Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

wrote:
Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

If they're the kind with the square shaft that goes through the lockset,
any similar knobs will fit. If the shaft is too long you can just cut
it down.

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 18:13:47 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

I would start with doorknobs thin shipping . Shipping to find
mostly sites that sell things and don't just discuss them.

This gives 20,000 hits so it might be a good set of terms.

Then when you find non-useful meanings of thin repeating, like thin
layer, add -layer . This excluses anything that includes layer. Of
course it might exclude thin doors too.

Then look at the list again and find other words to exclude. I'm not
sure if excluding current brands like Shlage will also exclude the
sites you want.

Maybe add historic or antique. I haven't tried them.

Also keep your eyes open for houses of your period that are being torn
down.

Just over the border from NYC, first exit in Connecticut, was a scrap
yard for old house parts. You could see it from the highway. I'm sure
there are plenty more but I don't know exactly how they are listed.

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

In ,
spewed forth:
Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

You might try here
http://www.vandykes.com/category/doorknobs

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

On 3/21/2009 5:13 PM spake thus:

Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Depending on where you live, there may be a used/vintage building-supply
place that sells salvaged stuff, and maybe even some new reproduction
stuff for old houses. (There's a lot of repro stuff being made these
days.) I'm lucky to have several such places here, in the San Francisco
East Bay area. That would be the best place to look.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

wrote:

Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Why would you want to replace the knobs if the locks don't latch? The
knob is the thing that you grasp with your hand: the lock is the whole
mechanism attached to the door. Keep the knobs and replace the locks.
See:

http://www.vandykes.com/

See the ornate Victorian rim locks in brass (gorgeous) or (prosaic)
the ones in steel.

However you should find out what the problem is before you start.
Replacing the rim lock would be a very expensive non-solution if it's
just a matter of alignment of the strike plate or a similar problem. I
find it difficult to believe that all your locks need replacement at
the same time.

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

On Sat, 21 Mar 2009 22:59:55 -0400, wrote:

wrote:

Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a

Knuckle makes a very good point. I realize I didn't read most of your
post.


standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Why would you want to replace the knobs if the locks don't latch? The
knob is the thing that you grasp with your hand: the lock is the whole
mechanism attached to the door. Keep the knobs and replace the locks.
See:

http://www.vandykes.com/

See the ornate Victorian rim locks in brass (gorgeous) or (prosaic)
the ones in steel.

However you should find out what the problem is before you start.
Replacing the rim lock would be a very expensive non-solution if it's
just a matter of alignment of the strike plate or a similar problem. I
find it difficult to believe that all your locks need replacement at
the same time.

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

Rather than replacement, consider repair.

If you have "rim" locks (A cast iron box surface mounted on the door) or
"mortise" locks (A cast iron box set into a pocket in the edge of the door.)
these locks can be overhauled by a locksmith to be good as new.

About the only thing that kills these locks is force sufficient to break the
case iron body of the lock. Usually the problem is minor like worn spindles
or broken springs.


--

Roger Shoaf (A locksmith)

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



wrote in message
...
Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4 or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

Roger Shoaf wrote:
Rather than replacement, consider repair.

If you have "rim" locks (A cast iron box surface mounted on the door) or
"mortise" locks (A cast iron box set into a pocket in the edge of the door.)
these locks can be overhauled by a locksmith to be good as new.

About the only thing that kills these locks is force sufficient to break the
case iron body of the lock. Usually the problem is minor like worn spindles
or broken springs.


I realize now that I answered the question asked but didn't read the
whole post... I had one mortise lock in a house I lived in where the
little cam inside had broken. Fortunately I was able to find a
replacement at one of those salvage places. Hopefully the OP has a
little mechanical aptitude and someplace like this nearby

http://communityforklift.com/

nate

--
replace "roosters" with "cox" to reply.
http://members.cox.net/njnagel

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

Did you try taking apart the locks, and see what's wrong?
Might be a wire brush and some grease would put them back
into action.

As for thin doors, not sure what to say. Modern locks go
down to 1 3/8 inch thickness. Thinner than that, you might
need to shim the door with some luan or other flat wood to
bring it to the modern thickness. Looks un-original, though.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


wrote in message
...
Could someone help? We live in a house built in 1902 and
have Rim
Locks on all of our doors. We want to replace them, since
many of
them don't latch anymore. When we removed one to replace it
with a
standard interior door knob, we realized that our doors are
too thin!
They are about an inch wide, whereas modern doors are 1 1/4
or 1 1/2
wide. Does anyone know of a place that I can find knobs
that would
fit? Or what I'd use as a keyword to search online?

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

On 3/22/2009 7:09 AM Stormin Mormon spake thus:

As for thin doors, not sure what to say. Modern locks go
down to 1 3/8 inch thickness. Thinner than that, you might
need to shim the door with some luan [...]

LAUAN.

It's not "luan".

LAUAN. LAUAN. LAUAN.

Got it?

OK.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)

Replacing Interior Door Knobs in Old House (odd size!)
 

Huh? What did you say?

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
..


"David Nebenzahl" wrote in message
s.com...
On 3/22/2009 7:09 AM Stormin Mormon spake thus:

As for thin doors, not sure what to say. Modern locks go
down to 1 3/8 inch thickness. Thinner than that, you might
need to shim the door with some luan [...]

LAUAN.

It's not "luan".

LAUAN. LAUAN. LAUAN.

Got it?

OK.


--
Made From Pears: Pretty good chance that the product is at
least
mostly pears.
Made With Pears: Pretty good chance that pears will be
detectable in
the product.
Contains Pears: One pear seed per multiple tons of product.

(with apologies to Dorothy L. Sayers)