them in. There must be no finger-marks on them, and all “crumbs" must be wiped off the face of the mould; also, off the lid. After the bricks are pressed they are generally laid flat, five or six high, and when partly dry they are slightly rubbed with the hand and piled pigeon-hole shape, which allows further drying. In some cases they are piled in squares, edgewise, five or six high. When dry enough, they are placed on barrows, with strips of wood or soft blankets between each course, and taken to the shed to remain until required for burning. It is highly important that the mould lid and plate of the press shall be kept clean when in use. Occasionally raise the plunger plate, and wipe off any dirt that may have accumulated on it, and apply a slight oiling to all the parts. When the day's work of pressing is ended, make it a fixed rule that the presser shall take out the plunger, clean the mould lid and plate, oil the surfaces and replace. Occasionally, while working, the presser should clean the plunger and keep it always well oiled, as should be all the wearing parts of the press.

The pressed bricks are usually set eight courses high in the kilns, but we have seen them carried ten or twelve courses in height in the city of Philadelphia. The top course does not usually extend closer than the fourth course from the top. They are also set differently from the way in which common bricks are placed, the desire being to preserve the faces which are to be exposed in the wall of a building. There is not the same amount of crossing or "checkering" of this class of bricks as in common stock.

The bottom, one middle, and the top course are crossed

or checkered in setting eight high, and Fig. 82 will show the manner of placing them in the kiln. The bricks are set one directly over the other on edge; the "cross-ties" shown are to

Fig. 82.

8 Courses Press Bricks

Common Bricks

Common Bricks

Elevation showing manner of setting pressed bricks in the

kiln.

hold the body and keep the pressed bricks from "wabbling" or slanting from either side. Great care and experience in setting as well as in burning kilns containing quantities of pressed bricks are very essential. Too hard firing in settling the kiln is liable to cause all the pressed bricks to "tumble" or fall, and the fires at this stage are consequently lighter and more frequent than when the kiln contains only common bricks. The pressed bricks are also handled much more carefully than common

bricks, being taken up one at a time, placed lightly on the barrows, and are carefully handled and tossed also one at a time to the setter. No extra money is paid to the setting-gangs for handling pressed bricks; the work is included in the task.

In all stages the "gluts" as well as the finished green pressed bricks should be protected from unequal drying; the sheds in which they are made should have movable slat sides, which are closed during periods of strong winds.

Ornamental bricks are usually made in the same manner as fine pressed bricks, the quantities produced for a day's work are less, but vary with the size and complications of

the designs. The hand-presses in which ornamental bricks are pressed sometimes have larger mould-boxes than for ordinary pressed bricks, and when small designs are to be pressed, which do not fill out the mould, suitable blocks of hard wood are used for "fillers" between the patterns.

The brick-press shown in Fig. 83 can be used for repressing edgewise all grades of front, shape, and ornamental

bricks, and also for fire-bricks. This press is made by Mr. Isaac Gregg, Chicago, Ill., and the price on board is $300.

Fig. 84 represents the Miller Press, which is made in three different styles for front bricks, and usually one style for fire-bricks. In this make they usually work with two levers, one to press the brick with a downward movement, and the other to raise the brick level with the top of the mould. The price of this machine on board at Philadelphia, Pa., is $145.

Mr. Miller invented and commenced the manufacture of his press in 1844. Not satisfied with his first attempt, he has gradually improved on it since that time, till his skill and labor have been rewarded by a machine possessing many advantages and conveniences. This machine is manufactured of the best material, and the parts are smooth and finished in a workmanlike manner, thereby aiding the operator by lessening friction. Its other advantages are many, being simple in construction, combining speed, durability, and economy. In the manufacture of red brick, its thorough work is perceptible in the handsome and even shape, uniform corners, solidity, and smooth, straight surface. In fire-brick it compresses the clay so as to give solidity. By the aid of one of these machines five thousand red bricks can be compressed in ten hours' time, increasing them largely in value. It can be operated by one or two levers, or by lever and treadle. Its construction is so plain that there is nothing complicated to get out of

Fig. 85.

order, and occasion trouble and expense for repairs. There is no wood work about it, being constructed entirely of cast-steel, wrought, and cast-iron; the boxlid and plate being faced with the best cast-steel, and with cast-steel extension side around

the plate. The reputation of this machine is established all over this country, and there is not a State in the Union to which Mr. Miller has not shipped more or less of them.

The well-known Carnell press, shown in Fig. 85, is made in three different styles, single lever, shown in Fig. 85, double lever, and lever and treadle. In the first style one lever presses the bricks, and raises them out of the mouldbox; the second style has two levers, one to press the bricks, and the other to raise them; the third style is the same as the first, except that it has a treadle to lift the bricks. The price of this substantially built brick-press is $115, on board at Philadelphia, Pa.

The new front brick-press, shown in Fig. 86, is known as the "Peerless" press, and it is used exclusively by the Peerless Brick Co. at their extensive works near the city of Philadelphia, and was patented in 1882 by Mr. John Crab