Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

Thanks much for any help.

Ivan Drucker wrote:
We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

Got an 11/16 inch drill bit?

On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker
wrote:

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

Try one of the most wonderful businesses in Rochester, New York (which
has a huge stock of older houses): Historic House Parts at
http://www.historichouseparts.com/ You would not believe the selection
of old house parts here. I've bought doors and windows and
appropriate hardware from this place. Good luck.

This can be simple. The function of the rose is to supply a bearing for the
knob spindle. Usually the rose is secured to the door so that the spindle
stays in line with the lock.

If the rose you are considering just has a little smaller hole than the
knob, then the only thing that needs to be done is to either reduce the size
of the knob spindle, or increase the size of the hole, or a little of each.
The choice is made by how much material will be left when the machining is
done, or which piece is easier to machine.

I would take a sample of the knob and the new and old rose to a machine shop
or two and ask them. This should be no problem.


--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.
"Ivan Drucker" wrote in message
...
Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

Thanks much for any help.

If they are just tarnished, painted over, etc., I'd have yours cleaned up
and polished. They're probably solid brass. I think you'll be very pleased
with the results.


Bobby

--
Bob DeWeese, CML, CJS

www.bearlock.com
www.edgemerebiblechurch.org

Bear Lock & Security Service, Inc - A full service locksmith company
specializing in professional, cost effective solutions to your
Commercial, Residential, Safe, and Automotive Security Problems.


But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness;
and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew 6:33
"Ivan Drucker" wrote in message
.
...
Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

Thanks much for any help.

In article

,
Ivan Drucker wrote:

Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

Thanks much for any help.

I'm lucky in that I was able to take most of my old doorknobs and clean
them up. The couple that were in poor shape I replaced with some from
VanDykes.

http://www.vandykes.com/

If you have an old house their print catalog is wonder and the prices
are generally good. IIRC the Knobs were $10 each.

Allen

On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker
wrote:

Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

My question is, what our our options? Is it possible to find roses with
the larger opening anywhere, and if so where? (I guess salvage stores
are one place to look, but we've tried every store in New York...)
Another option we were considering was having the ones that we have
cleaned up and refinished, but it would be nice to get new ones...

Second question: we need new keyhole covers for the keyholes in the
mortise locks. The keyholes won't actually be used but they're part of
the look, of course. Is there a good place online (or elsewhere) to look
for these?

In addition to the good suggestions you've gotten, check the Old House
Journal Restoration Directory:
http://www.oldhousejournal.com/resto.../rd_home.shtml
Look under "Hardware & Architectural Metals, doorknobs & escutcheons":
http://www.restoremedia.net/action.l...rodCode=050100

And as another poster suggested, you may find it worth while to
refinish your current roses/escutcheons. Depending on what's "cruddy"
on them, paint remover or just fine (000 or 0000) steel wool may
remove the crud, then spray lacquer or brush on varnish to preserve
the shine.

--
Luke
__________________________________________________ ____________________
"Bush wanted to remove Saddam, through military action, justified by
the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts
were being fixed around the policy."
-- The Downing Street Memo, July 23, 2002
http://www.downingstreetmemo.com

On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker :
We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

get an 11/16" drill bit.

Given the torque if the drill bit really bites in a rotary file might be
better. Also a small grinding bit but it may 'load-up' depending on what
the material is.

Bud--


s wrote:


get an 11/16" drill bit.

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker :
We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

get an 11/16" drill bit.


You say this like someone who has never tried something like this.

The escutcheon is probably 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and made of stamped
brass. It is not easy to get a clean hole under these circumstances and you
would need to make a fixture. Also if the escutcheon is stamped brass
drilling it out will eliminate the bearing surface.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.

Ivan Drucker wrote:
Please forgive me if I'm posting in the wrong group, using the wrong
vocabulary, or asking questions that have been asked before -- I'm
really know very little about this and I researched as best I could
before asking!

We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
Clipped

If they are original and you wish to preserve them, it isn't difficult
(assuming they are solid brass). If painted, strip them. Clean off
stripper with very fine steel wool and mineral spirits. Dry. Polish
with Brasso and extra fine steel wool. Coat with clear lacquer.

Thanks for all the great suggestions -- very helpful, and I may well be
referring to those places soon for other needs. Roger, we tried actually
doing the drilling, and indeed it was too difficult.

We wound up finding a refinishing service he
http://www.albarwilmette.com On the phone they were extremely nice and
helpful and sounded like they had a ton of accessories, could match
keyholes, etc, and so we're sending the roses off to be refinished. I'm
crossing my fingers. And yes, they may indeed look cruddy now, but I'm
sure that they'll look pretty good when the paint and brassy look are
replaced with something nicer.

Thanks again.

Ivan.

On Wed, 6 Jul 2005 10:49:40 -0700, "Roger Shoaf"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker :
We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

get an 11/16" drill bit.


You say this like someone who has never tried something like this.

The escutcheon is probably 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and made of stamped
brass. It is not easy to get a clean hole under these circumstances and you
would need to make a fixture. Also if the escutcheon is stamped brass
drilling it out will eliminate the bearing surface.


I've done things like this many times. if I was in a mood to tinker I
might set up the lathe for it, but probably I'd do it on the mill,
with a drill bit. it's possible that the part would be too thin to
drill, as per another post, but the OP mentioned nice ones from
rejuvenation HW, so I'm assuming castings. if they are too thin to
drill, I'd go with a reamer.

Excuse me for being snappy.

I just pictured some one with a hand drill w/ an 11/16 bit and thought I
might urge some caution. If you have a lathe and a mill you probably had
thinwall brass grab on you so you now know how to avoid it.

--

Roger Shoaf

About the time I had mastered getting the toothpaste back in the tube, then
they come up with this striped stuff.
wrote in message
...
On Wed, 6 Jul 2005 10:49:40 -0700, "Roger Shoaf"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Tue, 05 Jul 2005 20:35:24 GMT, Ivan Drucker :
We are restoring our apartment, and we decided to keep our vintage
glass
doorknobs. Unfortunately, the roses (the metal donut which the knob
sits
in -- do I have the name correct?) that we have are flimsy and cruddy
looking. We tried to buy new roses from Rejuvenation Hardware, and
found
some nice ones, but the opening is too small to accomodate the
doorknobs
-- the opening is 5/8 inch, whereas the original roses have an opening
of 11/16 inch.

get an 11/16" drill bit.


You say this like someone who has never tried something like this.

The escutcheon is probably 2 to 3 inches in diameter, and made of stamped
brass. It is not easy to get a clean hole under these circumstances and
you
would need to make a fixture. Also if the escutcheon is stamped brass
drilling it out will eliminate the bearing surface.


I've done things like this many times. if I was in a mood to tinker I
might set up the lathe for it, but probably I'd do it on the mill,
with a drill bit. it's possible that the part would be too thin to
drill, as per another post, but the OP mentioned nice ones from
rejuvenation HW, so I'm assuming castings. if they are too thin to
drill, I'd go with a reamer.