I believe this brick was made using a very stiff mix, not your typical slop
mix. Some say only the water present in the clay. Raming into molds allowed
the manufacture of a very square and consistent brick. The double pressed
refers to another system when the bricks were extruded, partly dried then
pressed. The close tolerances allowed tight joints , typically 1/8"  I think
they were fired at low heat as you can easily dig into then with a
screwdriver. To help John with his estimate using these bricks the following
I quote from my 1909 estimating book, "A mason should lay an average of 1200
brick per 8 hr Day on ordinary wall work. On the other hand the number may
drop to 200 or 300 on the best grade of pressed brick work. Masons wages
vary from $.50 to 75 cents per hour"
    Yes, deep red, smooth. best seen at sunset on an east west St.
    -----Original Message-----
From: Met History <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask]
<[log in to unmask]>
Date: Monday, June 21, 1999 12:00 PM
Subject: So what is "Philadelphia brick"?


>In a message, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
><< I think I have what you need. Very soft, sometimes called double pressed
> brick, sometimes called Philladelphia brick. >>
>
>What is "very soft" brick?  What is "Philadelphia brick"?  (I think of deep
>red, smooth.)
>
>Signed,  Christopher Gray
>