What year did door knobs come in different shapes?
These door knobs also came in a wide variety of glass shapes, although what we see most often are octagonal, shown here . The first twist-on door knob came out right about 1915, give or take a few years. The twist on style revolutionized all door knobs at the time, glass and otherwise.
How old are glass doorknobs?
Glass doorknobs were produced widely for over 50 years! Although the glass part of the knob is the flash and style, a big trick to dating them is in the metal base. The subtle design choices can tell you the difference between a 1900 door knob and a 1940's doorknob.
What kind of doorknobs were popular in the 1930s?
A lot of the really great novelty colors (green, amber, blue), such as these great black glass knobs, were produced in this era. Glass doorknobs continued to be wildly popular, so much so that we really see the 'budget' versions getting big. Fluted style really overtakes the octagonal in popularity in the 1930's but both are still widely used.
When did they stop using glass knobs on doors?
The use of glass knobs continued through the '40s, but by the '50s tastes in both architecture and hardware had changed, and Americans began favoring cleaner modern lines in metals. Before long, developers were outfitting doors in suburban ranch houses with utilitarian-looking steel orbs.
When did they stop making glass door knobs?
Pressed glass knobs were popular from 1826 to 1850. Cut glass knobs were popular until around 1910. Cast metal knobs were introduced in 1846. China and ceramic knobs were imported from Europe and popular from the mid-1800's until the early 1900's.
When did crystal door knobs become popular?
With the stock market crash in 1929 and the ensuing Great Depression, colored glass knobs were cheap to make and dominated the hardware of the 1930's and 1940's. Glass knobs were available in an array of pretty colors in addition to the most popular clear glass knobs.
How do I know if my doorknob is crystal or glass?
Crystal Doorknob Designs Others may look like an amber faceted bug's eye or have a long angular, crystalline appearance. The glass of antique knobs has a liquid, almost watery look compared with modern reproductions. Some even had etched monograms.
How do you date antique door knobs?
In addition, design features like the rods can help you identify where and when your antique doorknob is from: Pressed glass knobs were popularly used between the 1820s to the 1850s. Cut glass was popularly used during the 1860s through to 1910. Wooden knobs were used from about 1885 to 1910.
Are glass knobs in style?
Antique style glass knobs are now making a comeback. They were very fashionable during the early part of the 20th century, but are enjoying newfound popularity.
Why are old door knobs so low?
Miller said the reason doors didn't have a middle rail was to allow glass space. “They wanted as much glass as they could get in a retail spot so people could view into the stores,” Miller said. “That pushed the rail down and, in turn, pushed the door knob lower.
What are my old door knobs made of?
Doorknobs have been made of many materials, including wood, ceramic, glass, plastic and different types of metal. Brass is one of the most popular materials because of its excellent resistance to rust.
How do you clean glass door knobs?
However, for stuck on gunk or stubborn residue, you can create a mixture of equal parts of olive oil and vinegar. You can also douse a cloth with a bit of lemon oil furniture polish, club soda, or WD-40 and rub it into your door knobs and hinges until they are spotless.
How old are door knobs?
1848: Patenting the Modern Doorknob In 1848, a 16-year-old African-American inventor named Osbourn Dorsey developed the patent for the first modern doorknob as we know today and the doorstoppers.
Can you sell old door knobs?
You can also take the metal door knobs to the scrap metal shops. And the good thing is that, depending on the number of metal door knobs you have, you can make some money by exchanging them for cash.
What do you do with old door knobs?
Here are some ideas of what you could do with old door handles and door knobs:Use them as towel/coat hooks.Turn them into jewellery or tie organisers.Hang photos from them and put them on your walls.Create cork holders.Decorate pet and birdhouses.Feature them in the garden as decorative pieces.More items...•
How do old fashioned door knobs work?
The bolt with the slanted end is called a latch bolt, and it's activated by turning the knobs; an internal spring retracts it when the door closes. The slant on the latch bolt rides up the lip of the strike (located on the door jamb) until the bolt falls into a hole in the strike.
What year was the first door knob invented?
