>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, HERE WE ARE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE REALLY A WONDERFUL ADVENTURE TODAY.

I MEAN, YOU GET THE IDEA OF HOW MUCH FUN THIS IS.

LOOK AT THIS VIEW RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS AN ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL VIEW.

DAVID EXPLAIN TO EVERYBODY EXACTLY WHAT WE'RE SEEING OUT HERE.

>> WELL, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT IS THE CASTAIC LAKE AFTERBAY.

OVER TO MY LEFT YOU HAVE THE DAM AND THEN THE UPPER LAKE, WHICH IS PROBABLY AROUND 20, 30 TIMES THE SIZE BODY OF WATER AS THE RECREATIONAL FACILITY DOWN HERE.

>> THIS IS THE AFTERBAY DOWN HERE.

THIS IS CASTAIC LAKE UP HERE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND WE HAVE COME TO A VERY HIGH POINT UP HERE.

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL SCENIC VIEW, BUT THIS IS NOT REALLY WHY WE'RE UP HERE, TO LOOK AT THE LAKE IS IT, DAVID?

>> NO, THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE UP HERE.

>> OKAY.

DAVID WROTE ME A LETTER A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND INVITED ME TO COME UP AND VISIT HIS COMPANY, AND HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS THE COMPANY RIGHT HERE.

LITTLE DECEIVING RIGHT HERE, BUT FOR THOSE WHO'VE GOT A GOOD EYE AND KIND OF KNOW ABOUT PRODUCTS, THEY WOULD LOOK AT THIS A BEGIN TO GUESS PROBABLY WHAT IT IS YOU MANUFACTURE.

AND THE KEY TO IT IS RIGHT HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

THIS IS THE CLAY, THE RAW MATERIAL IT TAKES TO MAKE THE BRICKS.

>> THE BRICKS, OKAY.

WE ARE AT CASTAIC BRICK COMPANY, WHICH STARTED NOT HERE IN-- WHERE WE'RE LOCATED NOW, BUT ACTUALLY IN LOS ANGELES.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, HUELL.

IT WAS STARTED IN 1947 IN VAN NUYS AND IT WAS CALLED THE VALLEY BRICK COMPANY AT KESTER AND DELANO STREETS.

AND THEY RELOCATED FOR THE PURPOSE OF FINDING MORE RAW MATERIAL OUT IN THIS AREA AND ALSO IT WAS MORE OF A BETTER CLIMATE FOR INDUSTRIAL.

>> IN OTHER WORDS THE HOUSES WERE KIND OF GROWING UP AROUND THE BRICKYARD.

>> EXACTLY.

>> WELL, YOU CERTAINLY GOT PLENTY OF RAW MATERIAL OUT HERE.

IS THIS--I MEAN, IS THIS THE KIND OF CLAY THAT A BRICKMAKER WOULD LOOK AT AND GO "OH, BOY, THIS IS THE REAL STUFF"?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS PREMIUM CLAY.

IT MAKES A VERY CHERRY RED BEAUTIFUL PRODUCT.

>> AND WHERE IS THIS STUFF LOCATED?

IS IT LOCATED ALL OVER THIS AREA OR IS IT JUST IN CERTAIN PLACES?

>> WELL, IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE AT ONE TIME THIS WAS ALL AN UNDERGROUND LAKEBED.

AND THERE'S DIFFERENT TYPES OF CLAYS AND DIFFERENT KINDS OF MATERIALS, SOME OF WHICH ARE REALLY GOOD TO MAKE BRICK, SOME AREN'T.

THE MINE'S FAIRLY GOOD SIZE AND THERE ARE OTHER MINES IN CALIFORNIA, BUT YOU HAVE TO FIND SPECIFIC BRICKMAKING CLAY.

>> WELL, YOU FOUND IT IN SPADES.

THERE'S NOT MUCH ACTIVITY GOING ON RIGHT HERE, BUT WE'RE GOING TO QUICKLY GET TO THE ACTIVITY.

YOU REALLY JUST BROUGHT US HERE FOR THE VIEW AND FOR THE PANORAMA AND TO JUST KIND OF GET US EXCITED ABOUT WHAT WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE REST OF THE DAY.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S BEAUTIFUL UP HERE.

IT'S BREATHTAKING.

>> WELL, THERE IT IS.

LET'S FINISH.

WE'LL JUST PAN RIGHT OUT HERE, LUIS.

WE GOT THE CLAY IN THE FOREGROUND AND THE LAKE OFF THERE IN THE BACKGROUND.

OUR BRICK ADVENTURE IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.

DAVID, YOU WERE TELLING ME THAT YOU'VE GOTTEN SPOILED WORKING OUT HERE.

