Updating Hardware on Antique French Doors
Hey folks I’m really getting desparate to find an answer to this one so I’m hoping one of you has some thoughts on this. I’ve got a pair of antique french doors (circa 1910) that I’m installing on my project. I want to update the hardware from the existing brass and glass knobs/rosettes to a contemporary Brushed Satin door handle set. The current set as you can imagine is a Eurpoean Style Mortise lockset (deeper setback with separate drillings for the handle and the key hole, key below the handle). The way I see it this leaves me with three options.
1. Keep the current mortise hardware and just replace the knobs, rosettes and key hole cover with new levers and such in the chosen finish.
2. Buy an all new mortise lockset to fit the exisiting with all necessary hardware in the style and finish I’d like
3. Try to retrofit a new contemporary lockset, filling in the area cut for the key hole and the mortises for the latch and strike plates.
I’d like to avoid number 3 if at all possible. Option 2 seems like the best option but after a lot of searching, I’ve not been able to find a satin nickel lever mortise lockset. I’ve found the american style (shallow backset) that you’d use for a screen or patio door but nothing for a regular solid core entry/interior door. Option 1 would also be fine but the only raplacement handles I’ve been able to find for a mortise lockset are brass or brass and glass knobs. I haven’t been able to find a satin nickel lever that has the right “square peg” to fit in the mortise set.
So I’m hoping maybe someone is familiar with a retailer that would sell something to match either option 1 or 2 above. Or if you have any idea for another technique that maybe I’m not considering please offer that up. Any help is as always much appreciated.
Replies
If you were near Toledo
I'd suggest you take what you got and what you might find that fits to Al's Plating. He'd plate in the finish you'd like.
Have you exhausted your search looking at Baldwin, Emtec or perhaps one of the renovators supply houses?
Sadly I live in a small suburban city so we've got either your typical Big Box stores (HD and Menards) and small town hardware stores, neither of whom carry much more than your standard Schlage and Kwikset hardware. I had looked quite a bit online at different Mfr's including Baldwin but couldn't really be sure of what I was looking at. However after reading your post this morning I hunted around and found a store in a neighboring suburb that carries Baldwin. Found a solution in their Estate series. The estate series use spindle mounted knobs (needed for a mortise lock) and they also have a replacement mortise lock with a satin nickel finish. So with their expertise at the store I've ordered what should be the solution. We'll see in a few days.
Good deal
Sometimes you just need to rethink your attack.
Being in a suburban town, you no doubt are near a bigger city. Surprising what's out there, you just have to find it.
There are some online sources.
From time to time, I've purchased items from both Renovator's Supply (http://www.rensup.com/?adsrc=9000053) and from Van Dyke's (http://www.vandykes.com/). I believe that both carry door hardware, although I haven't bought door hardware from either. I'm sure that there are other online sources.