The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-04-07
For the Democratic AdVocaie.
Brickmaking.

| II was with view of conducting the brekmaking
business in all of its departments that EberhaIt
Bros bought g. acres Of ground part of the Zacha-
riaS farm, near Wcstminsterl from Milton Schacifer.
in April, 1857. During that month they began 10
erect their sheds dig clay c preparatory 10 enter
ing upon business. As u proof that they were in
earnest in this matter they manufactured during
their first season 70oO0O bricks These were prnci
Paiy sold in Baltimore and vicinity and, strange to
say, they were nearly all sold to briekmakers The
Eberhart Bros sold to these at u price that gave
them profit iii selling to builders and contractors
They also sell large number of paving brick in
baltimore. his firm manufactures a sand brick"
that very nearly approaches pressed brick They
make nice small joint and when in a wall and
worked by good mechanic they look almost as
well as pressed front would, and largely sub
stituted for pressed brick by builders. They are
made in a single mould shod with steel and extra
pains given their manufacture 1t is the intention
of the Eberhart Bros. during the summer to manu-
aeture pressed brick they having the material and
experience. They regard the clay they are now
using as No. /. 1t is difficult to find better any
where and both members of the firm have had
large experience in manufacturing the best grades
OF pressed brick. This firm has been working l6
hands, some of them heads of families and some
boys. In some work OH a brckyard boys suit better
than men. but whenever this firm can do so they
give men the preference, especially when they have
families. They believe in paying well, thinking it
the best plan to get good work. and pay their hands
sl.25 per day. They expect during the brick season
of 1855 TO work % hands and make 500 900 brick
Their facilities will be considerably increased but
the weather has much to do with the matter. Last
season was bad one for manufacturing brick
There much bad weather, or wet weather
they would not dry. Their pay roll will run up to
about $50 per week. They pay their hands every
Saturday, and none are allowed to leave on that
day until they are paid their weeks earnings. The
best of modern machinery is used for grinding and
tempering the lay. 1t is run by horse power, and
will temper enough in day to make 600 bricks
When burned the bricks are hauled in carts to the
railroad in Westm mister, a distance of about IL
miles each cart carrying 500 at load with one
horse. Cumberland coal is used fo- burning their
brick, and 1t takes about 40 tons to burn kiln Of
10000. The coal is furnished by E. Lynch K Son,
ofthis CITY,
1t may be of interest to some readers of the ADvo
CATE to know just how brick are made, and we will
endeavor therefore, to give them something of the
process: The clay is taken dug from the bank in
its natural state loaded into carts and dumped in
pit prepared for the purpose. This pit is supplied
with the latest improved machinery for grinding
and tempering clay. large iron wheel stands up
like wagon wheel and rolls around in this pit on
the clay, crushing, grinding, and mixing or temper
ing it. The wheel, as it is drawn around by horse
power shifts to and from the centre. thus tracking
over the whole surface of the pit from the shaft in
the centre to the outside of the pit Two horses
required for this purpose and they travel about 16
miles per day while grinding clay in this pit. The
clay. when dumped in the pit. is covered with
water, and allowed 10 remain in that condition all
night 1t is then in good order to grind and temper
bp 1nt Tha aIa hafn IL |
laked the horses carefully hched and after
grinding or passing aforementioned wheel around |
backward and forward for about eight hours the |
.lay is pronounced tempered. This plan Is far |
superior to what known the png mill for
grinding clay The clay being tempered, it is placed
IN wheelbarrows and conveyed to the moulder, who
makes it into brick. Where singh moulds used
only one brick moulded at time), a wooden box
inches long in the clear, by AZ inches wide and
u inches deep is used. The moulder shapes the
lay and presses il in the mould, and then with a
low with wire cuts off all above the surface OF the
nould then it is taken by the offbearer and placed
Upon the floor of the yard to dry. After lying upon
he Aoora suicientlength of time dry they can
DC handled without finger printsshowi upon Them
hey are then removed and piled loosely in sheds,
where they dry still more and become quite hard.
they are then set or arranged in the kiln to burn
They placed that there is about a half inch
pace all around each brick. This allows the fire,
when knded next the ground, to go all through the
Siln, heating alike and burning regularly. This
irm usually burns about 10000 in kiln, in six
riches OF over 5000 each-l0OOO is about the num-
Der usually set TO an arch. Their arches about
% brick long. 1t takes six men about six and one
lalf days set kiln. 1t takes four men to carry
hem to the kin one to toss them to the setter and
me to set or place them. 1t requires three men to
lttend the kiln when burning. and occupies about
80 hours of constant burning to have the brick well
burned. takes about three days for kiln to COO
sufficiently to handle the brick for shipment. The
Kiln usually yields about 20 per cent of salmon or
oft about 80 per cent of arch and about so per cent
IF red and paving.
Both members of this firm practical meehan-
les There is nothing about matchmaking that they
10 not thoroughly understand. They have worked
In the best yards in baltimore, and have made
common hrek, sand brick, paving, and every vari-
ETY. of pressed brick. VIM. +. Eberhart is resident
Of Westminster and has had Is years experience in
he business John c. Eberhart is a resident of Bal.
more, and has had 30 years experience in the bus
mess This is a solid. substantial firm. They have
IN established reputation for honesty, and make it
point TO deal fairly and satisfactorily Their bus
mess is constantly increasing, and will ere long,
under present management. be one of the largest
of the kind in the state Such men de-
'erve success, and they cannot fail to have it.
VISITOR.