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Flower pots by the thousand
One of Nelson's oldest Industries is the Nelson Brick and Tile Company in Toi Toi Street. It is believed the business was first established about 100 years ago but we have been unable to verify this. Today, work is carried on very much the same as it was many years ago. Machinery has been added, but the principle of brick and tile-making remains the same. Probably the firm's biggest trade is derived from its, sale of pipes, but the manufacture of flower pots is by no means a secondary one. From this plant, the pots are sent to all parts of New Zealand.
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The fine clay (a mixture of two types) after being crushed.
The huge, old crusher grinds the raw clay to powder consistency
Mixed with water the clay emerges from this machine ready for cutting into bricks.
Flower pots start as raw clay on this machine
Pushed into the mold they emerge as pliable pots.
Bricks are made by pushing the raw clay through a series of wires
A selection of pots