The Northwestern Clay Association was formed about a year ago, with a view to aiding the common-brick interests toward getting out of the depressed state in which they found themselves.  The organization has worked slowly and carefully, but is accomplishing something in the matter, and bids fair to accomplish a great deal.  The lack of greater accomplishment so far has been due to a lack of membership, and this is in turn partly due to the lack of accomplishment.  Some would affiliate with the association if they felt that it would result in benefit, not realizing that every member aids materially toward placing the organization upon a standing which will enable it to accomplish something.  The plan of the organization is to improve conditions by a system of exchanging experiences and information – a general advance in the education of the members.  There is no idea of attempting to establish a minimum price schedule, for conditions vary too widely to make that feasible for the state, even if it were deemed otherwise desirable.  Some plants are operated on a small scale and with no outside labor, and with a minimum cost of production, but a limited field in which to market the product.  Neither can there be any limit of production, because of the same conditions.  The smaller yards would gain nothing, aside from the small saving in the fuel consumed by a reduction of production, since with many of them, the labor is that of the firm, and the reduction would be so much less of available assets with practically nothing saved in offset.  But by educating members up to a higher standard of manufacture and to better methods, much could be gained, and the higher prices would come as a matter of course.

Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXII, Number 1, January 1910
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 75

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Clay Workers

The Minnesota Convention

Steadily increasing in strength and importance, the Northwestern Clay Association promises to become a very important factor in the development of the clay resources of Minnesota and adjacent states.  Not much over a year old, this Association has already proven itself of real benefit to its membership.  The first open convention of the Association was held in Minneapolis on Wednesday, January 12th, and was well attended and proved very profitable and enjoyable for those present.  The attendance was the largest of any meeting of the Association yet held, and was representative of the clay interests of Minnesota.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of the convention was the numerous discussions over matters of interest to the members and the debates developed much information of importance.

The opening session was at the assembly room of the Builders' Exchange.  President George W. Higgins called to order and proceeded with business, the election of officers being taken up first.  The following officers were chosen:  President J. W. L. Corning, St. Paul; vice-president, I. C. Jones, Minneapolis; secretary, Axel Anderson, Minneapolis; treasurer, L. A. Boyce, Minneapolis.  An executive committee was provided for, to consist of the president, vice-president and secretary, and R. P. Morton, Brickton, Minn., and J. P. McLean, Menomonie, Wis.

George M. Raymond, general manager for the C. W. Raymond Co., Dayton, O., gave an interesting talk on continuous kilns and the use of producer gas fire.  He illustrated it with a model showing the manner of separating the compartments, the way of conveying waste heat from a cooling compartment to one of the others, and other matters.  He began with a brief review of the different  kinds of kilns and the history of the continuous kiln, which, although dating well back into the early part of the eighteenth century, did not really get its start until 1865.  A number were started before that, but none were successful.  Since 1868, there have been 1,000 installations which are operating successfully in Europe.  There were many failures in the Unites States, due to different conditions, and the lack of experienced labor.  The producer-gas kiln has been successful in this country.  A heat of 3,254 degrees Fahrenheit has been reached, and many advantages have been developed, such as uniformity of burning, freedom from checking, cheaper production and better ware.

The question of coal to be used for producer gas has led the company to make many tests.  About all coals can be used, but some are much better than others.  Various plants have shown a consumption of 85 and 90 pounds of coal per ton of ware produced, 300, 310 and 313 pounds of coal per thousand brick; 400 pounds of coal, per thousand on face brick, and 39 cents per thousand.

The noon recess was taken for a change of scene to the Dayton tea rooms, where the local committee had arranged for an attractive banquet, followed by cigars.

The addresses and remarks led to a number of references to sand lime brick as a reliable product.  Some were rather vigorous on the matter, but many preferred to regard the article as a rather inoffensive competitor, although insisting that it was not to be regarded as a fireproof article.

