Antique Door Hardware – Shop Like a Pro

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Buying old-style door hardware can lead to trapped fingers or a non-working doorknob. But there are questions to ask that can prevent mistakes.

Door knob or door handle?

The first thing to check is the measurement from the edge of the door to the center of the drilled hole for the lock. Check that it is long enough not to trap your fingers when turning the doorknob. If the distance seems too short, get a lever door handle instead.

old or new:

  • Do you need a matching set? There are few long runs of matching salvaged doorknobs today. If you have time to search, you might be in luck. Otherwise it is easier to buy new ones. Companies like Drummonds make indistinguishable copies of beautiful originals.
  • There is a delightful variety of designs to choose from if you buy an antique knob. But you have to go out and search. And you should check carefully that an antique is working well.
  • Newer door hardware is simpler to install and tends to perform better.

What style?

This is a matter of personal preference. ask yourself:

  • Do you want the style of the doorknob to fit in with the rest of the house?
  • Do you want the door knob style to fit your door only?
  • Do you simply choose what you like, without taking into account the decoration that surrounds it?

Armed with your answer, take a look at what’s available and select your favourite.

What material?

Brass, iron, wood and glass are the most common.

  • Brass is the most common of all. It has the great advantage that it does not rust or rot, it is decorative when polished and acquires an attractive patina over time. It is also easily plated to a silver or copper finish. Highly polished knobs will tarnish to a wonderful patina as long as they are not lacquered.
  • Brassplate: Forget these. They are problems.
  • Iron knobs need protection, except pure black, which will rust slowly. The most popular form of protection is to paint them, but oil or wax looks more natural and wears off to a nice patina over time.
  • Wood is also common. Ebony and fruit woods are traditional, but modern hardwoods are now mostly used, often stained to look like ebony. Cracks in these knobs are usually not serious and add to the character.
  • Ceramic or glass. These knobs usually have brass working parts. Look for hairline cracks. Small cracks are fine. Serious ones can be fatal.

Rimlock or a mortise lock? What are these? A mortise lock is placed within the thickness of the door; A rimlock is a box planted in the door that hooks into a box in the door frame.

This is important because a rim lock has different knobs on each side of the door, while a mortise lock does not.

So you need to make sure the knob you want is for your type of lock. It may be possible to make it work anyway. Ask your provider if it can be changed.

Check spindle size:

  • The spindle is a square metal bar that connects the door handles on both sides of the door. If it’s too small for your lock, the knob will rattle and you won’t be able to do anything about it. Do not buy this knob.
  • It doesn’t matter so much if an axis is too big. You can file part of the shaft or open the lock.

Problems with wear:

  • Worn spindle – usually easy to replace
  • Worn plugs: rare but hard to fix
  • Headless Screws/Set Screws: Are they all there and do they rotate? Old knob screws can have peculiar threads, so they can be difficult to replace. If you have to replace one, it’s often easier to drill and rethread with a modern metric thread. At least you know it will work. And you know you can replace the screw if you lose it!
  • General Wear – A little surface wear makes an old doorknob look like it’s been in place for years, so don’t dismiss an old doorknob just because it’s imperfect

So buy what you like. It should serve you well for years.

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