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About The Sunday Oregonian. (Portland, Ore.) 1881-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 8, 1922)
11 J1 esftradted off bJhopc cee Shope Brick Company Forges to Front. Popularity of I'ocal Man's Ce ment Brick Spreads Rapidly Through United States. THE STJXDAT OREGONTAN. POItTLAXD. OCTOBER 8, 1022 Co Brick . - " "v. BY ROGER T. HILL. THE story of the development of the Shope brick industry reads more like a romance than like a modern achievement In practical business. - Twelve years ago D. F. Shape, founder of the Shope Brick com pany,' established a plant which turned out a few' thousand brick a month, according to- his patented process. Toiiay that company has a J100.0OO plant at East Eighth and Division streets, which, during; the month of Augrust, turned out 861,- 000 "brick. At the same time other concerns operating: under a contract with Mr. Shope In twentj: states in the union were turning- out ,thia , same product by the millions. Not only this, but Mr. Shope has received overtures from the Chinese' government asking him to estab lish a plant for the manufacture of his special type of cement brick for use in building activity in that country, and this work will be taken up as soon as conditions be come more settled in the oriental nation. When Mr. Shops first entered the Portland field architects were slow in recommending Shope brick, as architects are naturally conserva tive in specifying: a new or untried material, but now many are avail ing themselves of the opportunity to use Shope brick in carrying out many new designs of finish and blending of color schemes. It was necessary for him to put forward an aggressive selling campaign In order, to get his product tried out in construction work. 'ovv, how ever, he can point to the new Mont gomery Ward & Co. '3. builuing ana the Ijabor temple, two of me city's most prominent structures, built of Shope, patented process brick, while residences, garages and fireplaces hi winch the Shope brink are used may be found in ail sections of the city. 'i'here must be a reason for that irresistible growth of a business which has placed the Siiope brick on the market in practically ail sec tions of the cpuntry. Tne reason, , accuiding to the testimony of users 01 the biick, is to be found in the intrinsic merit of the prouuct. The LKick when ui--d 0111 111 construc tion joIjs i,as pioved .u ne nut want iiib'. out, 011 tne coiiira,, to be su perior to Lie uiucii-tiuv'ciLised clay u. ick. A feature of the Shope brick, which has been a factor in its growing popularity, is Us stability, which is like that of the rock itself. By the Siuope patented process the brick is made of clean sand, gravel and cement, with the addition of an iron oxide coloring to give the required color to the face. The , process is simple and turns out brick, every one of which is perfect, whereas a large percentage of every kiln of clay brick are culls. By the Shope process the brick are mould ed, steamed to hasten crystalliza tion and may be headed for the Job. the third day. This speed and simplicity in con struction is in marked contrast to the manufacture of the clay brick. In the manufacture of this latter brick the product must first be mined, then ground in a special ma chine, moulded and placed . in the dry sheds. After drying sufficiently the brick m'uVt be placed in the kiln, burned for a week or ten days and then allowed to cool slowly, a process which, altogether, requires weeks to turn out a product. When taken from the kiln the'biick which was nearest the fire has the darkest shade and is the smallest.. It is also true that only about 60 per cent of each kiln of brick will be firsts, and this required tedious culling. Whereas the manufacturer of the lay brick must have a large amount of stock on hand, owing to the length of time required in turn ing out his product and the -varied quality of the brick. In order to be sure of furnishing a given type of product when an order is received, the manufacturer of the Shope brick has a much easier problem. The possibility for the speedy turning .out of the concrete brick all of uni form sise, shape and design makes possible a quick turnover and does away with the need for large stocks. It is the contention of Mr. Shope that the manufacturers of the clay brick