The leading address was by James G. Houghton, inspector of buildings for the city of Minneapolis.  Mr. Houghton did not hesitate to declare that poor brick were being offered on the market, but urged his hearers to be sure to put out none but good bricks.  He deplored the lack of any standard or specification as to what should constitute common brick, to be accepted in Minneapolis.  He thought is should be whole, hard, sound, well-burned, should not absorb an excessive amount of water, and should not be affected by fire.  The city is erecting more buildings and better than ever before.  Eleven years ago the city had scarcely a building which could be called fireproof.  But during the past three years it has spent $7,000,000 in fireproof structures.  He deplored the excessive fire losses of this country as compared with foreign countries.

Touching upon what a brick should be, Mr. Houghton said its ultimate compressive strength must average 3,000 pounds to the square inch and must not fall below 2,500.  Its absorption should not average over 15 per cent nor exceed 20 per cent.  He criticized hollow fireproofing brick, stating he had encountered hollow brick of 315 pounds average strength, and which were not fit for use.  The compressive strength of average brick he had found to be less than 1,500 pounds, while sand lime had shown

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2,500 pounds.  He declared that no common brick should have less than 2,000 pounds crushing strength.  He urged manufacturers to see that their delivery men do not throw them upon the ground in unloading.  He urged manufacturers to use good materials, do good work and ask a good price.  He suggested a committee from the association to confer with him and arrange a set of specifications as to size and requirements for standard brick to be used in Minneapolis.

Mr. Houghton's talk started a lively debate and a fusillade of questions which he stood and answered.  A number were inclined to admit that soft brick had been on the market, which should not have left yards, attributing it to competition and the demand for lower prices which compelled manufacturers to get all the brick possible out of a kiln.  Complaint was made that masons would use for face work soft brick which were all right for inside work, but which were unfit to endure the weather.  The debate continued for some time until an adjournment was taken to the Builders' Exchange hall.

The first thing done was to pass a motion providing for a committee of three, to be named by the president, to wait on Inspector Houghton, in regard to a standard set of specifications for common brick.

The remainder of the session was devoted to remarks and reflections by the members as to the organization and its possibilities.  One suggestion was for a closer consideration of the total cost of production, including allowance for the interest on the investment, the expense during the idle period, and the "overhead expense" generally.  Complaint was made that the state geological survey does not extend the aid to the clay interest of the state that is done in other states.

It was voted to hold general meetings quarterly in Minneapolis in January, April, July and October.  The executive committee is to have monthly meetings and will call special meetings whenever it is deemed desirable.

Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXII, Number 2, February 1910
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL

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Page 221

 

Northwestern Clay Association

An important quarterly meeting of the Northwestern Clay Association was held at the Builders' Exchange, Minneapolis, Minn., on Wednesday, April 6th, and while the fact that the early spring has brought about the starting of many plants sooner than usual, keeping a number of the clayworkers from attending, yet there was a very fair attendance, and the discussions before the meeting were productive of great interest and value.

The question which was uppermost was how to make the demand for brick for construction purposes, what it ought to be, and it was generally appreciated that the brick men have been inclined to sleep upon their advantages, assuming that the public knew all about their goods.

