Knob advice

[ljn]

I want to change my B&Q knobs and handles for something more apropriate.
I love the reclaimed Georgian ones, but they acost up to £40 each, and I need loads.
I came across these on ebay. http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Green-Lane-Hardware
The Period style beehive is what I'm looking at. Has anyone tried them?
They look nice to my untrained eye, and £100 for 8 sets sounds good.

I hate the light ahd hollow feeling knobs.
These are:
Weight - 465g per pair
(1 lb of Solid Brass in each pair !!!!) inc spindle
That sounds nice and heavy. Or not?

Statements like "Genuine period style" and "Please be aware of cheaper imitations!" send alarm bells ringing,
But then the originals were reproduced in casts, therefor copies. o it might be OK.

 

[Tom]

C'mon Penners, you're slow on this one :lol:

Jaqy

 

[Flyfisher]

While it's difficult to judge from the advert you do have consumer law on your side. They are clearly described as 'solid brass' so I would think the Trades Description Act would be broken if they are light and hollow but, more importantly, there is also the Distance Selling Regulations that entitles you to return any mail-order goods for whatever reason if they turn out to be not what you wanted (the rationale being that you are unable to examine the goods before purchase, as you are in a shop, so you should have the automatic right to a refund if they are not what you wanted).

So really, you only have to decide if they are a responsible trader, in which case just order the knobs and find out what they are really like.

 

[Lime]

I hate the light ahd hollow feeling knobs

Many hollow brass knobs are not new but original fittings.

 

[Penners]

C'mon Penners, you're slow on this one

Sorry to disappoint, Jaqy. But there's no sense of achievement when the target is too easy. :wink:

 

[Penners]

ljn - those knobs look extremely similar to ones that were in my parents' Georgian house in Leamington Spa. I think they were original to the house. So, from the point-of-view of authenticity, they look promising.

 

[shelli]

Jaqy, I too was surprised at the length of time it took for Mr P to reply to this thread - he would normally jump on a thread entitled "knob advice" like a cat on knitting

how did you hold off Penners - it must have been torture!!! :wink: :wink:

Shelli XX

 

[Craig]

http://www.brasscastings.co.uk/acatalog/Interior_door_furniture.html

Very nice brass stuff.

I always think of Beehive as a more regency/victorian stye?

 

[Jon Maine]

They look like produce of an Indian supplier who I have used for ironwork.

I would assume that they are Indian made, should be good quality, they have many craftsmen. That would explain the lower than expected cost.

Will they send you a pair as a sample?

 

[Feltwell]

Highly likely to be made in India - that's where most brass items come from now.

One industry that China hasn't come to dominate! (Says the man who imports from China.......) :roll:

 

[Carrie]

I bought oval brass handles from an ebay seller and was very pleased except the spindles were threaded and only usable on new locks (according to my other half) so you might want to check this out before you buy.

 

[Penners]

the spindles were threaded and only usable on new locks

I wonder what he meant by "the spindles".

Handles usually fit on to each end of a square-section shaft that passes through the lock, and are secured by little grub-screws.

 

[plumbers mate]

Double entendres are in the mind of trhe reader - NOT the writer.
*Some* knobs are fixed to the shank by little screws - others have a screw thread on the shank and you twist the knob on. Some have both knobs screwed on, some have one fixed onto the shank and the other screws on. Not all shanks are the same size. I have some of each type and they seem to be from the same sort of era ie 1890s to 1910s.

 

[Penners]

Double entendres are in the mind of trhe reader - NOT the writer.

Pshaw! Try saying that after you've watched a Carry On film. The writers clearly doubled their entendres with malice aforethought. :wink:

 

[DaveBrigg]

These knobs have a threaded spindle and a grub screw; they look great.

What are people's feelings about replacing 1950's bakelite knobs with reproduction brass ones such as those being discussed? The bakelite is not in keeping with the rest of the house, but it is part of the history of the house and in keeping with the time they were fitted. The brass or ebonised wood would look much better, but are pretending to be original when they are not.

 

[Juju]

I would keep the bakelite knobs if they're in good condition. Shame to replace something which is, as you say, part of the history of the house.

Slightly off-topic but I'm battling with similar issues to do with handles, window furniture, etc - our house is a hotchpotch of stuff and I think it would look nicer if there was some consistency. Most of the stuff is modern shiny brass which we dislike and mixed in with some original (I think) 17th century cast iron window fittings and some repro cast iron. We thought we'd made a decision to use mostly black cast iron door and window furniture and replace the shiny brass light switches with pewter/hammered black but we need one sash window catch (an acorn fastener but actually we're putting it on a fanlight window) which we cannot find anywhere in black! Only found brass, satin chrome etc. So it's quite hard to get consistency! I might try painting the brass one we bought as an interim measure.

 

[ljn]

Assuming the building isn't grade I listed, and assuming you don't like the plastic knobs, I would use handles that are in keeping with the doors and appropriate for the building. You could sell or donate the bakelite knobs to someone who has a 1950s house.

There are exceptions, but many UK post war renovations were pretty unsympathetic and attempts to "modernize" were often done on a budget, poorley crafted and without great design culture behind them.

If the 50s interventions are of architectural merit, I'd consider keeping them, if not, I'd try to enhance the aspects of the building that do have merit.

 

[MdB]

I would go with what ever fittings you think will look best. Your house is a home not a museum and within reason you can put your stamp on it. If it is listed then this makes things a bit different but stuff like door knobs are easily changed so if you are worried about losing historical fittings, put the old knobs in a box in the attic for future generations to find and put back if they wish.

 

[ljn]

Imagine the surprise when in 70 years someone discovers the original knobs from the 50s renovation!

 

[Slime]

I had a similar problem in my house (Victorian c1890). The originals handles were long gone and replaced with an awful selection.

I wanted beehive but found that some a bit small. Try this company:

http://www.wa-products.com/dks_brass.html

The beehive are ok fo small doors, but the imperial are fantastic. If you have a friend who can get them at trade prices from them, the handles are about £17 + VAT. I had to replace ten handles and these have been on about a year now. They are ageing nicely, due to small children and sticky fingers mostly! I genuinely love them and they feel great. You can get matching escutcheons as well for £3-£4.

Each one screws on to the spindle/shaft and is secured with a grub screw, which I threadlocked so it doesn't rattle free. They can also supply extra long spindles if you have very thick doors.

Best of luck.

Simon