The Brass Knob

Announcing: Brass Knob Pop-up Sale on Decorative Glass Windows!

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 21:50:46 +0000

This coming weekend, May 3 through 6 (that’s Friday through Monday) the Brass Knob will be hosting a store-wide sale on all stained and decorative glass windows. It has been many years since we had this nice large selection of beautiful windows for sale! Most of them are up for viewing on the web site, but if you’re in town, it might be better to just stop in and take a look. A photo on the computer monitor is only as good as the monitor it is being viewed upon—-seeing the real deal in person gives you the most accurate idea of what colors, textures and workmanship are to be found in each piece. As always, the discounted windows are final sales, but with savings of 20 percent on all windows, wouldn’t this be a good time to stop by and look? After Monday, the discounts are over, so be sure to take advantage of the deals while you can!

Follow-up info regarding that great “Moorish” type fretwork

admin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 21:11:21 +0000

In the days since we posted our earlier blog about the Moorish fretwork, we were contacted by the very customer who had been so forth-coming with his research. Mr Paul Tucker is his name, and he has a wonderful page up on Facebook that goes into more detail with copious photos of grilles and furniture using the distinctive spiral-turned wood elements. Be sure to check this out on:

www.facebook.com/MoorishFretwork

Enjoy! And to Mr Paul Tucker—thanks so much for sharing your knowledge and for getting the word out there to all of us

What’s the story with that woven spiral wood fretwork?

admin — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 20:09:12 +0000

Periodically, we have sold or seen wooden fretwork panels that were made up of individual spiral sticks of wood, all woven together in a grid-type pattern, or even as a dense wooden “mat” like panel. Such a piece is currently in our inventory. http://www.thebrassknob.com/detail.cfm?ID=3262&category=1

We have often wondered how this type of ornamental wood was constructed. Enter one very astute customer who was an expert on this style of woodworking who stopped by one day when we had another panel on display, this one bearing the original brass tag from the maker. This tag noted that it was covered by a patent granted to a person by the last name Ransom. We had always assumed that such spiral wood elements were fashioned using a steam-bending process, but this expert informed us that such was not the case. He subsequently sent more information which encouraged us to do some additional research. According to his information and some websites, in 1884 Mr Moses Younglove Ransom patented a spiral molding lathe in conjunction with his involvement with his father’s lumberyard and planing mill. At this time, great numbers of wooden, glass and metal building elements were made in numbers and a level of detail and finish that had only been available to the very wealthy only a few generations previous to the time.

Such a “barley twist” spiral element would have been laboriously hand-turned in previous times, and now were available quickly, in large numbers and made inexpensively by machines. The planing mills of the elder C.S Ransom lost no time putting this machine to use. A second patent was granted to Moses Ransom in 1885 which covered the use of cut spiral rods being made into panels for decorative fretwork, room dividers and even some pieces of furniture. The taste for stylized “moorish” interiors at the time used such elements quite liberally. Even more modest homes where a full “moorish” room wasn’t desired could incorporate a narrow fretwork panel of the woven wood between 2 rooms. As with most such things subject to changing tastes, the fashion for the moorish interiors and also the woven fretwork began to wane in the closing years of the 19th Century. The C S Ransom company continued to produce its distinctive fretwork up until it went out of business in 1898. At that time this manufacturing process was brought to the Buffalo Grille Company by one Alexander Macintosh, a former partner in the Ransom company.

A review of their catalog of 1899 shows the creative use of such highly ornamental woodwork at its dizzying zenith. Our own research so far has not led us to the date of the demise of the Buffalo Grille Company, but research of period books and magazines would indicate that all manner of interior ornamental fretwork was passe by the time the US entered WW I. We are always grateful to our customer who are so often generous in sharing of their knowledge and in this case setting the record straight on this very unusual form of wooden ornament.

Don’t let that scaffolding scare you off–we’re just repointing

admin — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 21:51:59 +0000

From time to time, old buildings need some attention to their exteriors to shed the effects of the weather. Old brick and masonry structures need to constantly shed that old enemy, water penetration. In the case of our century-plus old building, the mortar joints between the bricks had worn away and needed to be cleaned and re-filled with fresh mortar. Called “re-pointing” or “tuck pointing”, this is a tedious job for skilled brick masons. The mortar used years ago was largely a blend of lime and sand, and is more “soft” than that used in more modern structures. This soft mortar was the sacrificial element, in that the mortar would have some give to it, and not be harder than the surrounding bricks. It is comparatively easier to replace the mortar in the seams than whole numbers of bricks in a given exterior wall. The new mortar used needs be compatible with the old bricks, and getting the blend just right is where the expertise of the brick mason comes in. In the hands of a mason with lesser skills, the use of modern mortar blends result in harder mortar seams that result in broken bricks in the wall. With moisture, freezing and thawing the bricks can’t “move”, as with the older types of soft mortar, and so the brick edges or facings will spall or chip away. When that happens, the building can no longer effectively shed water penetration. Today’s structures will use a brick that is fired to a much harder consistency, so the modern mortars will be more compatible in those buildings. Knowing which brick requires which type of mortar is key to a structure that will last centuries, and those that develop structural leaks and fissures, and soon begin to fail piecemeal.
Of course—sometimes brick walls will fail in other ways. Our building had settled over the years, and some bricks had broken in half from the shear force of parts of the wall shifting at different rates. Add to that the stresses suffered in all masonry structures around DC from our earthquake of 2 years ago, and it was time we had this wall tended to by a qualified masonry team. They will be done soon, and our building will be water-tight and solid, and ready to fend off the forces of nature for another century.

Did you know? Anti-microbial properties of copper and brass—those brass knobs may actually be good for you!

admin — Sun, 13 Jan 2013 18:25:04 +0000

We have long appreciated the old brass and bronze knobs around here for their beauty and durability. Just remove a little spilled paint, give them a bit of a polish, and they will glisten like new—or almost new, depending upon how much polishing you do. Only recently has a Wikipedia article on the subject of the possible anti-microbial properties of the metal come to our attention. Without repeating the entire write-up verbatim, it seems that previous generations were well acquainted with the desirable properties of copper and copper-based alloys (such as brass, bronze and cupronickel). Going back centuries, before the very concept of microbes had developed, it was observed that water in copper pots or conveyed in copper would be of better quality (for example, no slime formation) than water carried in other materials. Fast forward to recent centuries, and there have been numerous scientific studies conducted to test this very concept. The results have shown, for example, microbes of the E. Coli bacterium will show a 99.9 percent kill rate within 1 or 2 hours of contact with copper. Those same microbes will survive on stainless steel for weeks. (Oddly, stainless steel is and has been one of the most common touch surfaces in the healthcare industry.) It’s worth noting that these results were on surfaces of solid copper—most copper-based alloys will requires somewhat longer times to achieve their anti-microbial properties. Brass, most commonly used for doorknobs over the years, will require anywhere from 1 to 4.5 hours to achieve the same kill rate. With all of the alloys, the rate is affected by air temperature and the amount of copper in the alloy (i.e. the more copper, the better it works). It has to be noted that a protective layer of lacquer, applied to reduce the need for constant polishing, will negate the health benefits of the metal entirely. Clearly, the microbes need to be in direct contact with the metal to be gradually eliminated. With all of this in mind, why wasn’t all hardware simply made of solid copper? Aside from the visual appeal of the golden tones found in brass or bronze, copper as a metal is fairly soft. The addition of zinc, tin or nickel or other metals serves to provide a stronger alloy for more robust use. Given the stresses of repeated twisting of a doorknob on its steel spindle, the weaker copper would gradually loosen its grip and begin to twist and shear. The stronger brass and bronze would retain their shape longer, and provide a more enduring product. This isn’t to ignore the visual appeal of copper in its own right. Brass, bronze and steel were frequently copper plated to give the rich pink-hued sheen of copper, but this was more to enhance its visual appeal than to provide any sort of health benefits. Today we can appreciate this option for a whole new reason!

The “Francis !” fireplace mantel—researching what you sell

admin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:14:47 +0000

Now that the holidays are here, vintage fireplace mantels come to mind with the season, like the one photographed above. From time to time, a piece comes through the door that seems, somehow, strangely familiar. Such was the case with a recently purchased ornate antique fireplace mantel. This one came from a townhouse under renovation here in Washington, DC. This wooden mantel has a copious amount of applied ornament, called “compo” or composition, which is made of wood dust and hide glue, molded into myriad ornate shapes and figures. In this way it was possible to replicate more expensive hand-carved ornamentation at a fraction of the cost. This vintage mantel was probably always painted some shade of white.

