.
These sheds deserve especial commenda-
ton as the handiwork of Messrs. John &
George Gibson, Of this city.
Taken all in all, the premises of the Nir-
ginia Brick Company are truly in advance
Of any in the country in conveniences, and
We hope they may soon become as exten-
sivc in area and production as the cele-
brated yards Of MesSrs. Hubbell 4 Abbotts,
the largest in the world. Mr.. j. ii. Mon
taguc presided over the festivities of the
opening day with his usual telicitous style,
making every guest feel the reality OF his
welcome, and that he was wcllsurrounded.
Our readers are invited at any time to
visit the works, and Mr.. Isaac l.. Hill, the
superintendent and engineer, will gladly
explain to them the machine. In his alb
scnce, Mr.. S. Wurthley, the general ma
nagcr of the business, will also be happy
TO do for them like kindness. To these
gentlemen We particularly tender our
thanks.
A NrIsANCE.-Complaints are made by
the residents of Marshall street, between
First and Adams, that u most hideouS
noise is kept up nearly every night, and
throughout the whole night, at house oc-
cupled bv negroes in that locality. They