>> YEAH, YOU HAVE A TENDENCY TO GET KIND OF JADED.

IT'S SO BEAUTIFUL, AND I'VE HAD THE PLEASURE OF WORKING HERE FOR 22 YEARS SINCE I WAS A KID.

AND IT'S JUST BETWEEN ALL THE WILDLIFE AND THE FRESH AIR, IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

>> WELL, THIS ISN'T THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIEW RIGHT HERE, BUT THIS IS RIGHT OVER HERE.

WE'RE LOOKING OUT AT THE-- >> AT THE FACTORY ITSELF.

>> WELL, I WAS THINKING ABOUT THE WATER.

>> OH, OKAY.

>> BUT I GUESS FOR YOU LOOKING AT THE FACTORY IS PRETTY NICE TOO.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I--I DO SEE THE WHOLE PICTURE, BUT I'M FOCUSED ON THE PLANT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

NOW, THIS IS A FAMILY BUSINESS FOR YOU.

>> YES, IT IS.

MY FATHER IS THE PRESIDENT.

I HAVE A COUSIN THAT WORKS IN-- RUNS OUR LAB AND QC AND RUNS ALL THIS MINING DEPARTMENT.

AND I ALSO HAVE A NIECE WHO WORKS HERE PART-TIME AND GOES TO SCHOOL.

>> WOW, THAT'S GREAT.

>> YEAH.

>> NOW, WE'RE HERE TO ACTUAL SEE SOME--SOME MINING, AND YOU CALL IT MINING BECAUSE IN A WAY IT'S STRIP MINING.

YOU'RE TAKING THE CLAY-- YOU'RE JUST SCRAPING IT RIGHT OFF THE TOP HERE.

>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.

BEFORE WE GET TO THIS POINT, HUELL, WHAT WE DO IS A LOT OF DRILLING AND TESTING AND--TO MAKE SURE THAT WHAT WE'RE DOING IS MIXING AND BLENDING TO GET THE RIGHT KINDS OF CLAYS TO MAKE OUR BRICK.

>> RIGHT.

SO EACH ONE OF THESE MOUNTAINTOPS HAS A DIFFERENT TYPE OF SOIL IN IT AND YOU KIND OF MIX IT AROUND, IS THAT-- >> SORT OF LIKE THAT.

ACTUALLY IF YOU LOOK AT SOME OF THE CUTS, YOU'LL NOTICE THAT THERE ARE STRATAS OR VEINS THAT RUN THROUGH OF DIFFERENT COLORS, AND THERE'S DIFFERENT MATERIALS IN THOSE VEINS.

AND A CERTAIN MIXTURE AND A BLENDING OF THOSE WILL--WILL PRODUCE THE PREMIUM PRODUCT.

>> IS THIS A SECRET FAMILY RECIPE YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, THIS MIXTURE AND BLEND?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> THAT'S WHAT I THOUGHT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> OKAY, DAVID.

WE FINALLY GOT SOME ACTION GOING ON HERE.

IT'S LOUD.

IT'S DUSTY AND IT'S THE FIRST STAGE AFTER YOU GET THROUGH GETTING IT OUT OF THE GROUND.

>> EXACTLY, HUELL.

WHAT WE'RE DOING HERE IS WE'RE TAKING THAT CLAY AS YOU SAW IT MINED OUT OF THE HILL, WE PUT IT INTO WHAT WE CALL A GRIZZLY AND THAT CULLS OUT A LOT OF THE BOULDERS AND ROCKS THAT WON'T BE USED AND ALLOWS THE OTHER PARTS OF THE CLAY TO COME THROUGH AND GET GROUND UP HERE.

>> AND WE'D LIKE TO GO INSIDE THIS BUILDING AND WATCH IT BEING GROUND UP, BUT WE'VE HAD OUR FIRST TECHNICAL PROBLEM BECAUSE LUIS'S CAMERA IS VERY SENSITIVE TO DUST AND FINE PARTICLES OF DIRT AND THIS PLACE IS FILLED WITH FINE PARTICLES OF DUST AND DIRT.

>> EXACTLY.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BABY POWDER IN ITS TEXTURE.

>> YEAH.

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO GO INSIDE AND WATCH THIS, BUT WHAT WE CAN DO IS GO AROUND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> OKAY.

>> AND WATCH IT AS IT COMES OUT AFTER IT'S BEEN GROUND UP.

>> GREAT.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY.

HERE WE ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BUILDING.

THAT'S WHERE IT'S LOADED OFF THE TRUCKS INTO THOSE BIG BINS AND THEN IT COMES ACROSS HERE, DAVID.

