The Beauty of Glass Knobs

The Period Ironmonger would like to introduce you to our wide variety of beautiful glass door and cupboard knobs.   

Our Bohemian Glass knobs are made in Czechoslovakia from pure Bohemian crystal glass and are manufactured by craftsmen in the age-old traditional manner.

These stunning knobs are available in three colours – Amber, Clear and Black. Our door knobs are available with a brass or polished nickel rose and two different styles for the rose back plate – ribbed or smooth.

The matching cabinet knobs also have a brass or polished nickel cup.

We offer a range of clear glass crystal knobs that are individually crafted, polished and finished by hand.

These beautiful door knobs are based on original designs, and would equally suit period and contemporary interiors. Again these knobs are available with a polished brass or nickel rose.

You can click on any of the following links to take you directly these knobs - Cambridge, York, Oxford and Edinburgh.

Our Bespoke Handmade Glass Knobs are designed and made by a British Artisan who is well known and respected worldwide; these stunning knobs are supplied with a concealed rose so none of the fixing screws are visible.

Each knob is individually made by the Artisan in England and is available in six different colours – Bright Blue, Cobalt Blue, Amethyst, Peridot Green, Clear and Amber. The Artisan also makes complimentary cupboard knobs to match the colours and designs of each door knob and he uses designs that are unique to his company.

If contemporary is what you require then take a look at our stunning range of Lead Crystal door and cupboard knobs. The only ‘cube’ door knob we sell is available in blue and clear glass.

To complement these we also supply a beautiful range of round glass door knobs in Black, Pink, Blue, Clear and Ruby Red. These knobs are made to the very highest standards and are suitable for both mortise and rim locks.

The matching cupboard knobs are also available in ruby red, black, clear, blue and pink, the clear and black knobs are available in three sizes – 29mm, 34mm & 40mm. The red, pink and blue knobs are currently available as a 29mm knob.

The Claverley Bell Pull – installation instructions.

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The Period Ironmonger’s range of Bell Pulls all are all faithfully reproduced from Victorian and Edwardian originals, these instructions are for the installation of the Claverley Bell Pull, please see other blogs for the installation of the Winchester and Lichfield Bell Pulls

TOOLS REQUIRED: Electric Drill – 6, 8 & 25mm masonry drill bits – Slotted screwdriver – Junior hacksaw (or similar) – Scissors.

BEFORE YOU START:
Decide upon the height and location of your bell fittings (both internal and external)

The screws and wall plugs supplied are only suitable for use in solid walls. If fitting to other types of wall please source suitable fixings from your local hardware store.

Ensure there are no hidden service pipes or cables where you intend to drill.

The external fittings MUST be fitted first.

FITTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Step 1. Mark the location of where you wish the bell cord to pass through the brickwork. Drill this hole using a 25mm drill bit.

Step 2. Place the plastic tube supplied into the 25mm hole drilled in the brickwork. This will act as a liner against dust and help protect the bell cord.

Step 3. Slip the wooden back plate onto the bell pull plate (A)

Step 4. Insert the pull rod (i) on the bell pull plate into the plastic tube and push both plates up tight against the brickwork. Ensure that the word ‘PULL’ on the knob is perfectly horizontal and that the holes in both plates are aligned. Mark the position of the 4 holes on the brick work. Remove assembly and drill holes using an 8mm masonry bit and plug them with the wall plugs supplied.

Step 5. Before screwing both plates to the wall, tie your bell cord to the ‘attachment hole’ on the pull rod (i) and push the end of the cord through the plastic tube liner in the wall.

Step 6. From inside the house push the plastic tube hard against the assembly (A). Mark where the tube enters the inside wall. Remove the tube and cut it to length. Replace the tube ensuring that it sits flush with the inside wall and does not protrude.

Step 7. Thread the bell pull cord through hole (ii) in the blanking pulley (B). Place the blanking pulley in position, ensuring that the wheel on the pulley is running in the right direction and that hole (ii) is central to the plastic tube. Mark the position of the 3 fixing holes and drill with a 6mm drill bit. Plug each hole and secure the pulley with the screws.


CLEANING - Dust periodically with a soft dry cloth.

Please click on the links provided to look at the fitting instructions for the Winchester and Lichfield Bell Pulls

Brief History of the Bell Pull

In 1744 during the reign of George II, a London periodical advertised the invention of a bell system that was destined to change the way that modern, well to do houses were run. The invention would afford the owners of the house more privacy and give them greater flexibility over the day to day chores their servants performed.