W. Siwart Smith, general manager of the Twin City Brick Co., St. Paul, was the first speaker, and he outlined the work planned by the National Association of Brick Manufacturers.  This organization has raised a fund for giving general publicity to the value of brick as a building material.  It has been found that the average man who is about to build a residence, has his mind made up as to the material which he will use before he ever consults an architect or contractor, and it is then too late to do a great deal toward inducing him to consider any other material.  And a large amount of work has been done toward unconsciously educating the general public on the use of other materials than brick for dwellings.  Owing to its early cheapness, frame construction is regarded as the usual one, but some prefer a change, and this change is often in the direction of cement, largely because of the liberal publicity given to that article.  During the past nine years brick production has increased 50 per cent, but in the same time, cement production has increased 700 per cent, and he attributed this marvelous gain to the result of publicity.  Cement men regard their business collectively, while brick men look at theirs individually.  The result is that the former has received an educational publicity which brick has failed to receive.  He pointed out that instead of brick dealers seeking to get the business of the one in ten who may intend to build of that material, often at the expense of another who was on the ground for the order first, that they seek to increase the general use of brick by hunting business among the nine who had not intended to use brick.  Every year there are 300,000 homes built, and 80,000 are destroyed by fire, most of them being rebuilt.  If these could be built of brick, and would call for an average of 30,000 each, the brick business could not begin to handle the orders.  But to secure this great business which is going to other materials, it must be shown that it is the best and the cheapest.  Owners can be shown that a brick dwelling costs no more in five years than a frame dwelling, while in ten years it is cheaper, having saved in insurance as well as in fuel, and it also has a higher selling value.  The fire losses should be utilized in pushing the worth of brick. In 1907 they were $215,000,000 and there were $195,000,000 paid in insurance premiums and but $95,000,000 received back.  He estimated the cost of maintaining fire departments at $130,000,000, making the total annual fire bill at $400,000,000 to $500,000,000.  New building aggregates $630,000,000, of which two-thirds is burned up.  By building with brick a saving could be made which as a business proposition the country ought not to ignore.  The national association proposes to issue books showing residences to cost $10,000; others costing $4,000, cottages at $2,500 and workingmen's homes.  There will be no plans, for it is not intended to compete with architects.  By distributing this information, he predicted that the interest in brick and the increased demand for it would make a call greater than could be supplied, and it would produce business and prices would improve under the better demand.

Eugene Young, secretary of the Minneapolis Builders' Exchange, spoke on the necessity of co-operation, which he declared to be a synonym for organization, for the one is not possible without the other.  He urges the brick men to co-operate with each other to the end of developing better methods.  When one has had the trouble in his work, he will be wise to call in his competitors and seek the cause, for in finding it, all will be benefitted, and the business will be benefitted as well.  Co-operation will work to cut down the cost, to save the economic waste which the present methods entail.  The wasteful system of shipping from one center into the field of another brick center, must cost all concerned much money.  The seller cannot profit any thereby, since he cannot sell much closer than the others, while the local dealers lose business and the railroads are the only ones who benefit by it.

A. C. Ochs, of Springfield, Minn., declared that brick men in general did not give enough attention to the office and business ends of the their enterprises.  They attended so closely to the manufacturing and detail work that they were unable to see the opportunities available for them.  He mentioned that he had been quite successful in making tile sills, caps, and other articles, as well as tile silos, which had been a great success.  They proved far better than wooden silos.  He had found it profitable to enclose advertising matter with letters and to publish news in local papers of developments along such lines.

Jos. Wild, of Morton, Minn., told of good results which had come from his making a small display of his brick and tile at an old settlers' gathering and another at a county fair, attributing it to the value of advertising.

The subject of greatest interest at the meeting was the proposed regulations and specifications for common brick and sand-lime brick, as offered by Inspector Houghton of the department of buildings.  As originally drawn, they provided for an absorption test, but this was replaced by a freezing test.  The specifications as submitted were as follows:

 

 

 

TENTATIVE ORDINANCE FOR BRICK.

Proposed Regulations to Apply to All Clay and Sand-Lime Brick Used in Building Construction in the City of Minneapolis.

It shall be unlawful to use clay or sand-lime brick, in the construction of any building or structure within the City of Minneapolis, that does not conform to the standard herein set forth for such materials.

 

The material shall be subjected to the following tests:  Transverse, compression and freezing.  Additional tests may be called for when, in the judgment of the Inspector of Buildings, the same may be necessary.  All such tests shall be made at the Testing Laboratory of the Department of Buildings, or at some other laboratory of recognized standing, under the direction of the Inspector of Buildings.

 

The results of such tests, whether satisfactory or not, shall be kept on file in the office of the Inspector of Buildings, and shall be open to the public.

 

For the purposes of such tests, at least five (5) samples shall be provided, and more when required.  Such samples shall represent the ordinary commercial product, and may be selected from stock by the Inspector or his representative.  The samples shall be approximately eight (8) inches long, four (4) inches wide and two (2) inches thick. 

 

These tests shall be made in a series of at least five (5).

 

The transverse tests shall be made first, on full sized samples, 8x4x2 inches.