IT GOES IN HERE AND GETS GROUND UP.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND THEN OVER HERE--YOU KIND OF GAVE ME A LITTLE SNEAK PREVIEW A MINUTE AGO.

THIS IS REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME YOU SEE WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE AFTER IT'S BEEN GROUND UP.

AND HERE IT IS RIGHT HERE.

BOY, THAT IS VERY FINELY GROUND CLAY, BUT THERE'S SOME RED SPECKS IN THERE.

>> I WAS GOING TO MENTION THAT.

IF YOU NOTICE, THAT RED SPECK IS ACTUALLY FIRED BRICK THAT'S BEEN GROUND TO THIS PARTICLE SIZE AND ADDED BACK IN.

>> WHY?

>> THE REASON IT'S ADDED BACK IN IS TWO-FOLD.

NUMBER ONE, THE OBVIOUS BENEFITS OF RECYCLING AND NUMBER TWO, IT ACTUALLY OPENS UP THE BODY AND ALLOWS SOME OF THE WATER TO BE RELEASED.

YOU NEED TO COMPLETELY DRY THE BRICK BEFORE IT GOES INTO THE KILN.

>> SOUNDS KIND OF TECHNICAL, BUT I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD FOR IT.

>> I'LL SHOW YOU.

>> WHAT'S INTERESTING IS JUST TO GET A FEEL OF THIS.

IT'S REALLY VERY INTERESTING TO SEE IT IN THIS FORM.

>> IT'S ALMOST STICKY OR AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, IT HAS SORT OF A PLASTICITY OR A PLASTIC QUALITY.

>> DOES IT HAVE A--HAS IT HAD ANY WATER PUT IN IT YET?

>> THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF NATURAL MOISTURE, BUT NOTHING THAT'S-- >> BECAUSE IT'S GOT SOME MOISTURE TO IT.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT COULD BE STILL LEFT OVER FROM EL NINO.

IT'S WHAT WE CALL A VERY FAT CLAY AND IT HOLDS A LOT OF WATER.

>> BUT LOOK, WHEN I--LOOK, IT KIND OF GLOBS TOGETHER.

>> STAYS TOGETHER.

>> YEAH.

>> IT'S CLAY.

>> OKAY.

WE'RE GOING TO FOLLOW IT DOWN THE CONVEYOR BELT TO THIS LITTLE TIN BUILDING BELOW US FOR THE NEXT STAGE.

OUR ADVENTURE IN WATCHING BRICKS BEING MADE CONTINUES.

WELL, WE'VE COME TO THE END OF THE CONVEYOR BELT.

WHERE ARE WE NOW, DAVID?

>> THIS IS OUR NEXT STOP IN THE PROCESS OF THE BRICK MANUFACTURING.

>> BOY, IT'S GETTING KIND OF HOT IN HERE TOO.

>> IT IS GETTING A LITTLE BIT WARM.

>> I BET IN AUGUST IT'S COOKING IN HERE.

>> IT GETS INTO THE ONE TEENS.

>> I BET.

>> IT DOES.

>> OKAY.

NOW, THIS IS--IS THIS THE SAME CLAY THAT WE SAW UP AT THE OTHER END?

>> THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU WERE JUST HANDLING UP ON THE CONVEYOR BELT.

>> CAN I PUT MY HAND IN THERE?

>> YOU CAN.

>> CAN I PUT IT RIGHT HERE?

>> YOU CAN RIGHT TO HERE.

>> OKAY.

THERE IT IS AGAIN.

>> SAME MATERIAL.

>> AND WHAT'S HAPPENING TO IT HERE, IT'S GETTING SOME WATER ADDED TO IT.

>> THIS IS WHAT'S CALLED THE PUGGING PROCESS OR A PUG MILL.

THESE KNIVES ARE TURNING OVER AND GRINDING THE MATERIAL.

>> WHAT ARE THESE THINGS SHOOTING DOWN HERE?

>> WELL, THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

WE'RE GOING TO GET TO THAT IN A SECOND, BUT WHAT THESE ARE, ARE BRICKS THAT ARE COMING BACK AROUND BEING RECYCLED BECAUSE THEY HAVE A LITTLE BLEMISH ON THEM.

>> AH, SO YOU DON'T WASTE ANYTHING AROUND HERE.

>> NOTHING.

WE USE IT ALL.

>> I'M GOING TO PUT THIS BACK IN BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO WASTE ANYTHING HERE.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> AND SO FAR ALL WE HAVE SEEN IS JUST THE ORIGINAL CLAY.

>> CORRECT.

>> I MEAN, THIS LOOKS LIKE A PRETTY SIMPLE PROCESS, DAVID.