Before this bell system was conceived, a servant (normally male) would be present either outside or just inside the entrance door to any main room, waiting to obey their owners commands. A servant’s life during this era was not an easy one; electricity hadn’t been invented, so fires needed tending throughout the day for heating, washing and cooking. Candles and oil lamps needed lighting and looking after, just a few of the duties that required the servant to be present at all times. 

The new bell system worked with copper wires and pulleys. A brass handle was mounted on the wall (next to the fireplace or chimney-piece) when the handle was pulled it would operate a sprung bell outside the room. Normally there would be a bell allocated to each room in the house as well as one for the front door, so a panel would be mounted either in the servants quarters, in the hallway  or kitchen, with all of the bells fixed to it. Each bell would have a label under it to indicate which room it was pertaining to and when the servants heard a bell ringing they could quite easily see which room required their services.

The invention of the bell system allowed servants to carry out other important chores below stairs and still be available should they be summoned by their superiors to carry out a task or visitors ringing the front door bell. It also gave the owners of the house their privacy back as they no longer required a footman to be ever present.

The Victorians took the bell pull system to another level, wires running in copper pipes were concealed behind plasterwork or under floorboards, they also used sprung pulleys so the wires could turn corners thus allowing the bells to be situated further away from the main rooms in the house. The external bell pull was either a rod mounted on the wall adjacent to the main front entrance door or a Pull Knob similar to our Claverley Bell Pull  - All of our Bell Pulls are reproductions of Victorian originals.

Lichfield Bell Pull with internal spring - fitting

 Please 'click' on images to expand them

PARTS LIST

• Lichfield bell pull rod assembly • Internal & external blanking pulleys (2) • Wall return spring • Large plastic liner sleeve • Small plastic liner sleeve • Wall plugs and screws • 3.5 metres of nylon cord.

TOOLS REQUIRED

• Electric drill • Spirit level • 26mm & 8mm masonry drill bits • Slotted screwdriver • Junior hacksaw (or similar) • Small hammer • Scissors • Sandpaper • Pliers • Matches or cigarette lighter.

BEFORE YOU START

• Familiarise yourself, fully, with these fitting instructions as this may influence the height and location of your pull.

• The return spring is located within the wall. The wall you secure your pull to must therefore be at least 9 inches thick.

• The screws and wall plugs supplied are only suitable for use in solid walls. If fitting to other types of wall please source suitable fixings from your local hardware store.

• Ensure there are no hidden service pipes or cables where you intend to drill.

FITTING  

•  Step 1. With the pull rod vertical and the bottom bracket positioned approximately 25mm above the handle (see Fig.2), mark the position of the four screw holes (in this bracket) on the brickwork.

• Step 2. Drill the four holes from Step 1 (40mm deep) using an 8mm masonry drill. Insert the shorter wall plugs and then temporarily secure the bottom bracket.
• Step 3. Ensuring that the rod is vertical and that the bottom bracket is located approx 25mm above the handle, allow the top bracket to slide down onto the top ‘stop’ collar (see Fig.3). Mark the position of the four holes (in this bracket) on the brickwork.
• Step 4. Drill the four screw holes from Step 3 (50mm deep) using an 8mm masonry drill. Insert the longer wall plugs into the holes and then temporarily secure the top bracket. The rod should now slide freely inside the bracket.

• Step 5. Position the rod so that the top ‘stop’ collar is once again touching the top bracket. Mark the wall 40mm, vertically, above the hole in the top of the Beehive capping knob. Now, remove the bell rod assembly.

