Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-10-15
BRICK BURNERS.
The Use of Oil Soaked Porous Bricks
A Fire Bail Idea.
TIC DuW
New York Sun.

New York SUM-
The story told i'll the Sun about the
possibility of using coal cook stoves by
burning in them porous bricks soaked
in kerosene has aroused much interest
among folks living out of town. Many
of these have written IL the Sun asking
questions about the bricks one man,
writing from Bayonne, n. j., declares
that Maurer & Son, who are nanufac-
turing the bricks, may not be aware of
the fact that the process was patented
several years ago by Ldfierty. the man
who built the Elephant at COMFY
Island" and that tile reason the idea
did not catch on at that time was be-
cause coal was cheaper than Kerosene
oil.
When asked yesterday whether the
process had been patented Mr.. Muller,
of the Maurer firm, said he had never
heard of the issue of d patent for 1T.
Il don't see how any one can patent
the idea he said, for 1t is simply a
porous brick. and any one owning a
porous brick can soak it in oil and set
q match to it,"
Another communication received by
the Sun was from d man in Newburgh,
who wanted to know il the burning OF
oil by the brick process would not clog
his chimneys with q STICKY substance
and be expensive, for the reason that ne
would be compelled to hire chimney
sweep every once in a while to clean the
chimneys. When Mr.. Muller was asked
about this, he said he Wds unablesto an
swer the question for the reason that
he himself ha1 never tried to burn oil
in bricks. However, this was a matter
that would be determined later on. after
some one had experimental further
with oiled brick fuel.
From another source came the infor-
nation that there was danger of an
oiled brick exploding under certain con-
ditions. Mr.. Muller SAID, when ques-
toned on the possibilities of an eXplo-
sion, that the brick idea had been tried
under all sorts of conditions with per-
feet safety. In conclusion he said that
within the last few days he had been
asked so many questions about using
oiled bricks for fuel that he was really
"sick and tired of hewhole business,and
was sorry that he EaG ever discussed
the subject.
Another suggestion that has been
made for substitute fOrscoal is mod
flied fire ball. which has given satisfac-
ton to several persons who have used
it. To make the fire ball a tin can-an
old tomato can will dds taken and
bound firmly with wire, so that it's
seams will not open and the bottom
will not fall out when ii is subjected to
heat.
After the wire binding has been put
on the can is filled with ashes. Wood
ashes are preferable; hut If these can
not be obtained, sifted coal ashes will
do. When the ashes ale we'll packed in
the can, kerosene oil is poured in until
the ash filling is thoroughly saturated.
Then the ashes can be isnited as the
wick of lamp is, and the fire ball Will
burn for an hour or more.
Ore advantage which it is said this
form of fire ball has over oil-saturated
bricks is that the oil is burned only on
one surface, so that there is not as
much waste combustion as In the case
Of brick The ash filler in the can acts
as a wick and the oil is drawn to the
top as fast as it is needed by capillary
attraction.
If a solid iron box can be substituted
for the tin can, it would be unnecessary
to bind 1t. In using the fire ball in a
cooking stove, it should be placed un-
der the spot on which the article to be
cooked is to rest. Then the heat may
be concentrated and the full benefit of
the oil burned obtained.