Alfred Thomas, Anoka, Minn.
Alfred Thomas is a clay worker by birth and profession. He was born in Pittsburg, Pa., May 16th, 1860. His father was engaged in the pottery business with Bennett’s pottery plant, one of the first plants in operation in this country. At the age of 12 Mr. Thomas lost both his parents and drifted on a current of heredity into the brickmaking business, his first clayworking efforts being put forth in behalf of the Sankey Bros., Pittsburg, Pa. Sankey Bros. at that time were making brick fro the Carnegie Steel Works at Homestead, Pa. Mr. Thomas had charge of the Martin brick machine for a number of years and gained a good practical knowledge of the making and burning of brick. In 1880 he came to Chicago and took charge of the burning on the Hinchliff & Owen plant, introducing the burning of coal for the kilns instead of wood. Two years later he was engaged as a burner for the Purington Brick Co.
In 1889 he was employed by the Terra Cotta Brick Co. to superintend and manage the plant which previously had not been successful. Mr. Thomas succeeded in obtaining good financial returns at this plant, making a specialty of pressed brick and ornamental brick which sold from $45 to $60 per M [1,000]. From this originated, Mr. Thomas says, the Cleveland-Akron Pressed Brick Co., now known as the Hydraulic Pressed Brick Co.
Subsequently Mr. Thomas was engaged in erecting the plant of the Cleveland Vitrified Brick Co., remaining with that company for three years. Since that time he has been engaged in erecting plants and straightening out difficulties on them, testing clays, etc.
Mr. Thomas’s clayworking knowledge is extensive and he has achieved success in most departments of clayworking in a number of states, being also thoroughly acquainted with the various types of kilns in use today. He is a practical mechanic and has quite an aptitude for drafting. The last plant erected by Mr. Thomas was that of the Minnesota Clay Co., Coon Creek, Minn., in 1902.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XIX, Number 3, September 1903, Page 95
Windsor & Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL