Hardware sources?

[Spinster]

No, not the sort of hardware that goes with software.

I have a number of wooden crates, with large dovetail construction and flat lids that just lay on the box. Great for sitting on and such like, but their real purpose is to hide dyestuffs, lye, and other nasty things required to make period dyes work.

While these have been used for years with no mishap, society has changed. I need to put hinges on one side of these lids and a hasp or other means of securement on the other side. I have the brass locks.

Is anyone making in stock period correct hardware of this sort? I have a number of boxes to do.

I would rather not go custom on this work---I've been waiting 3 years for a particular smith to get a round tuit.:rolleyes:

[PetePaolillo]

Mrs. L
Here are some links to a few companies that specialize in original antique hardware. It can be pricey but an email to one of them might turn up something reasonable.

http://www.urbanremainschicago.com/default.aspx?pageID=2
http://www.antique-hardware.com/
http://houseofantiquehardware.com/collections/antique-hardware
http://www.robinsonsantiques.com/hardware.htm

Here are some reproduction hardware sites

http://www.rensup.com/Products/Cat-255.htm
http://www.vintagehardware.com/index.html

I hope this will help. Call Chris Henderson as well. He might be able to help you out.

[Brian Baird]

Mrs. Lawson,
I worked for a hardware company for 32 years and the basic zinc plated hasp is about the same as in the 1860’s. The holes for attaching were different. There are pictures of them in the book ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF AMERICAN HARDWARE OF THE RUSSELL AND IRWIN MANUFACTURING COMPANY, 1965 Edition, reprinted 1980.
Zinc plating can be removed using a 50 percent solution of muriatic acid & water. Make sure you add the acid to the water. Let then soak and then rinse well with water.

Brian Baird

[MD_Independent]

Threads like this make me cry. Four or five years ago, I was on a job renovating a house built in about 1700. We basically gutted the place, ripping out old cabinets, plaster, and such. We threw so much hardware away. Some chucklehead informed me that everything dated from the early twenties. So, into a dumpster it went. This past spring, I went on a fact finding mission with an old historian. We visited an abandoned house built by my family in 1780. The cabinets, walls, flooring, and such were identical to the house we'd gutted years before. I'm still crying in my sleep. Mrs. Lawson, I'll keep my eyes out for ya.

[Spinster]

Billy

Just as bad---the 1920's stuff could have found a new home too. More than one historic district has a storehouse for that sort of thing. Most of the lightfixtures in my Craftsman home came from SomeBodysHouse and old hardware that fit the lumber of the period would have been a godsend. No thinking man wants to know about how we went about adding capacity to post and knob electrical wiring.

And when I finally broke down and put in a handicapped toilet, the two respectable men vying for my old commode was one of the funniest things I've ever experienced.

Thanks to all who responded. As soon as I finish painting these mess pans the requisite color, I'll be back on this project.

[John Peterson]

I've been a hardware junkie for longer than I can remember. (How many times have I stripped down doors I have found at the dump, etc. ....?) I have bins of salvaged pieces and parts that find their way into projects as well as reproductions to be used some day.

Pete - some nice sources/links but looking through them I was struck by one dealer, at least, who can't seem to tell the difference between wrought iron and cast iron - but that's not to say that their products are necessarily bad.

For simple crates that need to be hinged I would recommend snipe hinges.

http://www.horton-brasses.com/images/diagrams/snipe-hinge.png

If you are lucky enough to have access to someone with very basic blacksmithing skills these are easy to make. Or if you want to be creative you might be able to fake snipe hinges using large cotter pins.

http://www.sizes.com/tools/images/Cotter.gif

I have been a fan of Horton Brass (http://www.horton-brasses.com/)since the 1970s. Their hardware is authentic and reasonably priced

Here are their snipe hinges (http://www.horton-brasses.com/store/hinges/handforgediron/snipehinges):

http://www.horton-brasses.com/images/products/large/823.jpg


These are good from ANCIENT times through the early 20th century - in fact I would bet that they are still made and used in Asia.

They also have nice hasps and locks although the advice from Brian Baird may already fit the bill.

Have fun with your project!

John Peterson