1869.] Our Manufactures Reviewed. 607 OUR MANUFACTURES REVIEWED, BRICKS and Bkick-making. — The history of bricks is one of the greatest antiquity ; in fact it is as re- mote as the age succeeding the Delude, and how much older their origin is, it is impossible to say. Certain it is that they composed the Tower of Babel, as well as the early structures of Egypt. They were made of three sizes b} r the Greeks and Romans : Those of the lat- ter people are to be seen now eighteen inches by twelve, and from four to six inches thick. But, the smaller forms, decreasing as they did, to the dimen- sions of those of the present day, were always preferable for their strength. There is a difference between the sizes of brick in England and in this country. The English brick is nine inches by four and a half inches, and three inches thick; whereas the proportions in the United States are generally eight inches by four inches, and in thickness two and two- thirds inches. The Philadelphia brick is a compromise between these propor- tions. It is eight and a half inches long, four and a quarter broad, and two and a half inches thick. Bricks have been made by hand for centuries on centu- ries ; a strange fact considering the im- mense requisition the article is in. Yet, it is even so, that the introduction of brick-making machines dates not back thirty years. Since the first practical machine was set to work a goodly num- ber have claimed the public attention ; making prodigious promises. But al- most all have failed in something or other. We feel desirous of bringing out the merits of any that are really good, and to that end have resolved to pub- lish notices of such ; beginning now with that called The Champion of the West, patented August 22d, 1865, by Molds, patented March 13th, 1866. This simple, 3'et excellent machine will turn out 15,000 bricks per day, with the labor of five men and one horse. It makes them equal to pressed brick ; and withal is strictly economic, as well as perfect and substantial. If any of our friends are disposed to ti*y the " Cham- pion," we refer them to the manufac- turer for this State, Mr. J. L. Hanna, of Franklin, Pa. PATENT PERMUTATION LOCK. By Alfred A. Oat.* WE were gratified, the other day, with an inspection of this com- plete lock, and a full description by the ingenious inventor and patentee. From the earliest appearance of locks to the present, there seems to have been but one principle — that of ward and tumbler — used by the commercial world. Resolutely turning away from this prin- ciple, after long and severe study, Mr. Oat has invented a lock without any ward or tumbler, throwing from all sides any number of bolts required. He him- self describes it without keyhole, or key, but this is not strictly correct. The lock has an aperture of entrance — closed by a piece of steel, which requires a powerful horse-shoe magmt to withdraw — and this, of course, is a keyhole; and, this being uncovered, an instrument re- sembling a very short-shafted plumber's or gasfitter's pavement-key or " T," is inserted, and, this is really a key, be- cause designed to complete a circuit, and allow the reversal of the fastening- combination. But, with all this, there is nothing resembling any ordinary key, or keyhole ; and the lock is constitu- tionally different from any thing of the kind ever offered to the public. It can be made of any shape and size, is adapt- ed to safes, vaults, front-doors of dwell- ings, &c, being both burglar and pow- der proof. It is set in, flush with the surface of the door, and, when closed, presents no projection whatever. Along
- No. 122D Cass Street, Philadelphia.
