Page 115
The Mathews Gravity Carrier Co., Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn., exhibited [at the Columbus, Ohio, meeting of the National Brick Manufacturers’ Association, from February 5-8, 1908] a full-sized model of its gravity carrier with
Page 116
a grade of 4 per cent and a 90-deg curve. The runway is supported by patent, sliding supports which can be racked up to double the height of the closed support, the racks on each side of the support operating independently, so as to accommodate the apparatus to the necessities of irregular ground profile. Any side-pitch desired can be thus secured. These supports are made in 3-stock sizes, ranging from 1-ft. to 6 ½-ft. reach. The cones of the rollers are case-hardened, the rollers being 2 ¼ in. in diameter. The particular feature of the roller employed is that it is spool-shaped, the flanges acting as guard-rails, keeping the products true in their progress down grade. The stock lengths of the carrier are 4 ft. and 8 ft. Full sized brick were used and sent down the conveyor at intervals to convince the clayworkers of the feasibility of the project. Tile up to 12 in. in diameter, partition tile and conduits can also be handled by this carrier. F. A. Moore and F. A. Francois were in charge of this exhibit. These carriers have been installed on many plants with success, notably the plants of M. E. Gregory, Corning, N. Y., and the Menomonie Hydraulic Pressed Brick Co., Menomonie, Wis.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Kenfield Publishing Company, Chicago, IL
Volume XXVIII, Number 2, February 1908
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mathews Gravity Carrier Co., Merriam Park, St. Paul, Minn., exhibited [at the National Association of Manufacturers of Clay-Working Appliances at the Seneca Hotel in Rochester, New York] a full-sized model of its gravity carrier with a grade of 4 per cent and a 90-deg. Curve. The runway is supported by patent sliding supports which can be racked up to double the height of the closed support, the racks on each side of the support operating independently, so as to accommodate the apparatus to the necessities of irregular ground profile. Any side-pitch desired can be thus secured. Full-sized brick were used and sent down the conveyor at intervals to convince the clayworkers of the feasibility of the project. Tile up to 12 in. in diameter, partition tile and conduits can also be handled by this carrier. W. S. Miller was in charge of the exhibit.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXX, Number 2, February 1909
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 124
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mathews Gravity Brick Carrier
Elsewhere in our display pages will be found interesting matter and a forceful illustration pertaining to a device for handling brick quickly and economically? We have become convinced, after careful investigation, that this is one of the most important of modern inventions, and the fact is more than verified by many of the largest brick manufacturers in the United States, who have installed the Mathews system and who are now more than pleased with results obtained.
We desire to call the attention of those of our readers who may be interested to some of the more important features of the Mathews carrier, this year’s model having been greatly improved.
1. The carrier is built in 4 and 8-foot sections, which are interchangeable and can be quickly and easily moved from one point to another, as the work may require. The parts are mechanically simple, durably made, and do not easily get out of order.
2. Another important point is that work can be carried on constantly in all kinds of weather, rain or shine.
3. The most delicate brick surfaces are not injured in any manner, as they are made to travel gently by their own weight.
4. If the carriers are set up on a 4-per cent grade, brick will travel by gravity any distance, around any number of curves without attention or danger of falling off, and can be made to conform to any yard conditions.
5. Brick men are all familiar with the fact that it is extremely difficult to secure skilled brick-wheelers, it being estimated that only 4 out of every 20 handlers prove profitable workers; hence another annoying feature of brick handling is obviated by the use of the Mathews carrier.
The main office and factory of the Mathews Gravity Carrier Co., are located at St. Paul, Minn. The company’s engineer is ready at all times to give expert advice, render valuable assistance to all applicants, and submit estimates for the installation of their carrier system.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXX, Number 3, March 1909
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 157
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More About a Good Thing
In our March issue we called attention to a device for cheaply and quickly handling brick. We have made it our business to look into the merits of the Mathews gravity carrier, for the reason that when our attention was first called to it, the great importance of such a mechanical help became at once apparent, and we have since interviewed manufacturers who have installed the Mathews system, and find that the unanimous verdict is – “perfect.” We again call the attention of those of our readers who should be interested in this great labor-saver, to the illustration and display matter elsewhere in this issue, and suggest that they study the idea from the standpoints of speed and economy. The only objection which we have heard against the Mathews carrier is that it is for handling common brick only. Now this is entirely untrue, as we happen to know. We can assure any person interested that it will handle the finest, the most fancy and most delicate brick made.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXX, Number 4, April 1909
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 212
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
REMARKABLE BRICK CARRIER.
