Small 3/4 inch hole door knob?

12 years ago

I am trying to find a replacement door knob / handle for a set of french doors which uses a small bore shaft less than 1 inch in diameter (measured at around 3/4 inch +/-). The old scroll handle style latch hardware which was installed about 30 years ago is made from soft brass and has worn out, my only clue about it is that it appears to have been made in Italy. Online I find MANY sites telling me how to drill out and install "modern" door knobs, this is NOT what I want to do, I want to find similar to original hardware and replace it, because the house has 5 of these small bore style french doors, and only the kitchen entrance that is most often used has worn out, although some of the others are probably not that far behind.

Any help on correct search term for this type of door knob, online merchants that sell this sort of thing, etc. would be most welcome.

thanks Ike

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Comments (10)

snoonyb
12 years ago
When you speak about locksets, talk about the whole lockset, not just the knob.

Because with just a little shopping around, I can create much the same situation with KWICK SET, DEXTER, and WIESER.
ccecilm
12 years ago
You most likely are needing a tubular lockset or latchset. A couple of links are below. If your doors are less than 1-3/8" thick you may have screen door latch/lock.

http://www.vandykes.com/door/c/395/

http://www.houseofantiquehardware.com/door-set
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homebound
12 years ago
Architectural salvage places have them. Pics help to match exactly.

Some are sold in sets, but others as individual pieces. This place has drawers of stuff to pick through:

http://www.thebrassknob.com/catalog/brass-knobs-and-roses/

This post was edited by homebound on Sat, Dec 28, 13 at 19:04
isaac-1
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the help so far, I guess what I am after here is a latch set, these doors have a separate deadbolt lock.

The components in the http://www.thebrassknob.com/catalog/brass-knobs-and-roses/ link look similar to the style of internal parts in the old set, with a threaded square shaft and the knob (lever on mine) held on by a set screw. In addition to this part I need the latch assembly itself, which I guess from these links would be a type of tube latch.

The problem with the old set is that the square shaft and square hole it goes into in the latch has rounded over time and now will not retract the latch bolt far enough to allow the door to open. Also the set screw threads on the handles have became stripped.

Ike

p.s. the doors are of modern thickness, just don't have conventional latchset holes
homebound
12 years ago
Any restoration or salvage place near you that has old door hardware? You could remove your assembly and take it in for matching parts. Sounds like you have a mortise lock. Then again, at 30 years old, you may not have vintage. Look for markings on one of the lesser used sets, especially the face place on the door edge.

Also, google "anatomy of a mortise lock" to identify your parts. Sounds like you just need a spindle (of the same threading, length and diameter). Easiest thing to do is take yours to a vintage hardware place....better yet, take your assembly to a seasoned locksmith and ask for a recommendation.
bus_driver
12 years ago
Since you have identical ones, perhaps using one of those as a pattern would enable a local weldor/craftsman/machinist to repair the faulty one. Brass is easily repaired/built up by brazing.
isaac-1
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks for the help, this has given me a start on places to look online and correct terms to search for. We have no good lock smiths in the local area, at least not of the type that would work on something unusual like this, the ones we do have mostly deal in modern commercial locks. As to vintage door hardware, etc. the nearest place I know of is about 250 miles away, having said that I have been looking for an excuse to go shopping there. The lack of markings so far has been part of the problem, the only marking I have found on the old hardware simply said either made in Italy, or just Italy, I plan to look over it again today, measure the spindle diameter, count threads per inch, etc. Maybe I will get lucky and it will be something common, not metric, etc. I may be able to replace the hardware I have and keep the handles by re-tapping the set screw up one size.

Ike.
homebound
12 years ago
Where are you located?
snoonyb
12 years ago
Because you have a lot of brass says that their origin is either before or after WWII.

Some of those mfg. during the war were spot welded, while others had screws used in their assembly and are repairable.

I have found, on occasion, that having the interior mechanism exposed and showing it to a machinist and asking if the failed part might be something that is available in his realm, can illicit a response like, "well no but let me see if I can make it".

You see, a lot of machinist, are also tinkerers, and enjoy old hdw. as well as the challenge.

This post was edited by snoonyb on Sun, Dec 29, 13 at 15:07
sdello
12 years ago
Pictures are worth 1000 words. Remove the lock set, take a bunch of pictures from different angles with a scale in the picture for reference. Then contact a locksmith or home restoration outfit and email them the pictures.