The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-11-15

any there arc-WIll absorb the moisture
from the wetter clay adjacent and the mass
will be moro homogeneous, and conse-
quently in much better condition TO
make good brick. ~
By tho extra mixing Of the different
etrata OF clays, or clay and sand or loan,
thus given, the resulting bricks arc more
uniform in texture, size and every other
quality which a good brick should possess
There are no exceptions to this rule,
and il will always pay Tor largo or small
works TO let the clay mellow and become
uniform in temper.
A better plan in some cases Is TO pug
the clay and let ii lie day or two before
using, as then the mass becomes mellow
and less difficult to work, and from 10 TO
10 per cent. more bricks can be made with
the same power.
Ii you are 30 located that IL is not prac-
tcable to prepare your clay in advance,
some form OF crusher or disintegrater Is al
most notwithstanding that will
thoroughly crush and pulveriae all tough
as well ~ dry Jumps. A diilerential mo-
ton, smooth roll crushcr, where there are
not many stones, or compound, four roll
crushor, with the top rolls corrugated to
remove the stones, works admirably.
Aud there are comparatively few yards
where crushers or some form OF pulverizer
would not work to u decided advantage,
whether you pit and soak your clay or
not.
II the clay is put into a pit or clay
house 10 cook and temper probably the
best arrangement 10 handle it economically
would be to have q conyeyor or wide belt
run the whole length Of the clay-room,
down the center 80 the clay could be
easily shovelcd on 10 II from either side;
and IL Is then carried 10 tho cfushcr or
machine. as the case may be, by an in
clined elevator. In some large works the
conveyors are from 100 TO 200 feet long.
There are two distinct classes OF ma
chimes for the manufacture Of stiff clay
bricks, the mold and tho die machines. In
| tho former the clay Is pressed into steel
lined molds arranged in revolving hori-
zOnlal wheel by the action OF spiIally ar
ranged knives on a vertical shaft, and rs
| the wheel revolycs the bricks are raised
above tho surface OF the wheel by follow
or, which fits the mold very closely. As
the bricks como up they are taken oil by
hand and placed upon truck and carried
30 the bake or put into dryer. The well
known Sword machine is perhaps the
best example Of this class OF machines.
OF the die machines, ~ called, there are
two classes augur and tho plungcI
machines. In the former tho clay il forced
through tho die by u series Of knives ar
ranged spirally upon horizontal shaft
and tho discharge Of clay Is continuous IN
a bar or bars Of such shape in section ~ Il
bo cut by steel wires, either OF the length
OF brick or tho thickness OF a brick
termed respectively end cut or side cuI
bricks
This cutting OF the bar Of clay is done
| automatically, as ia the Chambers ma
| chino, or by hand, as in the Adrian, Con.
tennial aud other we'll known machines.
In the plungrr machines the clay !;
forced by knives and mud wing down
into press box or chamber from which il
Is forced through tho die by the action Of
a rccoprocating piston or plungcr.
| After tho plunge is made aud while the
bar Of clay is at rest IL Is cut into bricks
the Same as in the augur machine.
Tho Pcniicld is the best known OF thi.
class OF machines IL also has an auto.
matte device for cutting both end and side
cut bricks.
After the bricks arc made they are solid
and firm enough to bo piled directly into
tho bake, or dried on pallets Or in any
other approved manner.
Such la brief Is tho molus operandi
In the manufacture OF bricks by tho slid
mud process.
| We will now notice some Of the obicc
tons 90 the bricks manufactured Wy ihii
method.
The most common objection is that In
clay. being forced through die. arrange
itself in layers or Limitations longituii
nnlly, and II the bricks aru cut ut the end
they split easily aud aro hard 10 cut cross
wise, aud II they arr side cut the bricki
are readily broken and cannot be split.
Such Objcctors do not stop o. consider
that tho very characteristic objected TO-
constitute their chief merit. for II th,
bricks are hard to break tho loss from sucl
source is very small, aud for all purposc
whore resistance u great strain Is dCsirpt
there Is no brick that can compete With ~
end cut brick. and by the test II the by
draulic press they will stand, in over,
instance, not less than % per cent create
breaking weight than mud brick mad,
from the same material and burned equal,
hard. The reason IL obvious, M the grail
vi tho clay IL In the direction Ot Its lcngtl
like stick OF timber aud being made q
clay having little water 20 be cvapomtcd
and subjected 90 greater pressure, It con
tains from ) to u per cent. more material
and IA 10 that extent stronger.
The side cut bricks, having Finished side
and ends, ara generally preferred for fac
brick, and II the operator n careful In Gu,
ting aud subsequent handling, brick ca
bc made almost equal In appearance 10
rcpr,~cd. In fact, thcp arc in Clcyelan
two buildings near each other. one lai,
with pcniicld face brick and the other q
best reprcsscd brick, aud tho former
conceded by all TO be the finer looking wall
although the pressed brick cost so aud th
rcnlold sl5 per l,0Ol
Almost Cyrry conceivable form, IN sec
ton, can be given 90 the bar of clay M
issues from the die. and It can then be- ca
into bricks iot ornamental jnmh., archie
aud like purposes, or hy cutting Int
greater lengths, straight line molding
may be made, which arc suitable for col
niccs, belt courses aud tho like, 10 smA
expense companl with is only otho
competitions terra Gotta ur cut stone.
Upon the table before mo eau hc see
samples VI such work made on rcnilel
machine that will give YOU nomo idea {
the range Of work which is possible b
this method Of manutacturc.
Tho slih clay process IA pp'.cmincntl
adapted 10 tho preparation OF bricks an
tiles 10 bc reprvsscd for both plain an orns
mental work.
There has been q great effort made I
devise some way 10 avoid the labor ot har
moldinr, brushing and turning and s,acl
ing VI bricks 10 iit them for tho reptcS
and the sill clay process seems TO exact