• Step 6. The mark made in Step 5 is for the 26mm hole that will house the wall return spring.  This 26mm hole will need to pass horizontally, through the entire wall thickness. Drill this hole with a smaller pilot drill first. Then pass the 26mm drill through half of the wall from both sides (i.e: inside and outside). This will minimise the problem of cracks in the internal plaster and/or brickwork.
• Step 7. Re-screw the bell rod assembly onto the wall.
• Step 8. Position the hole in the blanking pulley directly over the centre of the 26mm hole, making sure that the ‘V’ in the pulley is aligned with the hole in the top of the Beehive capping
knob. Mark the position of the four screw holes in the blanking pulley, on the brickwork. Before you drill these holes cover your pull with a cloth, or similar, to protect it from brick dust. Drill (50mm deep) and plug these holes with the longer wall plugs (see Step 2). N.B: Do not fit the pulley at this stage.
• Step 9. Cut off approximately half a metre of cord. Seal both ends of the fraying cord using the flame of a match or lighter. Attach the one end to the front of the wall return spring. Now pick up the small length of plastic tube (If you need to cut the tubing do not cut this length, cut the longer length). Pass the cord you have just attached, through this tube and slide the tube onto the front shoulder of the return spring (see Fig.4).
• Step 10. Slide approximately 300mm of the remaining length of cord through the other (longer) plastic tube. Tie this end to the back of the return spring. Now slide the tube onto the back shoulder of the return spring.
• Step 11. Tuck the cord, attached to the front of the spring, into the tube. Now, from inside the house, push this end of the spring assembly through the hole, until it is flush with the outside wall. Recover the end of the cord and pass it through the hole in the blanking pulley. Attach this blanking pulley to the outside wall.

Step 12. From inside the house push the spring assembly, hard, onto the outside wall pulley.  Mark the plastic tube where it emerges from the inside wall. To cut this tube, you will have to  withdraw the spring assembly. Before you do this, tie the end of the cord on the outside wall, loosely, to the Beehive capping knob (This will prevent the cord pulling through the outside  blanking pulley). Withdraw the spring assembly and remove the ‘long’ tube. Cut the tube, where marked. Replace the cut tube and return the spring assembly by pulling the cord on the outside of the house. Fit the inside blanking pulley (drilling 40mm holes) ensuring that the ‘V’ in the pulley is aligned with your bell, or your next pulley. Attach this end of cord to your bell. Seal the end of the fraying cord using the flame of a match or lighter.

• Step 13. You now need to ‘attach’ the cord (on the outside of the house) to the pull assembly. To do this, unscrew the capping knob and pass the cord through the hole in the top. Tie one  ‘granny’ knot in the cord and gently pull the capping knob until the knot is trapped inside. Do not remove the excess cord at this stage. Now, with the ‘stop’ collar of the rod touching the top bracket, ensure that the cord is taut and place the capping knob alongside the thread on the top of the rod. This will allow you to see if when the knob is fully screwed on, the knot you have tied is in the right place. Re-do this knot as necessary. Tie a second knot in the cord (on top of the first) then remove the excess and trap both knots inside the capping knob. Now screw the knob onto the rod (P.S: A second pair of hands will be of use in this process. Also, you may find that holding the cord immediately above the knob, with pliers, is helpful). 
Your bell pull is now ready for use.

CLEANING
Dust periodically with a soft dry cloth. (Important: If you have purchased a Lichfield bell pull in a ‘black’ finish, under no circumstances use an abrasive cloth or cleaning agent.)

Design Registration Numbers

Please click on images to expand them.

Following on from a previous blog regarding Diamond Registration Marks, we at The Period Ironmonger have decided to try and explain how Design Registration Numbers work and which design era's they are pertaining to.  

There are quite a few architectural eras and many of them overlap especially during the reign of Queen Victoria 1839-1901. In the blog I have included a chart entitled 'Design Registration Number Key', using this together with the previous blog on Registered Designs - Registered Designs Diamond Registration Mark - 1842-1867 & 1868-1883  you can put a date and design era to any of your pieces. Design Registration Numbers superseded the Diamond Registration Mark in 1884 so this is the date we will start with.

The Georgian era started in 1720 and culminated in 1839, in the 119 years it existed there were four Kings on the throne. George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United Kingdom and George IV of the United Kingdom. 

In our our 'Diamond Registration Marks' blog we explain that although an initial committee of MP's was set up to determine how the scheme would work in 1835 during the reign of George IV, the laws passed regarding registered designs didn't begin until 1842 when Queen Victoria was on the throne. 

From the end of the Georgian period to present date there have been many quite diverse architectural era's, here are a few that may be of interest:- Jacobethan Revival (1830–70 the precursor to the Queen Anne style), Gothic Revival (1840 -1880), Neo-Grec (1845–65) includes Neoclassicism, early Neo-Renaissance now called the Greek Revival style, Second Empire (1865–80; originated in France sometimes called the Napoleon III style), Queen Anne (1870–1910), British Arts and Crafts movement (1880–1910), Art Nouveau - (1890-1905), Art Deco - (1920-1930 also revival in the 1960's).

The letter plate in the picture has been cleaned and refurbished by The Period Ironmonger, the number on the back of the letter plate is - Rd 419804, from the Design Registration Number Key you can make out that this falls between 1903-1904 and from the list of architectural era's shown above you can see that this is an Art Nouveau letter plate.

