The look of antique furniture and hardware can lend such old-fashioned charm to a room, so it’s no wonder than an antique door lock is a popular item that can look great in all but the most modern décor. Someone searching for this specific type of antique hardware may be in for a few challenges, but you have choices between the actual antique pieces themselves or very authentic reproduction pieces that probably cost a fraction of the price and are more readily available. Replicas also automatically come in good, working condition without the problems that can be found in some antique locks like rust and wear.

One of the most important things you need to do before you purchase an antique door lock is to know the measurements of your door, and the size of your current doorknob. You’ll need to do a lot of research to find locks that match the style and finish you have in mind. Find some examples online and print the photos for reference, especially if you plan on shopping locally and/or in person rather than online. Cruise collector and antique sites and you’ll probably find people with similar interests, maybe even looking for the same type of lock you are. And if you’re lucky, you’ll find someone who has purchased one and installed it, and can give you advice from experience to make the process easier for you.

It’s important to know the kind of door you have and whether an antique door lock of your choice will even work with your door. Sometimes it’s necessary to replace your door with something that will work. If you don’t want to go that far, then research antique locks a little more and you’ll probably find hardware and fittings that are very close to your original vision that will work with your existing set-up and fit into your budget. The compromise will likely be minimal.

Places like Craigslist for your area and online auctions, specifically eBay, are a great place to look for antiques, especially if you don’t live in an area with a wide variety of antique and vintage shops to choose from. Don’t just search on the term “antique” though, or you’ll be faced with thousands of choices. Try “antique door lock” and then narrow it down from within those results to the specific type you’re looking for. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t find it at first. Auctions are dynamic, with new ones going up every day. Keep trying.

Call ahead to antique shops, especially those that are quite a drive, to see if they have what you’re looking for. Know exactly your desired design and finish to make your searching easier, both in person and online. If you can’t find the exact antique door lock you want or it turns out to be more than your budget can bear, replica and reproduction door locks are a popular choice. Many of the reproductions can’t be distinguished from the originals with anything less than a thorough examination.

Originally posted 2008-10-30 05:00:29. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

• Rare Books Many people who collect rare books have relationships with a number of booksellers who handle these types of books, and have lists of the books they'd like to own. The seller, when that book becomes available, will contact the customer and then they negotiate on a price. Some online rare......
• French Antiques Antiquess -> Antiquities -> Neolithic, Paleolithic Although the first thing that springs to mind in many people when the term French antiques is mentioned is Louis XVI furniture, there are numerous antiquities from this region that are incredibly valuable. France was the site of some of the first Paleolithic peoples......
• Antique Singer Sewing Machine Antiques -> Sewing -> Machines and Machine Parts If you love sewing collectibles and are trying to build up your collection, one of the best additions you can find is an antique Singer sewing machine. These machines can enhance any personal collection and may even be the focal point in......
• Stained Glass Windows Antiques -> Architectural and Garden -> Stained Glass Windows-> Pre-1900 Stained glass windows are more than just functional windows, they are works of art that can express exalted meanings or simply beautify a room. When you are shopping for antique stained glass, it’s important to understand the amount of time......
• Collecting Antique Teddy Bears Are you wondering why you might want to go into collecting antique teddy bears? It really is a matter of taste when it comes to collecting antique teddy bears. It is quite possible for you to collect these bears on a wide variety of different levels. You can collect all......

• Collecting Rare Stamps Online You may already have started up your own stamp collection, but how are you going to set your stamp collection apart from other people and their stamp collections? You are going to need to know where to look and shop around in order to find the best rare stamps, and......
• Link roundup: Palm Sunday edition They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the King of Israel!" (John 12:13)Here are some links of interest from the folks at the MBN and other great blogs in my reader:Wise Bread......
• Mid-August Roundup Some particularly good posts of the last week for your mid-August Sunday: Thought-provoking piece at Consumerism Commentary about when/whether to let companies get free advertising on our clothes. Pinyo walks us step-by-step through an encounter with a Craigslist scammer. I've heard the general outline of such scams before, but having......
• Change a Lock in 5 Steps Changing out a lock tends to be a relatively simple and straight forward task that only requires a few minutes of your time. A little bit of effort can really go a long way when it comes to providing you with some much needed peace of mind. This is a......
• Your Online Identity With the online community getting bigger and bigger, your online identity becomes an important part of being on the Web. Aside from being the identity that other people online may know you from, an online identity can also be used for many things that may even have a considerable effect......

• Pulleys, Block Tackle Tools Tools, Hardware Locks Collectibles
• Door Bells, Knockers Hardware Architectural Garden Antiques
• Doors Architectural Garden Antiques
• Blowtorches, Soldering Tools Tools, Hardware Locks Collectibles
• Carpentry, Woodworking Tools Tools, Hardware Locks Collectibles