This quick Q&A highlights how simple it is to use antique hardware in modern homes, from adapting vintage doorknobs to covering modern bore holes and choosing the right spindles or adapters. It also explains how to measure for replacements, match existing pieces, and why modern screws or latches often outperform original ones. Whether you’re updating doors, cabinets, or furniture, OGT’s team can help you navigate the details and select from our meticulously curated, extensive inventory—ensuring you find the perfect vintage hardware.
When Olde Good Things started in 1995, hardware was one of the first categories we started salvaging. Today, we have one of the largest collections of antique hardware in the US. The collection includes doorknobs in a vast range of materials from ceramic to glass to bronze, brass, and more. We also stock everything from cabinet knobs to door and icebox hinges to curtain rod finials, elevator buttons, and glass bottle stoppers. The collection is stored at our Scranton warehouses and sold on location, by appointment, and through our website and storefronts on Etsy and eBay. Between those outlets, we answer quite a few hardware-related questions. Marissa, part of the sales team, helped us compile the top ten questions (and their answers!) ….
Qs 1-4: What Types of Hardware Can Be Used Where
These questions focus on what can be done with antique/vintage hardware and what modern applications they can be used for. (Spoiler: they can be used for most modern applications, though you might need adapter pieces.)
1. How do I determine if I can use antique hardware on my doors?
The simple answer is you always can, but if you are replacing hardware, there will be an issue to address: the handle/lock hardware bore size—the diameter of the hole cut for the hardware installation. Modern doors have a bore size of 2 1/8 inches in diameter; antique hardware typically requires much less. We recommend looking at antique rosettes or plates to cover the hole if it’s pre-cut. Optimally, if you are purchasing new doors, do not buy them pre-bored so the holes can be cut to fit the antique hardware.
2. How can I adapt vintage hardware to my uncut modern door?
Since you are starting with a fresh slate and no cuts, you can choose whichever doorknobs, plates, and/or rosettes you desire. We have many styles and finishes to choose from. There are more details to take into consideration, like a mortise lock adapter; we’ve compiled a full breakdown on adapting antique hardware to a modern door here.
3. Can I make vintage doorknobs into dummy knobs?
Absolutely. We even sell a threaded dummy spindle kit to make it easy to adapt any of our threaded vintage knobs. If you opt to use a non-threaded dummy spindle, you’ll need to drill a hole into the spindle to adapt to the screw.
4. How do I replace my mortise lock?
We advise keeping your lock mechanism as it would have been cut to the door; however, swapping out the plates and doorknobs is an easy process. If the full piece including lock needs to be replaced, you’ll need to measure for each part. We’ve shared a more extensive guide for replacing a mortise lock here.
Qs 5-7: Measuring and Finding Replacements
These questions focus on how to accurately measure your hardware/fixture requirements and find the antique/vintage hardware piece you need.
5. What is a center-to-center measurement?
A center-to-center measurement is the distance from the center of one hole to another on a piece of hardware. You’ll see it most frequently on drawer and door pulls, as well as hooks and towel brackets. This measurement becomes crucial when you have existing holes to match.
6. How do I find a replacement for a broken doorknob?
Start by determining the spindle size/type: ¼ inch is used for passage doorknobs, while 3/8 inch is common for entry doorknobs. Next, determine the material, finish, shape, and style you desire for the replacement knob. From there, you can either use the filters on our web search or reach out to our hardware department with your details to find matching options.
7. What if I need to match my existing antique hardware?
We are happy to help you find a match, or as close to it as possible. But first, we’ll need info from you….
Remove the hardware piece you want to match from the existing fixture and measure the length, width, depth, and/or diameter of each part of the hardware. Email us at hardware@oldegoodthings.com with your measurements, high-resolution photos of the hardware, and the desired quantity.
We’ll do our best to match your piece in our back stock; if we don’t have a match, we’ll be happy to offer suggestions if you’re open to a new style or finish. Please note: a custom search can take up to a week to perform; kindly be patient with our staff.
Qs 8-9: The State of Antique Hardware
These questions address what state antique/vintage hardware pieces come in.
8. Can keys be made for antique mortises?
Unfortunately, no. Finding a key for a mortise lock is like winning the lottery. Custom key profiles that don’t fit with our modern key blanks were extremely common, and the blanks have usually been lost to time. Most of the time, antique mortise locks are used as passage latches today; they still function to latch but not lock.
9. How do we remove paint from antique hardware?
With metal stripper, thick rubber gloves, and a good deal of patient attention to detail … check out this blog post to see the process in pictures and video formats.
10. Do you provide screws with the antique hardware?
95% of the time, no, but we promise you don’t want them anyway. Most old screws are stripped, bent, and/or painted; their integrity is gone, they’d be extremely frustrating to work with, and still be insecure. Screws are made in a range of metals, with little variation in screw head design over the decades, so a quick trip to the hardware store should get you matching screws with good integrity that will keep your new-old hardware well-secured.
Exceptions: most cabinet pulls and knobs do come with screws, and we occasionally acquire old, unused hardware with the original screws intact.
Antique and vintage hardware pieces are straightforward, sturdy pieces, often designed with classy sensibilities you just can’t find as easily nowadays. The biggest challenge is finding a combination of pieces that fits pre-existing cuts—and we’re here to help with that. Reach out today with your replacement project or take a look at our hardware category for inspiration!
