Abstract: Each of a series of small groups of cured bricks, each such group to be joined to others to form a completed hack of such bricks, are automatically handled to stabilize the pressure bearing contact surfaces between adjacent vertical and horizontal surfaces of such bricks in the finished hack and are automatically transported, handled and banded to form a stable bound hack, which hack comprises spaced apart voids for engagement by a forklift truck.

Abstract: Processes for coating concrete bricks with exposed surfaces having sharply delineated portions of contrasting color and/or texture by periodically and regularly forming atomized particles of a viscous cementitious slurry and directing same on to portions of surfaces of each of a plurality of green concrete bricks in groups located stationary in regular fashion for a brief period and thereafter firing the thus coated uncured brick. The processes include steps for rapidly and/or sequentially varying the colors applied to the different groups of bricks during successive cycles of coating the successively treated different groups of such brick.