Hello all,

Check out the concrete bibliography at:

http://www.digitalpresence.com/histarch/concreteblock.html

for more historic references. Sorry my contact info
hasn't been updated yet, but I'll bug the webmaster
about it....

I've been planning on adding some patent information,
primarily referring to changes manufacturing and block
shape. I suspect that we're still a little far off
from a usable block typology, since the dimensions and
number and shape of the holes can often be adjusted on
the single hinged block machines. Because much of the
early block was produced by untrained individuals
building only their own homes, there's the potential
for a lot of variability.

The earliest blocks are easily differentiated due to
their obscure sizes. I've got some photos of some very
early blocks and the block machine if anyone's
interested.

The use of cinder in concrete is patented in the 1920s
and catches on fairly quick. As many are quick to
point out, recipies for concrete and cinder block vary
so much that material composition is often not a
useful factor in dating, except when examining several
forms of concrete on a single site. Because cinder
lightened the load, it was became remarkably easier
for the unskilled to construct taller concrete block
structures, and it's not unheard of to see two story
ornamental block structures with cinder/slag only in
the upper story.

Cast concrete block may exhibit a "struck" surface on
one side similar to that described by Gurke on bricks.
Sometimes you'll also see thin sharp edges from where
the mix flows a little out of the mold. These
attributes should be missing from extruded block,
which came out in the late 30s and dominated the
market after WWII. By the 1950s concrete block
manufacturing had become part of the sand and gravel
business, although I'm sure some folks were still
using their old Wizard or Hercules machines around the
farm....

Dave Moyer


--- [log in to unmask] wrote:
> These may help:
>
> Anon. (1939). "The Lowly Concrete Block Gets it
> First Taste of
> Standardization." Architectural Forum 70(5):
> 367-377.
>
>
> Bergman, R. and K. Donnely (1995). "Foster's
> Building Blocks." Building
> Renovation(Spring): 52.
>
>
>  Cotton, J. R. (1984). "Ornamental Concrete Block
> Houses." Old House
> Journal 12(8): 165, 180-183.
>
>
> Cotton, J. R. (1995). "Return to Concrete Block
> Houses." Old House Journal
> 23(2): 32-39.
>
>
> Gillespie, A. (1973). "The "Miracle" and the
> "Wizard": Preliminary Notes on
> Concrete Building Block Machines." APT Bulletin
> 5(2): 67-71.
>
>
> Gillespie, A. (1979). "Early Development of the
> Artistic Concrete Block:
> The Case of the Boyd Brothers." APT Bulletin 11(2):
> 30-52.
>
>
> Jester, T. C. (1995). Twentieth-Century Building
> Materials: History and
> Conservation. New York, McGraw-Hill.
>
>
> extensive appendix includes detailed footnotes,
> biblio for each building
> material
>
>
> Kemp, E. L. (1982). History of Concrete 30 B.C. to
> 1926 A.D. Detroit,
> Mich., American Concrete Institute.
>
>
> Prudon, T. H. M. (1989). "Simulating Stone,
> 1860-1940." APT Bulletin 21
> (3-4): 79-.
>
>
> Simpson, P. H. (1989). Cheap, Quick and Easy: The
> Early History of
> Rockfaced Concrete Block Building. Vernacular
> Architecture. T. Carter and
> B. Herman. Columbia, Missouri, University of
> Missouri Press. III: 108-119.
>
>
> Simpson, P. H. (1995). "Blocks Like Rock." Building
> Renovation(Spring):
> 49-53.
>
>
> Stephenson, M. L. (1979). The Origins of Concrete
> Block and Artificial
> Stone in Nineteenth Century America. Dept. of
> Architectural History,
> University of Virginia.
>
>
>
>
>
> Caroline Phillips
> Archaeological Services
> Ontario Service Centre
> Parks Canada.
>
>
>
>                     Dane Magoon
>                     <dtmagoon@YAHO       To:
> [log in to unmask]
>                     O.COM>               cc:
>                     Sent by:             Subject:
>  cinder block tpq?
>                     HISTORICAL
>                     ARCHAEOLOGY
>                     <[log in to unmask]
>                     edu>
>
>
>                     10/12/03 02:33
>                     PM
>                     Please respond
>                     to HISTORICAL
>                     ARCHAEOLOGY
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Hello Fellow Histarchers:
>
> Anyone out there have a TPQ for the common cinder
> block?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dane
>
>
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