Our other top priority was to get ladle brick and face brick into continuous kilns. Without funds to build a kiln at Waynesburg, we were relegated to find a plant that could be purchased for a bargain price. After visits to about 10 broken-down plants around the country, Dick James suggested we talk to Don Peterson about Alliance Brick Company. I called Don, who replied, “Before you see our plant I want to visit yours and see what potential products you have for our plant.” Don toured Waynesburg and Magnolia, was persuaded we had products that would do well in a continuous kiln and in about two weeks, the deal was done.
The Alliance plant produced an unremarkable line of face brick in continuous kilns. We installed several brick presses, one purchased from Lynn, to make ladle brick and hired an experienced refractory man to manage the plant. In three years, we added firebrick to the pressed brick business, were able to liquidate the Alliance face brick business and were doing well.