But how did we know this?

Well, luckily enough our little library of shop reference books includes a very tattered catalog of “Artistic Fire Places and Grilles”. It was produced by Charles F Lorenzen and Co. of Chicago IL around the year 1904. Sure enough, there on page 41 was this very mantel: it was their number 525 “Francis I” model. To quote the catalog listing:
“Made of white wood finished with three coats of white paint ready for enameling”.
The illustration of this mantel shows the complete ensemble with tiled hearth, tiled surround, decorative iron fireback, andirons, etc. “Priced as shown” would have cost $206.14—in US dollars of 1904. Without the tiled portions or any other extras, just the mantel alone was priced at $116.96. Another piece of the story shows up in the wholesale “net price list” tucked in amongst the pages. This discloses that the builder or vendor cost would have been $42.10 for the mantel alone. Remember this was in 1904 dollars—this would translate to about $1100.00 in 2012 dollars. Still a reasonable price today, except that all of us know that such a mantel newly built today would cost several times this amount. That is, if you could find anyone to build it with the same level of detail and attention to the fit and finish that they took for granted in 1904.

Catalogs like this one, and photographs of interiors of the day, are especially valuable when determining how things were intended to look and how they were used. This fireplace catalog shows a number of coal burning inserts, designed for use with just such mantels, as well as a few gas-fired units (with artificial logs on the fronts). There were bookcase-mantels offered, several quite large hallway mirrors as well, and a few pages of ornate fretwork panels (called “artistic wood grilles” here). The least expensive mantel was the number 564, “A Record Breaker”, offered at a retail price of $16.08 for the mantel alone. The catalog simply noted that “This mantel is properly proportioned and is correct”. Enough said! The most expensive was the number 500, The “Mazarin” at $572.37 retail, for the “as illustrated” ensemble. Standing at a massive, ponderous 8 ft. 6 in. tall, this was all constructed of the popular quarter-sawn “tiger stripe” oak throughout, with carved winged cherub heads gracing otherwise vaguely Corinthian column capitals. Oh yes—it had a single electric light socket in the center, over the mantel mirror. Doubtless this was considered a deluxe “modern” touch at the time. Most of our DC home builders seem to have preferred to install mantels from the $200 and under price range. Like the DC townhomes of the era, they were “comfortable” and tasteful without being overly showy and expensive. Some 100-plus years later on, the mantels they installed are ready to give another 100 years of service.

Those brown “Bennington” door knobs

admin — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 19:03:43 +0000

Many times people will visit the shop and comment that they have–or had–”brown marble” doorknobs in a historic home at some time in the past. Those knobs were likely brown “mineral” knobs, often referred to as Bennington knobs. Yes, there was a brown glazed ceramic ware made in Bennington, VT, and yes, that glazed ware resembles the doorknobs we’re discussing, but true “Bennington” doorknobs are few and far between. They are defined by the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America as those antique knobs that have a cream body, with one of two different glazes applied. Those with the Rockingham glaze had it applied by “spattering, dripping, sponging or brushing in an uneven manner, allowing the cream colored body to remain exposed to a greater or lesser degree”. The other method, perfected in 1849, was the Flint enamel glaze. This method used metallic salts fired on over a translucent under-glaze to achieve the richly mingled colors.
Well, if it’s not a true Bennington knob, what is it? Most such vintage knobs will be “mineral” knobs, using clays of different colors glazed with what was known as a simple “Albany slip” glaze. The clays found around the Albany NY area were a natural glacial clay with a high iron content, and were used extensively in the early 1800s pottery industry. The “Albany slip” glaze would enhance the color of the material and sealed the rough body texture caused by the drying clays after they were formed to their desired shape. Another glazing method used a clear glaze of composed mainly of feldspar and flint, and this would permit the marble-like swirls of the various clays used in the knob body to show through. So it is easy to mistake this naturally derived product for genuine marble.
The metal shank of these knobs, usually of cast iron, was secured by a pool of molten lead that cooled to grip the ridges of the recess formed in the clay. This recess had ridges and shallow holes, the better to absorb a bit more of the molten metal and grip the iron shank more securely. Note the picture of the un-glazed knob we have in the shop, showing the core of a knob before the lead was poured and the knob shank was inserted.
The humble “mineral” doorknobs had a long history and were still appearing the hardware distributor’s catalogs into the 1920s and early 1930s. These antique knobs continue to be popular today, not only for homes with a “country” theme, but for anyplace where a striking yet simple doorknob is desired. While it is rumored that lifestyle guru Martha Stewart ignited the present day passion for these knobs, to date we have never found that print article to back this theory up. For whatever reason, the humble “brown knobs” have rightly found a place in today’s popular taste.