THIS AIN'T BRAIN SURGERY.

>> NO, IT'S BRICKS, NOT BRAIN SURGERY.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW WE'RE GETTING DOWN TO SOMETHING THAT'S RECOGNIZABLE.

>> RIGHT.

AFTER THE CLAY IS PUGGED, THEN IT COMES OUT OF THIS MACHINE CALLED AN EXTRUDER.

IT KIND OF RESEMBLES TOOTHPASTE COMING OUT OF A TUBE.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, THIS IS THE BRICK BEFORE IT'S CUT, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THE LITTLE METAL DIE ON THE OUTSIDE HERE IS WHAT'S KNOWN AS A SHAPER CAP, AND IT'S DETERMINING THE LENGTH AND THE HEIGHT OF THE BRICK.

>> SO YOU CAN PUT A DIFFERENT DIE ON HERE AND HAVE DIFFERENT SIZES, DIFFERENT SHAPES?

>> AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE HAVE SEVERAL OF THEM AS YOU CAN SEE AROUND THE AREA.

>> YEAH.

>> AND ALSO THIS CHERRY PICKING OR A CRANE THAT HELPS US TO DO THE CHANGEOVER-- >> OH, TO DIFFERENT DIE.

>> --THE DIFFERENT DYE.

>> HOWDY, HOW YOU DOING?

>> FINE.

>> YOUR NAME IS?

>> ARTURO GARCIA.

>> AND HOW MANY YEARS HAVE YOU WORKED HERE?

>> TEN YEARS.

>> HOW MANY?

>> TEN YEARS.

>> TEN YEARS.

SO YOU HAVE A LOT OF EMPLOYEES WHO HAVE BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE.

>> WE DO.

WE HAVE MANY THAT HAVE BEEN HERE 10, 15, AND WE JUST CELEBRATED A 25 AND A 30 LAST WEEK.

>> WOW.

>> SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.

>> THERE'S SOMETHING BEING CUT DOWN HERE.

OH, I SEE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

>> THIS IS A GUILLOTINE.

>> THIS--THIS--IT IS.

IT ACTUALLY CUTS.

>> IT'S MAKING IT INTO BARS THAT MAKE IT MORE MANAGEABLE FOR THE NEXT STEP.

>> OH, LOOK, HERE THEY GO.

THEY--THEY BECOME--WAIT A MINUTE, YOU JUST MESSED THAT UP.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY YOU'LL SEE IN A SECOND-- >> CAN I DO THAT?

>> OH, SURE.

THAT--THE END OF THE BARS ACTUALLY GET RECYCLED.

>> LOOK AT THIS.

NOW, THIS IS VERY HARD CLAY HERE.

>> CORRECT.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS-- THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF.

>> IT'S BEEN VACUUM EXTRUDED.

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, BUT I'LL TAKE YOUR WORD THAT THAT'S IMPORTANT.

>> OKAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW, THIS IS VERY INTERESTING.

THIS IS WHERE THE BRICKS ARE CUT AND YOU JUST SHOWED ME THIS LITTLE PIECE OF PIANO WIRE.

>> RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT YOU USE TO CUT THROUGH THE CLAY WITH YOUR MACHINE THERE.

YOU'VE GOT 52 PIECES OF PIANO WIRE STRUNG OUT THERE TO CUT THROUGH THE CLAY.

>> EXACTLY.

THE CLAY IS PUSHED THROUGH THE PIANO WIRE ACTUALLY.

>> WELL, THAT'S PRETTY OLD FASHIONED.

>> IT IS.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING THIS A LONG TIME.

I THINK THE--THE PART THAT WAS MODERNIZED IS THE ACTUAL HANDLING OF IT, HOW IT GETS PUSHED THROUGH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW, THIS GUY OVER HERE IS THE PLANT MANAGER.

YOU'RE THE MAIN GUY AROUND HERE.

>> YEAH, WELL, I--I TRY TO KEEP IT RUNNING, YEAH.

[LAUGHTER] >> WE TRY REAL HARD.

>> HOW MANY YEARS YOU BEEN DOING THIS?

>> FIFTEEN YEARS NOW.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, A FEW MINUTES AGO I WAS TELLING DAVID, YOU KNOW, THAT THIS WASN'T BRAIN SURGERY, BUT ACTUALLY THERE'S A LOT TO THIS, ISN'T THERE?

IT'S A VERY FINELY TUNED CRAFT YOU HAVE GOING HERE.

>> YEAH, IT'S A LOT MORE INVOLVED THAN WHAT PEOPLE REALIZE.