1878However, it was in 1878 that the idea of inventing door knobs was first introduced by documentation. This was all started thanks to an inventor named Osbourn Dorsey, who first submitted a suggestion to the U.S Patent Office for a door-closing device.
How old are door knobs?
1848: Patenting the Modern Doorknob In 1848, a 16-year-old African-American inventor named Osbourn Dorsey developed the patent for the first modern doorknob as we know today and the doorstoppers.
What did they use before door knobs?
Before door knobs and handles were invented, people used a bolt or a lock to keep a door shut. Only the wealthy could afford a lock and key. Most people used a latch-string, which involved making a small hole in a door and threading a leather thong or string through, which was then looped around a wooden bar.
What are the different types of door handles?
There are three main types of door handles: lever handles, pull handles and door knobs.
How thick were door knobs in the 1830s?
(It didn’t hurt that doors became thicker to accommodate latches. Early Colonial homes typically had doors a mere 1/4 inch thick.) From 1830 to 1873, more than 100 U.S. patents were granted for door knobs.
What are door knobs made of?
The main body of these new metal door knobs was made out of iron or steel and covered entirely or in part with a veneer of bronze or brass. Finally, decorative door hardware, including knobs, emerged after the Centennial Exposition of 1876 during the Victorian era.
When was the first door hardware invented?
But the earliest door hardware certainly wouldn’t be described as stylish, secure or innovative today. Dating back to ancient Egyptians about 5,000 years ago , people used animal hides and other textiles to serve as doors.
Who invented the door lock?
Our founder, Walter Schlage, patented a door lock that turned lights on and off in 1909. Since 1920, Schlage has been a major player in manufacturing quality door knobs and locks, continuously advancing door security.
When did we start seeing individual rooms?
In the late 1500s and beyond , we start seeing individual rooms, but only in palaces and the most stately homes. For example, when Louis XIV reigned France and built the Palace of Versailles, highly decorative and delicate door knobs were created both for the king and his courtiers.
When were glass doorknobs invented?
Glass doorknobs date back to 1826, when the process for pressing molten glass into molds was invented, but they didn't become ubiquitous until after the United States entered World War I, in 1917. Cast brass, bronze, and iron doorknobs, which had dominated the hardware market since the beginning of the Victorian era in 1860, were in short supply because metals were needed for airplanes and ammunition. "But there was still plenty of sand out there to make glass with," says Kittel. And by 1920, the largest hardware makers, including Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co. of Connecticut and Barrows Lock Co. of Illinois, were mass-producing doorknobs of molded and machine-cut glass, and cut crystal to suit various house styles, wallet sizes, and tastes.
What were the major manufacturers of doorknobs in 1920?
And by 1920, the largest hardware makers, including Yale & Towne Manufacturing Co. of Connecticut and Barrows Lock Co. of Illinois, were mass-producing doorknobs of molded and machine-cut glass, and cut crystal to suit various house styles, wallet sizes, and tastes.
What are glass knobs made of?
Unlike the flimsy "builder's special" models now sold at he corner hardware store, glass knobs from the first half of the 20th century were made to last, mounted in steel or brass shanks, as opposed to the brittle metal alloy and plastic ones used now, says Brad Kittel, president of the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America.
Can you find salvaged door knobs?
Today, salvaged glass doorknobs are easy to find . But there are important points about fit, style, and construction to consider before buying.
What are the different types of door knobs?
Type. There are three main types of interior door knobs: privacy, dummy, and passage. Each type serves a different purpose and is more suitable for particular rooms. Privacy door knobs feature a twist or button lock on one side of the knob.
How wide is a rosette door knob?
The rosette is 2½ inches wide, suitable for doors with standard 2⅛-inch cross bore holes. These attractive glass knobs are also available in dummy and privacy versions. The model can be purchased individually or in packs of 2, 3, 5, 6, and 10.
Do door handles need to be locked?
We are also aware of the varying requirements that a door handle is expected to fulfill for a given area: Some doors need to be locked, while others just need to be pulled open and pushed closed. Therefore, our favorite products span this range to provide a suitable option for each required use. Most of our recommended products are also available in privacy, dummy, and passage configurations, too.