 

The resulting half samples shall then be used for the compression and absorption tests; but in no case shall both halves of the same piece be used in the same series of tests.

 

 

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The transverse test shall be made as follows:  The sample shall be placed flatwise on two rounded knife-edge bearings set parallel, seven (7) inches apart.  A load shall then be placed on top, midway between the supports, and transmitted through a similar rounded edge until the sample is ruptured.

 

The modulus of rupture shall then be determined by multiplying the breaking load in pounds by twenty-one (21), (three times the distance between supports in inches), and dividing the result by twice the product of the width (approximately four) in inches by the square of the depth (approximately two)  in inches.

 

The compression test shall be made as follows:  The sample shall first be thoroughly dried.  It shall be carefully measured, then bedded flatwise in either plaster-of-paris or blotting paper to secure a uniform bearing in the testing machine, and crushed.  The total breaking load shall then be divided by the area in compression in square inches.

 

A freezing test shall be made as follows:  The sample shall be thoroughly dried and weighed, and then immersed in a pan or tray of water to a depth of not more than one-half inch for at least four (4) hours, and then weighed.  It shall then be placed in a refrigerator or a freezing mixture, or otherwise subjected to a temperature of not more than fifteen (15) degrees Fahrenheit, for at least twelve (12) hours.  It shall then be removed and placed in water, where it shall remain for at least one (1) hour, the temperature of such water to be at least one hundred and fifty (150) degrees Fahrenheit.  This operation shall be repeated twenty (20) times, after which the sample shall be weighed while still wet from the last thawing.  Its crushing strength shall then be determined, as called for in regulations for compression tests.

 

The freezing and thawing process shall not cause a loss in weight greater than ten (10) per cent, nor a loss in strength of more than thirty-three and one-third (33 1/3) per cent, except that when the lower figure is still above eighteen hundred (1,800) pounds per square inch, the loss in strength may be neglected.

 

The following requirements shall be met to secure the acceptance of the materials:  The modulus of rupture shall average 450, and shall not fall below 350 in any case.  The ultimate compressive strength shall average eighteen hundred (1,800) pounds per square inch, and shall not fall below fifteen hundred (1,500) pounds in any case.  The percentage of absorption, being the weight of the water absorbed divided by the weight of the dry sample, shall not average higher than eighteen per cent (18%) and shall not exceed twenty-two per cent (22%) in any case.

 

The reduction of compressive strength shall not be more than thirty-three and one-third per cent (33 1/3%), except that when the lower figure is still above eighteen hundred (1,800) pounds per square inch the loss in strength may be neglected.

 

The name of the firm or corporation manufacturing any brick so tested, and the names of the responsible officers thereof, shall be furnished the Inspector of Buildings to be by him placed on file, and any changes of the same shall be promptly reported to said Inspector.

 

The tests hereinbefore mentioned shall be repeated, at any time when called for, on samples selected in the open market, when there is any doubt as to the brick being in conformity with these regulations.

There was a great deal of discussion and difference of opinion on the value of the tests from the standpoint of safety.  Many thought that the crushing test of 1,800 pounds to the square inch was unreasonable, and urged that there should be a lesser requirement where the requirement of the wall was light.  Mr. Houghton stated that he was willing to accept a lesser requirement for one and two-story dwellings of brick, as it was a decided advantage to have fireproof construction in place of frame.  He would also permit hollow tile construction for dwellings where they had a strength of 800 pounds, but he objected to the very soft brick and tile which had been on the market and which had very light crushing resistance.

After considerable discussion the specifications for a standard on common brick, submitted by J. G. Houghton, building inspector of Minneapolis, were referred to a committee consisting of J. W. L. Corning, Ira C. Jones, A. L. Martin and Axel Anderson, for revision.

Adjournment was taken for the noonday luncheon which was served in the cafe of the Builders' Exchange, adjoining the assembly room.  At the conclusion, the meeting was resumed.

E. L. Clifford, of the Minneapolis Journal, spoke on how to create a greater demand for brick.  He took for his walls and buildings, also to instruct the same pupils in the different bonds and architecture in construction work, theme advertising and publicity, urging greater spreading of the knowledge of brick in every direction, and suggested a fund be raised for the purpose of disseminating greater knowledge of the advantages of brick.

