Building door & door hardware age:

Door & window hardware, knobs, latches, hinges, & screws & nails observed on historic and other older buildings in Argentina, Australia, Italy, New Zealand, the United States, Spain, the U.K.and other countries.

This article describes and illustrates antique & modern hardware: door knobs, latches, hinges, window latches, hardware, nails & screws can help determine a building's age by noting how those parts were fabricated: by hand, by machine, by later generations of machine.

Hardware Age: Door Locks, Knobs, Hinges & Nails or Screws as Indicators of Building Age

These questions and answers about doors and door or entry hardware latches, knobs, hinges, key covers, keys, and fastening hardware as well as other door construction details were posted originally at DOOR HARDWARE AGE - you will want to review that article.

On 2018-12-19 by (mod) - How do you tell just how old your door knob is

Thompson

From just the door knob photo you provided I can but guess that if the knob and plate are not reproduction hardware than it was made before 1900.

In assessing the age of door hardware like hinges and knobs and locks it would be helpful to know

1. the country and city where the doorknob was installed

2. the age of the building where the door knob was installed

3. other clues and data regarding building age and history of modifications, additions, renovations.

That's because with just the doorknob itself we're a bit stuck. Popular patterns were produced over many decades.

Patent research can be informative if your doorknob is a U.S. product.

For example as early as the 1840's US Patents were recording improvements in cast brass door knob construction.

Hotchkiss, Davenport, & Quincy, "Door knob mounting", US Patent 2361, Nov. 16, 1841
This patent also describes construction of glass door knobs - an advancement.

JOHN G. I-Io'roHKiss, of the city of New Haven and State of Connecticut, and JOHN A. DAvnNPOR'r and JOHN lV. QUINOY, of the city of New York and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Inode of securing metallic necks or shanks or screws to knobs of glass intended for door-knobs, curtainepins, and such also as are used for cabinet-furniture or other purposes;

and we do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof.

In forming the knob of glass, whether by blowing or by pressure, we leave a cavity in the back part of the knob where the neck, shank, or screw, is to be fastened such cavity

being so made that by means of fusible metal, or alloy, poured into it, the neck, shank, screw, or other article prepared for the purpose, shall be securely held in place.

On 2018-12-19 by thompsonrocky454@gmail.com

How do you tell just how old your door knob is

On 2018-12-18 by (mod) -

Also, if there is a patent number we would be in great shape for finding dates and manufacturers so let me know if you see such a marking.

On 2018-12-16 by (mod) - 1860s door hinge with patent No.

Cory

it looks as if there's some text stamped into your door hinge but the photo is a bit blurry so I cannot make it out. Perhaps you could try a sharper photo along with giving me the country and city where you found

On 2018-12-15 by Cory Daniels

I have a door hinge that says 3-1/2x3-1/2 patent r June 4th 1861 Greenwood. Cin, c I would like to know who made it and when and maybe even a value please

On 2018-11-16 by (mod) -

Pam that looks like a brass door knob and lock escrutcheon used from about 1910 - 1960

On 2018-11-16 by Pam

So you know what the age of this door might be by the hardware?

On 2018-07-16 1 by Ron

I'm trying to get an idea of how old this door is. I am going to use it as a pantry door. Thanks

On 2018-06-08 by (mod) - age of antique cast door knob

Looks like 19th century. What's the country and city where the door knobs were found?

What do you know about the age of the building on the site and of Prior buildings on the site?

Is there any sign of a brass covering or coating or is that material cast iron?

On 2018-06-08 by tgoose

found this in my yard, wondering about age and origin?

On 2017-12-1 by Henry age questions

It has been upgraded over the years including FAG heat, central ac, 200 amp electrical, modern plumbing, (1 & 1/2 bath that I had done), walk in closet in the masters, new roof , furnace and water heater. We, ( my wife and me) love the house and are upgrading, but trying to keep as many of the original features that we can.

The electrical service and plumbing were added after construction, ( what year unknown, but used to have knob style wiring), has a chimney for a wood cook stove in the kitchen area. Just wanting to know how old it actually is. it's at least 100 - 120 years old. Thanks for any help.

Questions here, I have them. I purchased a home that the realitor nor the PVA can give me the age of.

Was told the structure had been moved from main street to its current location, but no date was given. Was told it was used as a bus stop / speak easy in the 20's.

It has plaster walls throughout, hardwood flooring, 3 cast iron matching fireplaces, complete with grates and summer covers, 10 ft ceilings. mahogany throughout, including 3 pc baseboards. the door frames have rosettes and grooved boards, they look like Victorian style, but the fire places appear Georgian design.

The interior doors are 4 panel, 36 inch wide with bronze knobs, locks and plates. the walls are actual 2x4, the floor joists are 5x14 poplar.

On 2017-02-13 by (mod) - identify old wallboard

You might find some help by searching InspectApedia.com for OLD WALLBOARD - you'll find several articles on identifying wall covering materials such as drywall, plasterboard, homasote, or perhaps

see DRYWALL, FIBERBOARD, PLASTER INTERIORS

Perhaps you've got a hardboard wall covering that is laminated with plastic to simulate marble, tile, or another hard surface. Such products were intended to be water-resistant and easy to clean.

Also see https://inspectapedia.com/Design/Age_of_Building.php

On 2017-02-13 by Mary Stuck

I am trying to identify the wallboard found in both the kitchen and bathroom of my 1936 cape.

It is blue in color and appears to have a laminate finish to it. It may have been part of a remodel in the 1980s?

On 2016-02-24 by (mod) - RLW complete locking and latching system

Kalli

Please use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me some sharp photos of both sides of your lock and latch hardware and a closeup of any markings such as the RLW and we'll research and comment further.

"RLW" is not a brand nor company ID that we have found among lock set producers.

If your hardware is very old and was hand made you may be reporting the maker's initials. If you found "RLW" branded hardware on E-bay I'd like to see those ads and images too.

On 2016-02-24 by kalli quick

I have a RLW complete locking and latching system. Everything is here even the knobs, except the skeleton key.

I do believe that it was one of the first ones ever made because all it says is RLW. I have looked this thing up on ebay and even google images and can not find a one that looks remotely close to this.

I live in a house in a very old town in indiana called salem that was going to be our state capital before cordon indiana but which finally became indianapolis.

The the house was a barn in the mid 1600s before this was even a town. Someone blog me because I want to know what I have here. And I do believe that these were manufactured in New York new york?

...

Continue reading at DOOR HARDWARE AGE - topic home, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• AGE of a BUILDING, HOW to DETERMINE
• DOORS, EXTERIOR, SELECT & INSTALL
• DOOR HARDWARE AGE
• DOORS, INTERIOR
• NAILS, AGE & HISTORY
• TRIM, EXTERIOR CHOICES, INSTALLATION
• TRIM, INTERIOR
• WINDOWS & DOORS, AGE, TYPES - home
• WINDOW HARDWARE AGE

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