The counting function of marks on Moscow bricks from the 17th to the early 20th centuries
FGBU "TsNIGRI", Petr А. Aleksandrov, Nikita S. Mashurov · Podlinnik · 2025
The process of counting finished products by marking bricks with stamps and counting marks at Moscow brick factories in the second half of the 19th century is described in detail in the essay "Brick and Pottery Production in Moscow District" by A. V. Pogozhev, published in 1881. The description indicates that, unlike other regions of the country where a system of marking raw bricks with dots and notches was used for counting, in Moscow, stamps were also employed. This study presents the results of direct calculations of the frequency of brick stamping from the late 18th to the early 20th century, providing a clear understanding of the system used at Moscow factories. The authors draw several conclusions about the time period during which stamps were used for counting finished products and identify the factories where this practice was first implemented. Experimental methods have partially confirmed the data presented in A. V. Pogozhev's work.