" A dry, roomy and light stock shed should be arranged with ten or twelve stalls or apartments for the various shades of brick. To this shed the brick are wheeled, where they are taken charge of by the sorter, one whose duty it is to arrange them according to their various colors and shades. A man with clear perception, a keen eye, and excellent judgment, should fill this important office. If not graded by an artistic eye according to their delicate shades, they would but present a spotted and unsightly appearance to the beholder when shown in comparison in the walls of a fine building.
"This, I believe, completes a description of the machinery, appurtenances and methods of making and handling success fully re-pressed brick. I might have entered more largely into details, but these are well known to you all. The points I have suggested are general, and will apply to any system, and if ad hered to, cannot fail to be of value.
" In making a brick of fine quality for front, few realize the importance of properly preserving the faces of the brick from contamination or abrasion. It is a prevalent but fallacious opinion that anything will make a pressed brick, that the press will remove the imperfections, square the brick, and make an artistic and beautiful piece of work from an ill-shaped glut of clay. Such is not the case. Abrasions, finger marks, paddle marks, etc., once given to the face of the brick cannot be re moved by the press ; in fact, it is my conviction, based upon observation, that the higher finish and beauty the surfaces of your pressed brick are susceptible of, the more sensitive they are to these defects.
" Another point to which I would direct your attention is the growing disposition to produce large numbers of pressed brick per day. Many of our manufacturers require from 4,000 to 5,000 brick to be re-pressed per day by two men, using one hand press. Excessive quantities of pressed brick can only be produced at the expense of that more desirable property, quality.
" In Philadelphia, the Mecca of the pressed brick industry, but 1,500 to 1,800 brick are produced per day, each glut being struck out singly and by hand in a steel or brass mould. While this manner of working seems to the average Westerner some what primitive, yet the world-wide reputation and high market value of Philadelphia brick would indicate that the standard of excellence which they have attained is due to their fine quality, which can only be had by the exercise of great care and patience in their production.
" I find I have omitted all reference to the manufacture of ornamental brick, and the great improvements which have been made of recent years for their manufacture, whereby from one to two thousand elaborate and beautiful designs are made per day, where formerly but as many hundred were pro duced. Nor have I referred to the advent of the power press, whose coming promises to revolutionize old and slower methods of re-pressing brick.
" A few years ago the manufacturer who would have pro posed to handle by automatic mechanism so delicate a form as a soft brick would have been voted, putting it mildly, peculiar. Now we find the power press used in many of our large yards, working with almost marvelous results. However, as they, as well as manners and forms of working in connection therewith, are yet subjects of study and development, I will content my self with this brief reference.
"An aphorism in vogue among chemists says, In medicine quality is of first importance.' The same may be aptly applied to pressed brick. Quality is of first importance. It is from this they obtain their high market value. Without the care and time necessary to give your pressed brick their well de fined lines, their smooth velvety surfaces, their symmetrical proportion, in fact, without a desire to attain the IDEAL, they are frequently of little more value than the common ones, and their enhanced worth will not justify the expenditure of time and money necessary for their production.
" A story well known by you all is told of an old darkey who was called to the bedside of his dying master, and informed that he might have any three wishes gratified that he might name. The old fellow was nonplussed at such a beneficent and unexpected offer, but when pressed for an answer, replied, Well, Massa, I want first, all the whiskey I can drink. I want second, all the clothes me and the old woman can wear,' and, rather doubting the scope of his first request, said, well, Massa, if it makes no difference to you, I'll take a little more whiskey.' Applying the logic of this story to the subject in hand, if asked the prerequisite to the successful production of fine pressed brick, I would say CARE, and if asked the next in importance, I would say A LITTLE MORE CARE."