THERE--THERE'S A LOT OF MECHANICS INVOLVED AND A LOT OF--LOT OF THINKING WENT INTO PUTTING THE PLANT TOGETHER TO START WITH.

>> HOW DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO THE BRICK MAKING BUSINESS?

>> A JOB WAS OFFERED TO ME AS A MAINTENANCE MAN AND THAT'S WHERE I STARTED AND-- >> YOU WORKED YOUR WAY UP.

>> I WORKED MY WAY UP TO WHERE I'M AT NOW.

IT'S BEEN--IT'S BEEN REAL GOOD TO ME HERE.

>> WELL NOW, WE'VE SEEN THE PIANO WIRE.

THIS LOOKS PRETTY HIGH TECH OVER HERE.

THIS--THIS IS A LITTLE MORE SERIOUS OVER HERE, ISN'T IT?

>> YEAH, 15 YEARS AGO THIS WAS A STATE OF THE ART.

THIS WAS WHERE IT WAS AT.

AND WE HAVE A MONICOM COMPUTER THAT MONITORS ALL THE EQUIPMENT AND EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON AND WATCHES WHERE ALL THE BELTS ARE AT THE SAME TIME AND MARSHALS THIS THING THROUGH.

>> BUT YOU STILL GOT TO HAVE MEN WORKING HERE TO DO THE WORK.

>> YEAH, AT LEAST THREE MEN TO--TO WATCH EVERYTHING, MAKE SURE IT'S WORKING RIGHT AND CHANGE WIRES, WHATEVER HAS TO HAPPEN.

>> HOW MANY WORKERS DO YOU HAVE IN THE WHOLE PLANT?

>> THERE'S ABOUT 80.

>> ABOUT 80 OF THEM.

>> 80, 85.

>> WHO DO I GIVE THIS PIANO WIRE BACK TO?

>> YOU CAN GIVE IT BACK TO ME AND I'LL TAKE CARE OF IT.

[LAUGHTER] >> ALL RIGHT.

BECAUSE I KNOW WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO WASTE ANYTHING.

>> WE'RE ALL WELL-TRAINED HERE, HUELL.

>> ALL RIGHT.

NOW LET'S WALK OVER HERE BECAUSE THIS IS--BASICALLY WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE IS THIS MACHINE IS JUST PICKING UP THE BRICKS AND RESTACKING THEM, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

IT'S ACTUALLY TAKING THE BRICKS, PUTTING THEM INTO A PATTERN THAT WOULD MAKE THEM SECURE TO RIDE ON ONE OF THESE WHAT'S KNOWN AS A KILN CAR.

>> SO THEY'RE GOING FROM HERE INTO THE FURNACE.

CAN I PICK ONE OF THESE UP?

>> EVENTUALLY, EVENTUALLY.

>> OH, MY GOD.

>> CAREFUL.

>> THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF HERE.

WATCH THIS, LUIS.

IT'S GETTING READY TO COME DOWN.

CAN I PICK UP ONE OF THESE-- >> SURE.

>> NOW, THIS IS LIKE A BIG PIECE OF MODELING CLAY RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S VERY SIMILAR TO A MODELING CLAY.

>> HOW FLEXIBLE IS IT?

COULD I BREAK IT?

>> YES, YOU CAN.

>> SO IT'S--OH, OKAY.

>> YEAH.

STILL FAIRLY PLIABLE.

>> SO I JUST BROKE A BRICK APART WITH MY BARE HANDS.

>> IT'S RECYCLABLE RIGHT NOW.

[LAUGHTER] >> PUT IT BACK TOGETHER.

WELL, I THINK WE BETTER THROW THAT ONE BACK IN THE VAT.

AND IT'S BASICALLY JUST AS SIMPLE AS PICKING THEM UP, SETTING THEM DOWN.

>> SETTING THEM HERE.

>> AND THE GO INTO THE FURNACE.

>> WELL, ACTUALLY THERE'S TWO STEPS BEFORE THE FURNACE, HUELL.

THERE'S FIRST OF ALL A HOLDING AREA.

YOU KNOW, JUST LIKE A MODELING CLAY OR PLAYDOUGH IF YOU SET IT OUT, IT WILL CRACK.

SO WE HAVE TO FIRST HAVE IT GO INTO A HOLDING AREA THAT WILL-- ALLOWS THE WATER TO BE RELEASED VERY SLOWLY WITHOUT CRACKING.

THEN IT GOES INTO A DRYER AND THE FROM THE DRYER INTO THE KILN OR THE FURNACE.

>> HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO THE FURNACE BECAUSE I'M GETTING HOTTER AS THIS TOUR GOES ON?

IT MUST BE CLOSE BY.