A Word About the Lightbulb “Ban”

admin — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 00:39:02 +0000

We hear about this a lot here in the shop… A fear from our customers that incandescent lightbulbs are being “banned” and that none of the high efficiency bulbs look good in antique chandeliers and vintage sconces. While there is some truth to this, the new government regulations do not outlaw ALL incandescents. In fact, the regulations are based upon the amount of energy used and the life of the bulb rather than the technology. This October will see the cycling out of traditional 40 watt bulbs, with 60, 75 & 100 watt incandescents bulbs following within the next year. Traditional incandescent bulbs with a wattage below 40 will still be manufactured and available for sale.

The concern that comes from lovers and restorers of antique lighting is that the bulb options that we will be left with are limited to the “curly” compact fluorescent bulbs. These bulbs would be just fine in fixtures that have globes or otherwise non-visible bulbs. Though in fixtures where the bulbs can be seen it invariable takes away from the appearance of the lighting and compromises the authenticity of the restoration. Fortunately there are companies working to manufacture high efficiency incandescent bulbs that meet the new standards and still compliment vintage lighting.

Of course this legislation was put into place with efficiency of the bulbs in mind; one could hardly argue that that’s a bad idea. Certainly a push to have lightbulbs that consume less energy and last longer seems like a good idea. However, some people don’t like the light that CFL’s (compact fluorescents) or LED’s produce and some people find this lighting troubling and bothersome to the eyes. Manufacturers are also working to refine these technologies to make the light more pleasing and the shape of the bulbs more attractive. So by the time the ban is in full effect there should be many acceptable options to use in antique chandeliers and antique wall sconces.

For over 30 years The Brass Knob Architectural Antiques has been Washington’s most trusted source for all manner of antique home elements including doorknobs, tiles, stained & leaded glass, antique lighting (chandeliers, sconces & lamps) fireplace tools and mantles (to name a few things). Please feel free to stop by and see us. Even if you aren’t local to DC you can find a large selection of our items on our website. Don’t see what you need? Give us a call at 202-332-3370 or email us at info@thebrassknob.com. As our inventory is constantly changing it’s not always possible to get everything on the website; give us a call and we will do our best to find exactly what you need.

Summer Sale

admin — Sat, 07 Jul 2012 17:27:55 +0000

July 7-22 is one of the best times to shop at the Brass Knob because those are the dates of our 2012 Summer Sale. Most of the architectural antiques online store are 20% Off. Hardware and the few items for sale on consignment are 10% off. In addition, there are some selected items in our inventory of antique lighting, fireplace mantels, ironwork, and decorative items throughout the store that are up to 30% off.

Come into the store or give us a call to take advantage of this storewide sale.

Wrapping Up The Adams Morgan Streetscape Project!

admin — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 14:22:45 +0000

We’ve given you a few updates on the Adams Morgan Streetscape Project over the past year, and we are happy to announce that the project is winding down on our section of 18th St.
The project has focused on beautifying the stretch of 18th Street between Florida Avenue and Columbia Road, which of course is good news at The Brass Knob and for many of our friends and neighbors in business in Adams Morgan. With many new trees and plants, widened sidewalks and beautiful new bike racks we are very pleased with the changes. For more info on the on going Streetscape project visit the website here.

Please stop by to see our beautiful new streetscape and visit the Brass Knob to see all of our many unique architectural items. Even if you aren’t local to DC you can find a large selection of our items on our website. Don’t see what you need? Give us a call at 202-332-3370 or email us at info@thebrassknob.com. Our inventory is constantly changing so it’s not always possible to get everything on the website; give us a call and we will do our best to find exactly what you need.

Come to Adams Morgan to see a totally new streetscape and lots of beautiful new architectural items.

New Bike Racks are Decorative and Functional