Clinkers, Tifals,...Clifals!

Sometimes clients inspire these entries, so when David & Gisa bought 2881 W. 15th ST (no, not 2892 W. 15th ST), they asked about their clinker brick porch, and I began to recount details of my post on Clinker Brick (see The Brick Pile 2/24/07).

"But really," I advised, "your porch combines clinker brick and stone, which is referred to as Peanut Brittle or Brickle."

"And are there many other examples of this," they asked, doubtless trying to spur a blog entry, mad picture taking, and some fossil fuel usage.

"More chimneys than porches," I responded coyly, "but there is one block--not far from here, with the greatest array of Arts & Crafts era masonry porches anywhere in the Southland."
"Here in West Adams," they asked taking the bait.
"No."
"In Pasadena," Gisa inquired, whilst David slyly abstained. My head fanned slowly back and forth.
"In Echo Park or Hollywood," she questioned, with slight irritation but growing intrigue.
"No," I answered finally, "in the Tifal Brothers Tract, the 600 block of East 52nd Place."

"The Tifal Brothers?"

Omniscient voice (is this to what 'heteroglossia' refers?): The Tifal brothers, Charles, Gustav, and William were designers and builders, immigrants from Posen of the then German Republic, who constructed over 350 bungalows in Los Angeles and another 100 in Monrovia where they were based, and where their work is most celebrated.

Charles Tifal (later partnered with Ralph Hurlburt) also had a long career (which included work in a range of styles) in San Diego where he is recognized by the Historical Resources Board as a Master Builder.

The Tifal Bros. Tract features examples of River Rock or Arroyo Stone porches, glazed bricks, Brickle, Tapestry (or multi-colored) Brick, and brick work laid in a seemingly chaotic, bond-less fashion, called Eccentric Brickwork.

The 600 block of E. 52nd Place is located between Avalon and McKinley.

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Tuesday's Open: 2892 W. 15th ST 11 am - 2 pm