>> IT IS FAIRLY CLOSE BY.

THIS IS IT RIGHT HERE, AND THEN OF COURSE WE HAVE TWO DRYERS NEXT TO IT.

>> NOW, THIS IS THE DRYER.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO THESE ARE THE KILNS DOWN HERE.

>> CORRECT.

>> AND, BOY, I WANT YOU TO SAY YOU CAN SEE THIS BLOWING RIGHT HERE.

THIS HAS GOT TO BE ABOUT 200 DEGREES OF--OF WIND.

>> THIS IS THE KILN.

THIS IS A KILN.

THIS IS ANOTHER DRYER.

>> MAN.

>> IT'S WARM, VERY WARM.

>> THIS REALLY--YOU'RE REALLY COOKING THOSE BRICKS.

>> WE'RE BAKING THEM.

>> NOW, HOW LONG DO THEY HAVE TO STAY IN THERE?

>> WELL, THE WHOLE PROCESS IS ABOUT FIVE DAYS, AND WE'RE MAKING ABOUT A MILLION BRICKS A WEEK.

>> THEY'RE IN THERE FOR FIVE DAYS AT THIS HEAT?

>> NO, IN TOTAL FROM THE BEGINNING TO PACKAGING.

A COUPLE OF DAYS IN THE HEAT.

>> OH, MAN, THIS IS HOT.

>> INTENSE, ISN'T IT?

>> HOW HOT IS THAT?

>> WELL, AT THIS POINT IT'S ABOUT 125.

>> MAN.

>> BUT IT GETS UP TO 1865 FAHRENHEIT.

>> OH MY GOD.

BOY, THAT'S THE WALK OF DEATH RIGHT THERE, THE WALK OF FIRE WALKING THROUGH THAT PLACE.

>> IT DRIED THE SWEAT RIGHT OFF US.

>> BOY, I'M JUST GLAD TO GET OUT OF THAT PLACE.

IT'S HOT IN THERE, AND IT'S LOUD OUT HERE.

THERE'S A LOT GOING ON OUT HERE.

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

>> WELL, THIS IS OUR THIN BRICK PACKAGING AREA, AND THERE'S A LOT OF SAW CUTTING GOING ON.

WE HAVE INDIVIDUAL SAWS AND WE HAVE GANG SAWS THAT DO IT AUTOMATED.

>> THIN BRICK.

>> NOW, IS THAT THE NEW RAGE?

WHAT'S-- >> AS A MATTER OF FACT, IT IS.

NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY WE'RE SELLING THESE PRODUCTS.

>> WHAT DO PEOPLE USE THIS FOR?

>> WELL, THIS IS A 4 X 8, WHICH IS THE TOP OR THE BED OF THE BRICK FOR FLOORING.

WE ALSO HAVE A 2 X 8 THINNER DIMENSION, WHICH REPRESENTS THE FACE OF THE BRICK OR HOW IT WOULD BE VERTICALLY.

>> AND THEY'RE JUST TAKING A REGULAR BRICK AND CUTTING IT DOWN.

>> WE ARE, BUT WE DO EXTRUDE THEM AND DESIGN THEM SPECIALLY FOR THIS.

>> CAN WE GO SOMEWHERE THAT'S A LITTLE QUIETER?

>> THIS WAY.

[LAUGHTER] >> NOW WE'RE BEGINNING TO SEE ALL THE BRICK OUT HERE TOO.

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS INVENTORY AREA.

A LOT OF IT IS THIN BRICK.

AS A MATTER OF FACT, MOST OF IT IS THE THIN BRICK.

YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE BOXES HERE.

>> NOW, HOW MANY BRICK DO YOU MAKE IN A GOOD BRICK DAY?

>> IN A GOOD DAY, A COUPLE HUNDRED THOUSAND.

A GOOD WEEK, ABOUT A MILLION.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

>> AND WHAT'S THE MARKET FOR BRICK?

>> WELL, THAT'S FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK.

THERE'S SEVERAL MARKETS.

WE HAVE A LARGE DO-IT-YOURSELF FOLLOWING AND WE HAVE AN ARCHITECTURAL BASE AND ALSO THIS THIN BRICK PRODUCT GOES INTERNATIONALLY.

WE HAVE REGULAR SHIPMENTS TO JAPAN, RUSSIA, MEXICO, TAIWAN.

>> NOW, WAIT A MINUTE.

THIS BRICK IS COVERED IN PAINT.

>> IT'S ACTUALLY A SECRET SAUCE.

>> WHAT IS THIS?

>> IT'S A CEMENTITIOUS SOLUTION THAT'S TUMBLED ON, WHICH I'LL SHOW YOU.