I. C. Jones, of Minneapolis, had a message from the National Brick Maker' convention.  He told of the good work done by the paving brick manufacturers who had spent $60,000 last year in publicity work and had received such good results that they expected to double the amount this year.  He thought this association should take up the work of getting out specifications and details on building brick houses.  He spoke of conservation of resources, and economy.  He declared that cutting prices had doubtless cost the brick manufacturers of the vicinity $100,000, and had not made any business for anyone, for they would all have sold just as much brick had they maintained a fair price.  He declared the offering of brick to different jobs at low prices does more to harm the business than to make a sale at a low price without offering it around to several others.  The matter of selling brick where it is not now going should be taken up.  Architects should be cultivated and the business interests should be developed in all directions.

Owing to the great importance of the revolution in methods resulting from the adoption of the Penfield brick setting system, the stereopticon address by Mr. Stoll, of the American Clay Machinery Co., Bucyrus, Ohio, illustrating the new device was listened to with a great deal of interest and attention.

Joseph Wild, of Morton, Minn., spoke on "Does it pay to build small houses and buildings of brick?"  his answer being that it does pay, both to the brick manufacturer and also to the owner who has them put up.  He outlined the fact that the lumber trade finds a great deal of good business in small bills for chicken houses, barns, and other small buildings on the farm, the bills running from $100 to $200, but aggregating a nice business.  He had taken up the matter of erecting such buildings of brick, and had found it profitable.  He had been able to show that they cost less than frame construction, while the buildings themselves were far more satisfactory.  Two poultry houses of the same size were built - one frame and one brick.  The brick structure cost $30 less than the frame, while the condition of the frame structure was far less satisfactory, and the poultry in the brick structure were in better condition both winter and summer, and were more productive.

The committee on resolutions, consisting of R. B. Hinckly, Otto J. Bower and Joseph Wild, reported a resolution on industrial training as follows:

In view of the great scarcity of bricklayers, which of necessity limits the use of brick and tile for general construction purposed, greatly to the detriment of our farming community and general public, and whereas there is at the present time a general cry for conservation of natural resources, which cannot be furthered in any better way than by the construction of fireproof buildings.

Be it Resolved, that we, the members of the Northwestern Clay Association, assembled here in Minneapolis this sixth day of April, 1910, humbly ask you, the Board of Regents of the State University of Minnesota, and the State Superintendent of Instruction, and also ask the co-operation of the different superintendents and principals of the various high schools of this state, that a proportion of the general appropriation for manual training be devoted to teaching the art of laying brick, tile and masonry, to assist us in this noble work of training young men and scholars the art of laying brick and tile.

Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXII, Number 4, April 1910
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL

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NORTHWESTERN ASSOCIATION.

At a meeting of the Northwestern Clay Association held Oct. 12th, a resolution was passed declaring that the annual meeting of the association, to be held in January, 1911, should be made as attractive and interesting as possible and the following committees were appointed to have charge of same:

Program – Ira C. Jones, care Mpls. Brick & Tile Co., Mpls, Minn; Rufus P. Morton, Brickton, Minn., John Lowry, care Enterprise Brick Co., Duluth, Minn.

Banquet and Invitation – E. H. Cobb, care Hydraulic Press Brick Co., Mpls, Minn.; J. P. McLean, Menomonie, Wis., F. J. Nixon, care Paine & Nixon Co., Duluth, Minn.

Finance – A. C. Ochs, Springfield, Minn., Louis Koch, care Twin City Brick Co., Minneapolis, Minn.; R. B. Hinckly, Luverne, Minn.

The Executive Committee held a meeting during the past week to decide upon the date and place for the convention and a full announcement will be made in our next issue.

The Northwestern Clay Association is the latest addition to the list of State organizations and has started off with every evidence of stability, and there is no question but what it will give much valuable aid to its members and be of real benefit to the clay interests of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXIII, Number 6, December 1910
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 236