The phrase "Old Bricklayers" is frequently associated with a classic piece of construction humor known as .

: In many regions, the terms "mason" and "bricklayer" are used interchangeably, though a mason may also work with stone and concrete.

: While modern sites use lasers, many veteran bricklayers rely on a "well-trained eye" and a traditional spirit level to ensure a perfectly plumb wall .

For decades, bricklaying has been a trade where experience is visible in the final product.

: Many veteran bricklayers now share their decades of experience through DIY tutorials and apprentice programs, ensuring that the "proper" way to lay a corner or point a wall isn't lost to time.

From the manual labor-intensive British sites of the 1940s to today's modern builds, the role has evolved:

: A lone bricklayer tries to lower a barrel of leftover bricks from a rooftop using a pulley. He underestimates the weight of the bricks versus his own body weight, leading to a series of slapstick collisions with the barrel as he is jerked up and down the building.