Hi Kent,

Being from CA...I don’t know about WI (or Midwestern) bricks (but we have found some made in St. Louis)...but, have you checked this brick collector's website?
http://www.tlgwindpower.com/tweety/brick_map.htm

They have images (very teeny thumbnails tho, unfortunately) by state.  I don’t see yours on the WI page...but didn’t look at all of them.  And the bricks could have been made out of state.

You might want to email the site webmaster (?)...and ask if they know of your bricks.
Or Jim Graves at:  [log in to unmask]

You could also email Karl Gurke: [log in to unmask]

Good luck.

Carol

-----Original Message-----
From: HISTORICAL ARCHAEOLOGY [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Kent Taylor
Sent: Thursday, November 13, 2008 9:33 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Brick Marks

Two of the bricks that we recovered from a Wisconsin site were impressed
with makers' marks. One of the bricks, a buff/cream-colored variety, carried
an NB-in-diamond stamp, while the other, a brown-colored example, was
stamped with O X W S R.  Has anyone come across these manufacturers' stamps?
 I believe that the widespread use of proprietary marks on bricks didn't
begin until the 1890s, but that's as close that I've able to come to dates
and/or manufacturers of these two bricks.  I'm not sure if their listed in
Gurcke's guide since I don't have access to his book.  Hope someone can
help....  

Thanks,

Kent Taylor