It is frequently stated that modern business men are slow to adopt new ideas or incorporate new methods in factory operation. This, in the face of the fact that American supremacy in all branches of manufacturing and mercantile pursuits is universally recognized, seems incredible, and we are loath to accept it as an established fact.
We believe that brick manufacturers are among the most progressive, as a class, and because of this belief, we are encouraged to call their attention again to a device which has been on the market for several years, and which is fast becoming recognized as the most practical invention ever offered to the trade from the standpoints of speed and economy. We refer to the brick carrier manufactured by the Mathews Gravity Carrier Co., St. Paul, Minn. We have become particularly interested in this valuable brick handler, simply because it is our duty to point out to the people in whose interests this magazine is published, every mechanical aid or helpful idea which may come to our attention. So many devices have proven nothing more than talk, that it is a pleasure to note the practical success which has followed the introduction of the Mathews gravity carrier.
Reference to the illustration in their ad on another page will convey a correct idea as to the manner in which this carrier does away with “wheelers” and facilitates the quick handling of brick by gravity, thereby increasing efficiency and reducing labor expense. Their system is in operation in a large number of plants throughout the country, and among those who have purchased since the first of the year are the following:
J. A. Anderson, Ortonville, Minn. (many others listed)
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXI, Number 1, July 1909
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 333
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE LONE STAR PRESS BRICK CO.
One of the most modern and progressive clayworking plants in the South is that of the Lone Star Press Brick Co., Ferris, Tex., an enterprise devoted exclusively to the manufacture of high-grade building brick.
The kiln battery consists of six up-draft kilns of 320,000 capacity each and the company’s spirit of progressiveness is nowhere more manifest than in its facilities for handling the finished product. The system employed is that of the Mathews Gravity Carrier Co., St. Paul, Minn., 136 ft. of 12-in. gravity brick carrier being in use, including two 90-deg. Curves for same and 23 supports. The Lone Star company in its use of this carrier has found a loading crew of 4 or 5 men sufficient for all purposes, whereas by the old-time method of handling its product by barrows, the services of 10 to 12 men were required.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Volume XXXI, Number 2, August 1909
Kenfield-Leach Company, Chicago, IL
Page 62
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Page 686
“Free Power”
This is part of the trade mark of the Standard Conveyor Co., and it is what you get when you utilize gravity in their Standard Conveyors.
Recent issues of Brick and Clay Record have had much to say about the rewards that 1922 will have for those who reduce their costs, and you will probably agree with the statement that a more general adoption of mechanical methods of handling material and ware in the clay plant would effect big savings. The gravity conveyor particularly reduces expenses, the following letter from the Auburn Brick & Tile Co., Auburn, Iowa, telling of their experience along this line:
“We are glad to comply with your request for a letter stating what our experience has been with our Standard Gravity Conveyor. We have now had it in use only three weeks and, to testify to the satisfaction it has given us may seem a little premature, yet, when we state that we have just placed an order for three more eight foot sections, that should be sufficient evidence of our satisfaction with the equipment.
You may be interested in knowing that before placing our order for a Standard Conveyor, we entered into a two-year contract with two of our men, whereby they agree to empty our kilns at a contract price that is $2.00 less than the contract price that was in effect under the old system of emptying kilns.
Page 687
We simply bought the machine for them and they repay us in monthly installments out of their earnings. At the present rate they will have machine paid for out of their excess earnings in about eight months’ time. They are making about $12.00 a piece per day while we are effecting a saving approximately $50.00 per month, to say nothing of the saving in wear and tear on our kilns and the advantage to us of having the kilns turned oftener. It is possible to work in a hotter kiln by using the conveyor than it is by the wheel-barrow method and less time is lost in bad weather.
The carrier is especially efficient in handling Hollow Building Blocks and, while it does not handle the smaller sizes of Drain Tile with as little trouble as it does the building tile, it does well or better than we expected and we are very well pleased with the investment.”
Other users have reported even larger savings, so that the manufacturer interested in reducing costs would do well to investigate the advantages of the Standard Conveyer.
The accompanying illustrations will give you an idea as to the diversity of arrangements the conveyors lend themselves to.
Also readers will be interested in knowing that a more recent change in the construction of the conveyor has not only improved it, but actually reduced the cost. The change may briefly be described as follows: Where they previously used a guard rail which was made of a half-oval bar braced to the side frame at intervals, they now use a wider angle iron at the side, inserting the studs of the bearing in slots near the angle. As stated before, this simplified construction has materially reduced the price per foot of the brick conveyor – the difference amounting to about ten per cent.
The Standard Conveyor Co., whose address is North St. Paul, Minn., will gladly send any additional information desired.
Source:
Brick and Clay Record
Industrial Publications, Inc., Chicago, IL
Volume 59, Number 9, November 1, 1921