We have a Reclaimed and Refurbished section on our web-site at The Period Ironmonger, If you are looking for original quality letter plates, door knockers, door knobs or any period hardware please take a look, if what you are after isn't there please don't hesitate to call us and see if we can find what you are after. 

Inside the Davenport Rim Lock

The Period Ironmonger is taking this opportunity to show you the working mechanism of a basic Victorian Rim Lock. We have taken the back off one of our Davenport Rim Locks which is the exact copy of a 19th century lock and labeled some of the key parts of the internal mechanism.

A brief history: Wolverhampton, Willenhall and Wednesfield, all in the Black Country, were know to be the main lock making areas in Great Britain from as early as the mid eighteenth century. In 1770 these three small towns  had approximately 280 lock manufacturers, this number has now decreased significantly and as we moved from the 20th to 21st century the number was around 20. Names like Carpenter & Tildesley, Yale, Union, Legge, H & T Vaughan, Josiah Parkes and Henry Squire (to name a few) were all successful manufacturers in these areas sadly today all but a few remain.

The single lever lock was one of the first to be mass produced in England and our Davenport Rim Lock, Cromwell, Victorian and Regency Rim Latches are all made from copies of these earlier locks and the internal mechanisms are replicas of the originals.

Determining how a door is handed

Please click on the images to expand them

In this blog The Period Ironmonger is going to try and explain the complexities of determining how a door is handed. We have been asked why some of our Thumb and Cottage Latches are described as ‘handed’ – left or right hand, hopefully this will explain why and how they work.

Firstly I’ll explain the different ways a door can be handed. Looking on various web-sites you will probably find there are a few conflicting opinions of how to establish whether a door is handed left or right based mainly on whether you stand inside or outside the room but here are the basic principles – if you stand outside your front door and fold your arms out in front of you (your elbows are the hinges) move one hand and arm in whichever direction the door opens. If your right hand is moving away from you then your door is Right Handed. If your left hand is moving away then it is Left Handed. If your right hand is moving towards you, your door is Right Hand Reversed and if your left hand is coming toward you it is Left Hand Reversed. 


The Thumb Latch above is designed to fit a left hand door - Left Hand Door swinging in. As you stand looking at the door the handle would be on the right hand side of the door with the hinges on the left hand side. The arm of the latch would be on the interior side directly behind the handle.

The Thumb Latch opposite fits on a right handed door - Right Hand Door swinging in. Facing the door as it swings away from you the handle will be on the left hand side and the door hinges on the right hand side, the arm of the latch will be on the interior directly behind the handle.

Please note that the information we impart is for the Thumb Latches shown, if you are buying a new door or having a door fitted please consult your supplier for their interpretation of how they 'hand' doors. As I said earlier different web-sites give differing views.

'The Ironmonger & Metal Trades Advertiser' & The Sanitary Paper Company, Bury Street, London 1884

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The Period Ironmonger takes you back in time with the  reproduction of the 1884 toilet roll holder manufactured by  The Sanitary Paper Company of Bury Street, London .

The Toilet Roll Holder made it's first appearance in The Ironmonger and Metal Trades Advertiser on July 5th 1884 and was declared to be the first of its kind to use un-perforated paper.


Extract from the 'Ironmonger' (a copy of this is also included when you buy the holder)

'The Sanitary Paper Company show example rolls of toilet-paper and patterns of bronzed holders for the same. The paper rolls are prepared to lengths of 500 feet each and, instead of being perforated at set distances, the means of removing pieces as required is provided in a cutter which is formed by the front edge of the projecting top of the holder'


Now manufactured in aged brass and aged nickel, both are supplied mounted on an oak back-plate. The holders are made from cast brass to give them longevity in a bathroom environment, if they were manufactured in cast iron there would be a possibility of rust appearing if the holder was not cared for properly. Brass does not corrode therefore there is no chance the holder will deteriorate  in damp or humid surroundings.The nickel version is plated and hand finished with aging solution.

The original toilet roll holder was discovered by a good friend of ours a few years ago, he was so taken with it that he bought the title to the Sanitary Paper Company and he now holds the patent to the design.  Ironically we had an order from a gentleman in Australia requesting this toilet roll holder for his bathroom and he sent us a photograph of an original one he has in his toilet, it had the registration mark cast in the back proving it's authenticity. We were amazed that one had turned up on the other side of the world.

These products are cast in the same brass as the TPIM Period Hardware range and will match any of our door knobs, rim locks, thumb latches and door bolts.

We supply the product with all of the relevant fixings, fitting instructions and a copy of the original magazine extract in which it first appeared.
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Large Beehive Door Knobs

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The Period Ironmonger has just released a new product in their Period Door Hardware range. We will soon be introducing a new Beehive escutcheon to complement these knobs.

We are happy to introduce our Large Beehive Door Knobs which are available in two finishes - Aged Brass and Nickel Silver. Both are stunning and like the rest of our Door Hardware range both are suitable for the period or contemporary home. They can be used with both mortise locks and Rim Locks. If used with a rim lock one of the roses is discarded as shown in the image with our Davenport Rim Lock.

The knobs are 58mm in diameter and project from the door 85mm with the rose in place. The rose diameter is 58mm and the knob projection without the rose is 73mm. The knobs are hollow cast and their total weight is approximately 742 grams.

The knobs are joined together with a threaded bar and secured with a small grub screw in the neck of the knob. The threaded bar allows micro-adjustment when tightening the knobs and this gives a smooth feel when the knobs are turned making them ideal for any width of door. 

The brass Beehive knobs are available now (25/05/10) and we are awaiting the arrival of the Nickel knobs and the new Beehive escutcheons, hopefully they will be with us in the near future.

Registered Design - Diamond Registration Mark 1842-1867 & 1868-1883

Please click on the images to expand them

The reason The Period Ironmonger is publishing this blog is to explain how to read a Diamond Registered Design Mark or Lozenge Mark, but first I'll give you a very brief history of why and when they came about.
In 1835 a committee of MPs was set up to revue evidence regarding the pirating of designs in British industry. Seven years later in 1842 the need for copyright of design was recognised and an act was passed in Parliament to give the manufacturers legal protection for their designs. The act gave them three years protection from the date of registration and a fine of £30 would be imposed on anyone found guilty of copying an item while the protection was in force

Over eight thousand designs were registered in the first year – 1842-1843. Once recoginsed as a viable safeguard for design ideas the system steadily grew and by 1883 registrations had gone well over sixteen thousand. This in itself caused problems as the system was somewhat complex so the implementation of a simpler version was introduced.The initial procedure involved allocating numbers and letters to each design but this became harder to keep track of, so on 1st January 1884 the diamond registration mark was dropped and a new system was introduced, this scheme still exists today in the same form.

Reading the Diamond Registration Mark 1842-1867

I have included a chart to show how the Material, Year, Month, Day and Bundle are worked out and once examined it really is self explanatory.
So in the first example (figure 1) Class of Material = 1 – Metal, underneath that is The Year of Registration – N = 1864. Moving clockwise we have the number 26, this is the day of the month, then, the number 7 – this is the bundle or batch number. Next is the letter W, if you look at the chart (figure 2) you can see that this is for the month of March. So the date of registration for this item is 26th March 1864. This example is taken from a Goats Head Door Knocker (figure 2a) we have on our site under the Reclaimed and Refurbished section. The knocker was manufactured by Archibald Kenrick & Sons of West Bromwich.

Reading the Diamond Registration Mark 1868-1883

In 1867 the key to the identification of Diamond Registration Marks changed slightly so I’ve included a second example.

On the second Diamond Mark (figure 3) you can see that at the top is the number 1, this hasn’t changed, again this is the class off material. Underneath this is the number 25, this has now changed to the day of the month, moving clockwise is the letter E this is now the year and looking at the chart you’ll see that this 1881. At the bottom is the letter I, this is the month and the 1868-1883 chart shows that this is July. Then we have the number 7, this is the bundle or batch. So the date for this Diamond Registration Mark is 25th July 1881.

If you are interested in Period Door Hardware of the highest quality please visit our web-site - http://www.theperiodironmonger.co.uk/default.asp. We supply Handmade Bespoke Glass Knobs, Rim Locks and Latches , Letterboxes, Door Knockers, Centre Pulls, Bell Pulls and Door Knobs all faithfully reproduced from Victorian and Edwardian originals that were discovered at local iron founders in the Black Country.

Please click on the following links to look at our range of complimentary Art Deco door furniture - escutcheons, pull handles, lever handles with privacy turn (for bathrooms), letter plates, lever lock handles, door centre pull, lever handles, door knocker, cylinder pull, door knobs, and privacy turn.

