Collecting Antique Hardware: Door Knobs Turn a Profit
12.11.07 By The DeanWhen we purchased our 1930’s era cottage style home, most of the door knobs were of the newer style on the passage doors and older square rod style on the entryway doors, all non-descriptive. As part of the restoration we felt the need to find older style knobs and handles. Thus the Quest began. Spotting older sets is easy- look for the square hole and you’re almost sure its antique. 
We purchased from our normal sources, garage sales, flea markets, antique stores and auctions. Lots of styles and materials came our way. and soon we had far too many, THEN decided to choose one kind we liked and could use throughout the place. That type is an eight sided clear glass knob on brass base. These knobs are somewhat common with a long production life starting in the 1800s and adding colors to the original clear glass.
Left over was an array of nice pieces, many quite rare, so onto
our Ebay site, and into our antique mall booth the extras went. To our pleasant surprise, collecting hardware is quite the sport. Used as we have for their intended purpose, but also used in decorator displays, we have seen them mounted and framed, stuck onto boards and used as coat racks and proudly lined up in glass cases.
Some displays mounted on all types of materials including barn boards, feature other hardware pieces, hinges, door bells, knockers, and pulls.
When listing these little gems on Ebay, a basic knowledge of age, style, materials, and when possible, the manufacturer, are important to the buyer. With the limited 55 character title Ebay allows, it’s useful to have key words in the title. Our guide book is “Antique Hardware, Price Guide”, by H. Weber Wilson from Krause Publishing.
It took about two years to collect the glass style we wanted and we still don’t have all the replacements installed.
This door leads to our main first floor bath. I have purchased an adapter kit from my local large hardware store. The kit allows me to replace the latch set and newer door knobs and use the antique knobs.
A tiny button holds the interior handle in place and once removed, I can twist a screwdriver into the back plate and it pops off. 
That reveals two screws that are removed and 
on the door edge two more screws release the end plate and mechanism.
Replacing the parts may require some trimming, I had to file a top and bottom flat at the mortised end, 
but lucked out when the new end plate fit snuggly into the mortised slot.
The newer back plates are larger than the old style, but adapter flange enlargers, or key set door back plates can hide the larger holes. In my case
I used the old back plate on the interior and a flange extender on the outside.
Old knobs often lack the holding screws so look for spares at the time you buy your replacement mechanism and flanges.
As a very average handy man, I consider this a fun challenge, and my ½ hour job only took about 1-1/2 hour.
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Article Tags: brass, display, door, glass, hardware, knobs, mounts================
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