Mark:

>>1.  Has anyone else come across bricks with symbols on them, and what was
the
probable vintage?<<

Yes, in 1994 we found some interesting marks on bricks at the Warner House
in Portsmouth, NH, which was built c. 1715 of hand made sand-struck bricks.
These marks were put on the face of the bricks when they were still soft
clay, before firing. There are carved initials and insignias made up of
letters, as well as impressions of two different seals or signet rings. A
few bricks with these markings are incorporated into the wall in two
locations on the front facade of the building near the left and right
corners of the building. They are placed at height (about 15') that makes
them unnoticible, unless you know they are there and are looking for them.
Although this building has been the subject of great interest and study by
the preservationists throughout the 20th century, no one had ever noticed
the markings, until we were up there on ladders mapping cracks to understand
a structural/moisture problem.

2.  Does anyone know if a directory or registry of sorts exists (like those
that are around for silversmith's hallmarks and the like) that would help to
identify the original manufacturers.

Our research did not turn up such a directory. We guessed the marks were
related to tradesman pride, or proof of payment of taxes on the bricks, or
official acceptance of brick size, etc.

On other projects we have tracked down later (19-20th cen.)manufacturer's
marks by interviewing current brickmakers who worked in the trades earlier
in their careers and had informally sorted out which of these old marked
bricks were made in which (mostly then defunct) brickyards.

Occasionally I have bumped into brick collectors around the country, some
with hundreds of bricks that are marked in various ways, but none of them
had done a study of the marks nor documented them.

John Leeke

--
To terminate puerile preservation prattling among pals and the
uncoffee-ed, or to change your settings, go to:
<http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/bullamanka-pinheads.html>