haven't discovered many new improvements in their product since the time of the Egyptians. The Shope brick, however, he contends to be a product of the modern decade, as far in advance of the old mud brick as, the automobile and aeroplane of today are in advance of the ox carts of olden times. That the Shope brick is no longer an experiment is borne out by the fact that It is being used more and more in construction throughout the country. The use of concrete in foundations and In other structures where endurance and fire-resisting qualities tire desired is decidedly past the experimental stage. The Shope brick iB nothing more or less than concrete in an attractive and convenient form. In the Shope brick for fireplaces and ornamental construction the color used in working out the de sign is mineral coloring the samo as that found in the natural state in the clay brick. The enduring qualities of the color in Shope brick has been demonstrated on numerous occasions .when the brick have been subjected to fire and water during conflagrations and to extremes of sleet, snow and ice during winter storms. In all such cases the color of the brick has been found unaf fected. The Shope brick is said to be the only concrete brick yet developed which will successfully withstand water under high pressure. This is due to the fact that the special process developed by Mr. Shope makes it possible to mix the con crcte used m the construction of the brick sufficiently wet, because the face of the brick is applied to the top something after the manner of applying the top coat -to a sid-e-walk. In addition to the manufacture and sale of the Shope brick in Port land and vicinity, Mr. Shope has been doing a big business in the gradual enlarging of the territory in which his brick are handled through selling the rights to in dividuals or companies to manufac ture brick by his patented process in given territories. Indications are that it will hot be long now before Shope brick will be found wherever building material is sold. Its colors rivaling the best tapestried brick of the clay brick manufacturers and its quality and durability superior to the clay brick. Z i ft 3t ML lr h ' 1 iffer 1. . n f 1 .8 " 1 :- ft - -"j . i . n a . . ; ' . ' : " : r M 1 , - i t-t T" i. ' ll . i.vl f if i ' -1 r , Iff ' " ' """" ccrr. 31 H ' I 1 1 1 4 c k4 " , 1 fs " , . (If "7 1 1-1--- IPs 5 JftJiStfew 4 s t 1 1 i : L' 1 r i '. -TP-1 1. Cllntoa Court apartmeats. Walla -Walla. Wash. E. T. Osbora, architect. Seattle, 'Wash. This will he one of the finest eauipped apartments on the Paeile coast, containing forty-five apartments, hardwood floors, ttle baths, most medera plumbing fixtures, baaqnet and danee hall, live fireplace la every apartment. 2. Western- Electric company's hnildlng. Park aad Flanders afreets. Portland. Strong & MacXanghton, architects. K. O. Van Dersai, owner. S. Porch and ehlmneya on residence, at Alnsworth and VmcoiiTrr avennea, . PorUaad, Or. - 4. Regidrnr bnllt of Shope hollow wall coaotroetloa by D. K. Shope, presl deat of Shope Brick company, for kia daouhter, Mrs. I- B. Saydor, at Twen. ty-third and Stephens streets, Colonial Heights, Portlaad, Or. Carl 1 l,inde, architect. 5. rireplaee in W. H. Dunn's residence at Thirty-ninth street and Ianrelhnrat . avenae, Portlaad, Or. " . lynniis hotel, a milllon-dollsr hotel at Williams port. Pa. W. I Stod dard, architect. Mew York, K. Y. r. Exterior view of Dhono Brlrk omnanr'a affleo and! plant, Portland. On shssrlaa: fleet of tracks aad workmen. C Moant Hood Maaaale temple. Commercial aad Enmn arroota, Pnetlan. Or. O'ew nndrr eonatrnetlon.) Orlo H. W. lioasark, arrhltoet. TraneaeU Jk Paroilna. eMtraetara. Kenton Blasaale lsdco at Kenton. Kow and MUhnctln.) Orlo WU W. Ilssssrh. sureaitoet. C'hrtstea Spiea tooklas after (ha emit. We install plants in allotted territory only, controlling machinery and process patents, producing over sixty vartettes tn shades and textures. A home industry in every community. Plants installed and being installed throughout the country this season are Las Vegas, N. AT.; El Paso and Waco, Texas; Canton, Ohio; Springfield and Worcester, Mass and Baltimore, Aid. All the machinery and equipment for these plants were manufactured in and shipped from Portland. Parties interested write or call. c mnipsnniy East Eighth and Division Sts. Portland, Oregon