THERE'S DIFFERENT COLORANTS, AND IT'S TO RESEMBLE A USED BRICK.

THERE'S A BIG DEMAND FOR RECYCLED USED BRICK, BUT NOT A LOT OF RECYCLING OF USED BRICK.

SO WE MAKE THEM FOR THAT MARKET.

>> SO THIS IS NEW BRICK MADE TO LOOK OLD.

>> EXACTLY.

>> BOY, I'LL TELL YOU, WHAT WILL YOU BRICK PEOPLE COME UP WITH NEXT.

YOU'RE ALWAYS COMING UP WITH SOMETHING NEW, AREN'T YOU?

>> I'LL SHOW YOU SOMETHING NEW IN A MINUTE FOR LANDSCAPING.

>> NOW, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST INTERESTING THINGS I'VE SEEN ALL DAY.

YOU'VE GOT SOME KIND OF A ASSEMBLY LINE GOING HERE.

>> EXACTLY.

THIS IS MANUFACTURED USED BRICK COMING OUT OF THE TUMBLER AND BEING PACKAGED.

>> LOOK AT THIS OVER HERE, LUIS.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THERE THAT THEY'RE--WHEN YOU SAY TUMBLER?

>> WHAT HAPPENS IS WE HAVE A CRANE THAT PICKS THE BRICK UP OFF OF THE KILN CAR, PUTS IT INTO THIS HOPPER AND GOES INTO THIS FEEDER WHERE IT TUMBLES AROUND AND IT CHIPS AN EDGE OFF HERE AND THERE.

AND ALSO THE COLORANTS ARE SPILLED INTO THIS TUMBLER AT THE SAME TIME AS THEY'RE TURNING.

>> SO THIS IS TO MAKE THE BRICKS LOOK OLD.

>> EXACTLY.

>> PEOPLE LIKE TO GET THEM CHIPPED LIKE THIS?

>> YES.

THEY LOOK OLD.

>> WOW.

THERE YOU GO.

NOW, YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF BRICK HERE.

HOW MANY BRICK YOU GOT ON THE YARD?

>> OH, I WOULD SAY ANYWHERE IN UPWARDS OF ABOUT 15 MILLION.

>> 15 MILLION BRICKS.

>> YES.

>> AND WHERE DO THESE BRICKS GO?

>> WELL, WE HAVE OVER 100 INDEPENDENT MASONRY SUPPLY DEALERS AND ALSO WE SUPPLY ABOUT 150 HOME DEPOTS IN CALIFORNIA, ARIZONA AND NEVADA.

>> REALLY?

>> YES.

IT'S A VERY POPULAR PRODUCT.

>> SO IF SOMEBODY GOES INTO A HOME DEPOT IN CALIFORNIA AND SEES A BRICK, IT PROBABLY CAME FROM CASTAIC.

>> IT DID FOR SURE.

>> FOR SURE.

>> FOR SURE.

WE'RE THE ONLY SUPPLIER IN THE THREE STATES FOR THEM.

>> WHICH BRINGS TO MIND THE QUESTION, HOW MANY BRICK YARDS ARE THERE AROUND CALIFORNIA?

>> WELL, IN CALIFORNIA THERE ARE SIX.

IN 11 WESTERN STATES THERE ARE ABOUT 11, AND IN THE WHOLE COUNTRY THERE ARE LESS THAN 135.

>> WAIT A MINUTE.

THERE'S SIX BRICK YARDS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA?

>> RIGHT.

>> WHY SO FEW?

I THOUGHT-- >> WELL, I THINK IT'S A COMBINATION OF THINGS, BUT NEW MATERIALS, COMPETITIVE THINGS COMING ON THE MARKET, AND ALSO CALIFORNIA ISN'T ALWAYS FRIENDLY TO MANUFACTURING ENVIRONMENTS.

>> YEAH.

BUT THEY'RE JUST SIX BRICKYARDS.

>> YEAH.

>> WHERE ARE THEY?

>> WELL, THERE'S ONE IN SACRAMENTO.

THERE'S ONE IN SAN RAFAEL.

THERE'S ONE IN CHINO, RIVERSIDE AND LAKE ELSINORE.

>> AND HERE.

>> AND OF COURSE US.

>> WELL, WE'RE ENDING UP THIS BRICK ADVENTURE HERE BY A BIG OLD PILE OF BRICKS, DAVID.

WHAT'S THE DEAL HERE?

>> THESE ARE THE BRICKS THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT IN THE CUT FOR THE MANUFACTURED USED THAT YOU JUST SAW ON THE CONVEYOR BELT COMING OUT.

