The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-05-26
WELL KNOWN owosso PRODUCT
]. & H. Frieseke Enjoy an Extensive Trade
Outside of Owosso. Their Brick Rec
ognized as Best of its Class, Clay Sup
ply will last about Six Years More

and between Washington and Shawassee
streets there is an industry to which Owes
so owes much more than a casual observer
would perhaps think. perhaps more than
OwOssO citizens will realize until the time
comes when the business can no longer DO
run at the old place. The fact is that
OwossO has long enjoyed unusual privileges
in having supply of the finest quality of
common building brick manufactured by
two concerns, and right here in her midst.
When the fact is taken into consideration
that these firms have fur nished big per
! cent OF the brick used In the cities and vii
lagos along the ID. & M. division of the
Grand Trunk between Holly and st. Johns,
the saving In freight alone to Owosso
builders will be seen to have been no small
item during the many years in which the
work has been carried on. Hence a brief
glance lat the work of the larger of these
plants may be of interest at this time.
The Fresese brick yard was the first put
in operation In 1868 by the Freseke Broth
ers, Julius and Herman, who began on
small scale, moulding the bricks by hand
labor, and who have operated the yard con-
tinuously ever since that time. constantly
on the lookout to keep the most up.to-date
machinery in their plant. In 1879 they pm,
in steam machinery, and several years ago
the moulded clay in such way that the
cut surface is along the broad sides of the
brick, and as the stroke Is from end to end
of the brick both side surfaces are lett
of the business but nine acres of ground
was bought. About twelve years ago nine
and half more were purchased at an ex-
pense of over 1000. In former days wood
was used exclusively in burning the kilns.
Now the crude oil or petroleum which is
used effects a saving of about two days in
the time consumed in burning kiln, and
by its uniform even heat ensures an even
color in the brick from the very arch to the
outermost layer of the kilns.
There is another requisite, however, be-
sides even heat in the production of brick of
even color as the Detroit brick makers real
ize to their sorrow. Not every kind of clay
can be burned so as to produce the even
red so much desired. The composition of
the OwOsso clay is such, also, as to give
great durability, and, being the same ell
the way through there is no possibility of
wearing off the outside finish and finding a
brick Of different color in few years.
Again, the quality of the clay determines
the process which can be used. Here
again Detroit brick makers are at disad-
vantage and Detroit architects several years
ago refused TO allow bids which contemp-
lated the use of Detroit brick made by the
process used in this city, because in com
paratively short time the brick would peel
off and crumble. This fact was first
brought to the attention of the Frieseke
Bros. in the middle of the eighties when
they put in bid for furnishing brick to be
used in the new asylum building at Pontiac.
The architects on learning of the process
used refused to allow the OwOsso firm to
bid. but on being shown samples of their
brick, changed their minds about it's quality
and allowed the bid to be entered. The re-
suit was that the Owosso firm furnished
half million of brick. for the building, and
since that time Detroit architects have Of
fered no objection to their bids.
Besides the advantage in even color and
a feature referred to above
makes the Owosso product an especial fav-
Orite with experienced builders. Owing to
the way the brick is cut before going to the
kiln both faces are left with smooth edges
so that in laying the brick there are two
good faces either of which can be used for
the outer surface of the wall. Unless a
particular lot happens to be injured by a
severe driving rain before being burned,
fully eighty-fve per cent of the brick are
perfect enough to be classed as face brick,
a fact which it is needless to say recon-
mends the product Of the Frieseke yards to
all architects and builders.
The following unsolicited communication
from the old and we'll known. conservative
firm of architects, Fairfield & Odds. OF
Grand Rapids, is good illustration of the
way the Owosso brick are regarded. We
reproduce the part referring to the Owosso
brick.
GRAND RAPIDS, May 16, 1899.
MEssRs j. & Ii. FRIEsEKE:
My dear Sirs: You can refer any one to
that Grand Haven job as the best common
brick work In the whole state of Michigan,
and you can safely wager money on 1t. 1t
stands on the same square with the $780,
900 court house which was built with De. |
troit brick that cost double the price of |
yours, but 1t is not In 1t. Everyone con- |
cedes II. We remain yours truly,
FAIRFIELD IL OLDs.
Frieseke Bros. have now an order for |
80, 600 brick for Grand Rapids job, while |
during last season they furnished brick for
some eight different jobs In that city. The
whole output for last season was about |
three million brick and the part of 1t which !
was shipped to outside parties may be i'm
agined when 1t Is stated that In July alone
one hundred car loads of brick were shin. |