The reclaimer
Paul Nash of Architectural Decor shares why reclaimed doorknobs and handles are a great way to add an authentic finishing touch to your home
Paul Nash of Architectural Decor shares advice on buying original doorknobs and handles
Hardware heritage…
The main benefit of using reclaimed doorknobs and handles is the sheer choice and variety available. You can buy a few different styles of reproduction versions, but the range on offer in the late 1800s/early 1900s was huge, with thousands of styles to choose from – I constantly say: ‘I’ve never seen those before’. Then there is the quality – if they’ve lasted this long in such great condition they’ll keep on going. Lastly, it’s the visible wear on original handles that gives them their unique quality. Customers buying reproduction handles often ask if it’s possible to have new ones with wear marks on them.
Supply and demand...
The majority of our stock comes from the building boom of around 1880, through to the mid-1930s. We source doorknobs and handles from antiques fairs, demolition companies and specialist suppliers; my favourites are the small developers who’ll let you into a building where everything is for sale, as it’s due to be stripped out or demolished. We also get a lot of calls from homeowners who are updating their own doors and would like to sell their original handles.
Measurements and magnets…
It may sound obvious but always check that the handles are actually pairs, not single ones that look alike. If they have threaded spindles and grub screws (the small headless screws that hold the spindle in place), check the handles screw on and off the spindles, and the grub screws work properly. The spindle sizes are the same as modern ones and the majority of locks and latches are sprung. Just make sure you check the measurements as you would a modern pair. You can sometimes get original handles that are plated steel, especially from the 1900s, so it’s also worth checking the handles are actually made of brass. I always carry a magnet with me, just in case, as the steel ones can feel like pressed brass – I call it the magnet of doom!
What to avoid…
Never buy handles that are missing their threaded spindles, as you’ll never find matching replacements, and making new ones isn’t easy. If they are mortice handles (where the round or square back plate is fixed to the handle), check that the handle is tight on the base, as the brass collars can wear really thin and eventually the handle and back plate will separate.
Restoration points…
There are so many variations of threaded spindles and grub screws, especially in the way the grub screws fit, that we often think there must have been a Victorian challenge to produce the most complicated screw with the rarest sized thread – matching them up can be an impossible task! Polishing can also be an issue if they haven’t been polished for a while. Brasso and a cloth won’t cut it, but luckily it’s not too expensive to have them machine polished.