>> SO THESE ARE THE ONES THAT GET RECYCLED, AND WHEN WE WERE UP AT THAT TOP CONVEYOR BELT AND WE SAW THE LITTLE SPECKS BEING REINTRODUCED TO THE CLAY, THAT'S WHERE THAT COMES FROM.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THIS IS REGROUND AND USED AGAIN, AND THEN ALSO USED FOR GROUND COVER FOR LANDSCAPE PRODUCT AND FOR ROOFING PRODUCTS.

>> THERE'S THE LANDSCAPE OVER THERE.

THIS IS THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE USE IN THEIR YARDS AND IN THEIR GARDENS AND IN THEIR DRIVEWAYS.

>> EXACTLY.

>> AND THIS IS ABOUT THE BIGGEST PILE OF BRICK I'VE EVER SEEN IN MY LIFE.

YOU'VE GOT THE BRICKS HERE, DAVID.

>> THERE'S MILLIONS OF THEM IN THERE, MILLIONS.

>> AND THEY'RE ALL GOING TO BE RECYCLED TOO.

>> YES, THEY WILL.

>> WELL, HERE COMES THE WATER MAN GETTING RID OF ALL THE BRICK DUST.

AND WHAT DID YOU TELL ME WHEN THE WATER TRUCK CAME DOWN THE HILL?

>> YOU CAN ALWAYS TELL A BRICK MAN FROM HIS SHOES.

>> REALLY?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YES.

>> YOU KNOW, WE'RE COVERED IN BRICK DUST AND THE OLD BRICK, I'LL TELL YOU.

AS WE END UP THIS PROGRAM, NOT ONLY DO I THINK WE'VE ALL LEARNED A LOT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU MAKE BRICKS TODAY, BUT I'M STRUCK BY THE FACT THAT THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE OLDEST AND MOST HISTORIC THINGS WE'VE GOT GOING FOR US, ISN'T IT?

>> IT IS.

IT'S THE OLDEST BUILDING MATERIAL KNOWN TO MAN, AND IT'S REFERENCED IN THE BIBLE.

>> REALLY, IT GOES BACK THAT FAR?

>> IT DOES.

>> NOW, WOULD THEY HAVE--IF WE HAD VISITED A BRICK WORKS THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO, WOULD WE HAVE SEEN PRETTY MUCH THE SAME PROCESS WE SAW TODAY?

>> YOU WOULD HAVE.

I--I MEAN, AS OPPOSED TO A TRACTOR, YOU'D SEE GUYS WITH SHOVELS SHOVELING THE DIRT.

AND YOU WOULD SEE THEM WALKING OR USING ANIMALS, DONKEYS, HORSES, ET CETERA, TO WALK ALONG AND PULVERIZE THE CLAY TO PREPARE IT.

AND THEN OF COURSE EVERYTHING ELSE WAS MOSTLY DONE BY HAND.

>> WOULD THEY HAVE HAD THE KILN?

WOULD THEY HAVE HAD THE HEAT TO DO IT?

>> YES.

>> SO IT'S REALLY BASICALLY THE SAME?

>> PRETTY MUCH THE SAME.

THE--THE END RESULT WAS VERY SIMILAR.

YOU HAD A NICE BUILDING MATERIAL.

>> YEAH, EXCEPT THEY DIDN'T MAKE THEIR BRICKS TO LOOK OLD LIKE--THEIR NEW BRICKS TO LOOK OLD LIKE YOU'RE DOING TODAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WELL, THIS HAS BEEN INTERESTING.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

YOU SENT US A LETTER, INVITED US TO COME OUT HERE.

I DIDN'T KNOW HOW BRICKS-- I DIDN'T KNOW WHERE BRICKS CAME FROM, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU THE NEXT TIME I'M AT MY LOCAL HOME DEPOT, I'LL BE LOOKING FOR ONE OF THESE CASTAIC BRICKS.

THERE ARE ONLY 6 BRICKYARDS IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM.

WE'VE GOTTEN THE $5 BRICK TOUR TODAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

WE'VE ALL LEARNED SOMETHING.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS.

>> LET'S JUST STAND HERE QUIETLY AND LOOK AT THIS BIG OLD PILE OF BRICKS AND THINK BACK IN TIME TO THE WAY THEY MADE IT CENTURIES-- WELL, ACTUALLY THOUSANDS OF YEARS AGO.

CAPTIONING EQUIPMENT DONATED BY LLOYD RIGLER AND CAPTIONING PERFORMED BY RAPIDTEXT, NEWPORT BEACH, CA.

>> VISITING WITH HUELL HOWSER IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH A GENEROUS GRANT FROM THE RALPH M. PARSONS FOUNDATION.