In a theatrical
rigging system counterweight (also called
bricks or
pig iron) counterbalances the load of the
batten. Typical couterweights are made of
lead or
steel and come in units of 22, 33, and 44 pounds. Larger bricks may exceed 100
pounds.
Each brick is grooved to allow it to slide onto the rails of the arbor. Typically opposite corners of the bricks are notched. When stacking bricks on an arbor, a rigger alternates the direction of these notches creating room for finger grip below the brick.
Part of the Stage Rigging Metanode