Cassandra,
You might try the International Brick Collectors association.  They are very
helpful.  Their Secretery/Librarian, Jim Graves, does a column in their
Journal in which he answers all brick related identification queries.  His
email is: [log in to unmask]
S. Walter
----- Original Message -----
From: "Cassandra Philippou" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 17, 2003 5:55 PM
Subject: split brick question


> Dear Histarchers
>
> I am undertaking some research on a brick that was raised from the
> shipwreck MV City of Rayville (1940). This was a US Merchant navy vessel,
> and was the USA's first vessel lost in WWII. The City of Rayville was
built
> by Oscar Daniels in Tampa, Florida in 1920. The brick is imprinted with
the
> word "SPLIT". Imprinting on bricks normally identifies the maker, however
> web searching suggests that split is a manufacturing process, involving
> splitting the brick along its length prior to firing. This also appears to
> be a uniquely American manufacturing process, although I found the term
> "Soap" brick used in the UK, which also seems to refer to a half-width
> brick. The dimensions of the brick are 230 x 32 x 112: approximately half
> the normal width of a normal sized brick. Some Real Estate links came up
> that refer to split brick court yards etc, but after questioning some
> architects & brick experts here in Australia I have determined that this
> was not common here.
>
> Does anyone have information about split bricks that they could share with
> me?   I also thought it was rather strange to imprint the word 'split'
onto
> the brick, given that it ought to be obvious that the brick is half the
> width anyway! I located a reference in a builder guide to a company in
> Alabama called Split Brick Inc, however the emails keep bouncing and
access
> to the website comes up as 'forbidden'. Therefore I guess my question is:
> is "Split" the maker's mark, or does it identify the process?
>
> Hope you can assist! If you are interested I can email an image of the
> artefact.
>
>
>
> Kind Regards
>
> Cassandra
>
>
>
>
> Cassandra Philippou
> Maritime Heritage Unit
> Heritage Victoria
> Level 22, Nauru House
> 80 Collins Street
> Melbourne 3000 Victoria
> Ph:   03 9655 9752
> Fax:  03 9655 9720
>
> Visit these sites!
> http://www.heritage.vic.gov.au
> http://www.aima.iinet.net.au
> http://www.archaeologyweek.com
>
>
>
> **********************************************************************
> Any personal or sensitive information contained in this email and
> attachments must be handled in accordance with the Victorian Information
> Privacy Act 2000, the Health Records Act 2001 or the Privacy Act 1988
> (Commonwealth), as applicable.
>
> This email, including all attachments, is confidential.  If you are not
the
> intended recipient, you must not disclose, distribute, copy or use the
> information contained in this email or attachments.  Any confidentiality
or
> privilege is not waived or lost because this email has been sent to you in
> error.  If you have received it in error, please let us know by reply
> email, delete it from your system and destroy any copies.
> **********************************************************************