Also please click on the following links for our Art Deco window and cabinet furniture - locking casement stay, casement fastener with hook plate, casement stay, casement fastener with mortice plate, large cabinet knob, small cabinet knob.

Lichfield Bell Pulls

The Period Ironmonger is proud to announce that we have introduced three new, sprung Bell Pulls into our range of door hardware. 

The Lichfield is available in three different finishes - Aged Brass, Aged Nickel and Antique Blackened Brass. All of the bell pulls are made out of solid brass to avoid corrosion and are of the Gothic revival style.

Our Antique Blackened Brass replicates a wrought iron finish so popular with country properties but avoids the problem of rust. All are ideal for use with our period internal bell.

Each Bell Pull comes complete with its own return spring which locates, out of sight, in the wall and ensures that the pull returns to its set position each time. IMPORTANT - Please not that the return spring is only suitable for double cavity (or thicker) walls. 

Also included are: matching internal blanking pulley, plastic dust liners, nylon cord, screws, rawlplugs and fitting instructions.

The dimensions of the Lichfield Bell Pulls are - Height 720mm - Width 102mm - Projection 67mm

Our internal Butlers Bells are also available in aged brass and aged nickel and are a perfect compliment to the new Lichfield bell pulls. We don't manufacture an Antique Black Butlers Bell but we can provide the Extension Pulley and the Directional Pulley in antique black if required, please contact us if that is your requirement as they are only made to order at present.

Our wall return spring is available for separate purchase and is the ideal  way to spring load old, tired or broken bell pull systems (POA). Suitable for double cavity (or thicker) walls ONLY. The reason this bell pull system is only suited to double cavity walls is due to the length of the return spring, because it is 240mm long it would be unsuitable to fit in a single wall.

If you have a single cavity wall our Winchester Bell Pull may be the option you require as the return spring is located on the bell pull itself.

The dimensions for the wall return spring are - Minimum length 240mm - Diameter 26mm - Maximum recommended weight of pull rod 1kg.

As with all of our Period Door Hardware range none of the items are lacquered, tarnishing will occur on the brass bell pull over a period of time and we prefer that it is left to age gracefully and build up it's own patina as it would have in out forefathers era. If you quite like a shiny finish the brass pull can be cleaned with recognised metal cleaner or simply dusted periodically with a dry, clean cloth. The aged nickel and antique blackened brass pulls need only to be wiped occasionally  - DON'T USE ANYTHING ABRASIVE ON THESE BELL PULLS

Our Bell Pull systems are relatively easy to fit if you are an experienced DIY enthusiast. If you feel you don't have the skills to fit the system then calling in a professional would probably be the best course of action, it isn't hard to fit and doesn't take long so should be fairly inexpensive. 

How to clean and care for your brass

Before we start on how and when your brass should be cleaned I’ll endeavour to explain the complexities of the metal and why some brass is yellow and another is nearly white.

The dictionary definition of brass is that it is an alloy of copper and zinc but the percentage of zinc and copper can vary greatly giving us many different types and hues of brass. Types range from Cartridge Brass (30% zinc) to Tombac which has a 15% zinc content and is used mainly in jewellery. As you can imagine the higher the copper content the darker the brass will be whereas higher zinc content will give the brass a whitish yellow appearance.When first cleaned your brass will in all probability look very pale (Classic Letterbox - below) but this shouldn’t lead to concern as when it is left exposed to the elements for a few days it will darken or tarnish and will take on a rich mellow patina. Modern brass hardware is normally lacquered to eliminate tarnishing but in time the lacquer is prone to peeling or blistering unless it is put on through Electrophoresis.

Our personal view is, we don’t really like lacquering and prefer to see door furniture (Door Knockers, Letterplates, Centre Pulls, Door Knobs etc) build up a mature patina over its lifetime. That isn’t to say we don’t like clean hardware but there are ways to have the best of both worlds and that is the reason for this blog.

1) Never use anything abrasive on your brass such as wire wool or a scouring pad; it will leave marks, I promise.

2) Before you decide to use any of the market brands of metal polish try some warm soapy water and a soft nail brush. This will remove the dirt and grime as well as clean your brass, dry off with a lint free cloth and you’ll see straight away what I mean about patina. The surface exposed to cleaning will be shiny whereas the crevasses will be slightly darker giving an aged appearance, over time cleaning like this will give your hardware that mature mellow appearance I mentioned above.

3) There are various natural and household products that are quite effective when cleaning any stubborn stains and grime on brass, here are a few we would recommend.

o Lemon - Cut a lemon in half and remove any visible seeds, sprinkle a little household salt on to a board and dip the cut side of the lemon into the salt, holding the rind gently rub your brass surface with the cut face of the lemon (you may need to dip back into the salt occasionally) then wash or wipe with warm soapy water before wiping dry with a clean dry cloth.

o Sauces - Acidic sauces such as Ketchup and Worcestershire Sauce are also good alternatives for cleaning brass. Using a clean, damp cloth, gently cover the brass with the sauce and leave for about a minute, then using another clean cloth wipe it off, again wash with warm sopy water and then dry witha soft clean cloth. It will give a good result but not as good as lemon and salt.

o Toothpaste – Although not as effective as the above two, toothpaste is a gentle way of cleaning hard to get at areas on any brass objects, even more effective when using a toothbrush

o Onions, salt and vinegar and ammonia will also be quite effective when cleaning brass but if the above doesn’t meet your needs then you may want to try using a good recognised metal polish such as Brasso, remember to read the manufacturers instructions and keep away from naked flames.

If you are an eco-warrior or just like to save a few pence then lemon and salt will be your best route to shiny door hardware, if you are not, then we recommend a metal polish along the lines of Brasso. When using any of the above it would be advisable to wear something to protect your hands such as rubber or latex gloves.

Aftercare – When your brass has been cleaned and is dry you can protect it with a beeswax furniture polish spray, just a light spray and wipe off any excess. This will leave a thin coat of beeswax on your brass and will extend the time between cleaning.

Butlers / Servants Bell - Fitting

If you are installing a complete Bell Pull system,  we advise that before you fit the Internal Bell and any pulleys required you fit the external bell rod as shown in our previous blog

Parts List

Bell assembly – Extension pulley – Directional pulley – Nylon cord – Wall plugs and screws

Tolls Required

Drill – 8mm masonry drill bit – Slotted screwdriver – Small hammer – Scissors

Fitting Instructions

Step 1 – Mark the position of the two holes in the wooden fixing plate (A) on the Butlers Bell. For best results the hole in pull bar (i) should be at the same height as the bottom of the V in the pulley wheel in which the cord runs (try to keep the cord horizontal) Drill two 8mm holes, plug and secure fixing plate (A) with the screws provided.
Step 2 – Connect the pull cord to your bell pull and thread it through the pulleys you have inside the house. Tie the loose end to the hole in pull bar (i) using a double knot. Ensure it is captive and taut.

Step 3 – Test your bell pull and adjust cord tension as necessary. Cut off excess cord using sharp scissors when satisfied.

Your bell pull is now ready for use.

Step 4 – (optional) Fix pulley (B) if your bell cord requires more support.

Step 5 – (optional) Use pulley (C) if you need to change the direction in which your pull cord runs from vertical to horizontal. Before fitting, ensure that the bottom of the V in the pulley wheel is aligned both vertically and horizontally with other pulley / pull points.

Cleaning
Dust periodically with soft dry cloth.

Victorian Bell System - Winchester Bell Pull / Fitting

Tools Required

Drill - 6, 8 and 10mm masonry drill bits - Scissors - Small hammer - Slotted screw driver - Spirit level - Small round file - Junior hacksaw

Before you start
1. Decide upon the height and location of your external Winchester Bell Pull and Internal Butlers Bell
2. The screws and wall plugs supplied are only suitable to use in solid walls. If fitting to other types of wall please source suitable fixings from your local hardware store.
3. Ensure there are no hidden service pipes or cables where you intend to drill.
4. The external fittings MUST be fitted first. 

Fitting Instructions 
Step 1 - Unscrew nut (i) located on the top of  bell rod and remove bracket (A)
Step 2 - Mark the position of the four holes in bracket (A) on the brickwork

Step 3 - Hole (ii) in bracket (A) allows your bell cord to pass through the brickwork. Drill this hole using a 10mm drill bit. Step 4 - The remaining three holes are used for fixing bracket (A). Drill these with an 8mm bit to a depth two millimetres deeper than the length of the wall plugs provided. Tap the wall plugs into each of these holes. Before securing bracket (A) with the screws provided, pass the cord through the hole in the top of nut (i) and tie a knot in end (cutting off any excess) so the cord is now captive inside the nut. Continue to feed the loose end of the bell cord through the nut locator, over the pulley wheel, through the hole (ii) and the brickwork. When most of the cord has gone through the wall, wrap the remaining cord around the pulley wheel bracket at the top of the bell rod to stop it being pulled back through. Secure bracket (A).
Step 5 - Re-assemble the bell handle, spring and nut removed in Step 1.
Step 6 - Position bracket (B) approximately twelve millimetres above the square shoulder of the bell pull handle. Mark the location of the two fixing holes. Drill the holes using an 8mm bit. Plug and secure with screws provided.

