POWERHOUSE COLLECTION

Model 'Platt' brick-press as used at Fowler's Pottery

Object No. B553

This is a nicely detailed working model of a 'Platt' brick press, which was probably powered by a model steam engine via a belt around one of the two smooth-faced pulleys. It features two brick-shaped moulds for holding dry powdered clay or shale while it was subjected to pressure. It represents a major innovation in brick-making, which traditionally used a wet clay slurry, as making bricks with dry material was quicker and more fuel-efficient. Mr J. Chadwick made this model at his workplace, Fowler's Pottery, in Sydney in 1894. It is likely that this was John Chadwick, who worked at Fowler's for 40 years and was chief engineer for most of that time. Fowler's was one of several large Sydney companies that used Platt presses to make bricks for building houses and other structures as the city grew. The model represents an interesting sideline for Platt Bros of Oldham, England, a firm that made large numbers of machines for processing wool (see objects F387 and F388) and cotton (see object D9742 and D9743). It also represents both the enthusiasm of Mr Chadwick for a machine he worked with and his model-making skills. Debbie Rudder, 2015 Reference http://asslh.org.au/hummer/the-hummer-vol-9-no-1-2014/bricktechnology/ 1929 'MR. JOHN CHADWICK.', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 21 May, p. 15. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16552136