Step 7 - Position bracket (C) mid-way between brackets (A) and (B) and repeat fixing procedure. 
Step 8 - The brass tube supplied acts as a liner in the brickwork and helps protect the bell cord from dust. From inside the house, feed the cord through this tube and push it hard into the hole so it meets bracket (A). Mark the tube where it emerges from the wall. Remove the tube and cut it to length. Replace the tube ensuring that it sits flush with the inside of the wall and does not protrude
Step 9 - Thread the bell pull cord through the hole (iii) in blanking pulley (D). Place the blanking pulley in position over the hole, ensuring the wheel of the pulley is running in the right direction and that hole (iii) is central to the brass tube. Mark the position of the three fixing holes and drill with 6mm bit. Plug each hole and secure the pulley with the screws provided

If you order our Internal servants bell it is supplied with an extension pulley and directional pulley, extra pulleys are available as separate items. 

There may be occasions that you want to lock your bell pull - may be when you go on holiday. You can do this by tightening the grub screw located on the side of 'Bracket B' (see in photo opposite) using the Allen key supplied but remember that adjusting the screw in or out will affect the smooth running of the rod.

Rim Latch Emergency Release - Fitting

Parts List

Rim Latch and keep – Screws - Emergency release catch

Tools Required

Drill – 12mm & 7.5 drill bits – Slotted screwdriver – Rule/ tape measure – Pencil – Junior hacksaw

Fitting Your Lock

Step 1 – Decide exactly where you intend fitting your rim lock or rim latch and offer it up to the edge of the door. Check to see if there is sufficient clearance between the door and door frame to allow you to secure the lock. Let return of lock into edge of door, as necessary.

Step 2 – Mark the centre of the square hole required for the door knob spindle using a pencil. Drill this hole using a 12mm drill bit.

Step 3 – Offer the lock back up to the door and fit your spindle and door knobs. Secure your lock to the door using the screws provided.

Step 4 – Close the door and mark the position of the keep on the door frame. Let the keep into the architrave / frame as necessary, ensuring that the thumb latch is able to slide into the keep. Secure using the screws provided.

Fitting the Emergency Release

Step 5 – Carry out steps 1-3 above, then remove the rim lock from the door and place it face down on a clean flat surface  
Step 6 – Fold the tracing paper template (provided) towards you, along the dotted line. Place the template no the back of the lock, ensuring that it sits accurately over the pre-drawn line. Mark the centre of the square spindle hole, all the screw holes and the emergency release slot on the tracing paper.
Step 7 – Now place the template tight up to the edge of the door in the position previously occupied by your lock. Ensure that the template is the right way up and that both the spindle and the screw hole centre marks line up with the holes you have already drilled. Check, re-check then mark the centre of the emergency release slot on the door, through the tracing paper. Drill this hole using a 7.5 mm drill bit.
Step 8 – Cut your emergency release bar to the correct length – allowing for BOTH the thickness of you door and the section of bar that needs to be located inside the slot in the back of the lock. 
Step 9 – Push the emergency release bar through the hole you have drilled in the door (from the opposite side to the lock). Place the round emergency release cover plate over the slotted end of the bar and secure using the two screws supplied. Offer the rim lock up to the door, ensuring that the release bar locates in the slot on the back of the lock. Secure the lock using the screws provided and fit your door knobs
.Step 10 – Check that your emergency release works. (Please note that your emergency release ONLY operates to pull-back the catch, not the other way around – that is to say that you can’t lock the door using the emergency release). 

Your rim lock and emergency release is now ready for use.

CLEANING

Spray periodically with a good quality furniture polish and dust with a soft, dry, clean cloth. (N.B.) Cast iron rim locks are sprayed with silicone to protect them from moisture. You may wish to remove any excess spray with a dry cloth or tissue before fitting. Cast iron locks should NOT be used externally or in very damp conditions)

These fitting instructions are the same for all of our rim locks and rim latches, bearing in mind only the latches have the emergency release.