...the only fine architectural hardware blog...


antique reading fox knob | solid bronze

Posted on 28th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This salvage knob is a great example of quality workmanship dating to the late 1890′s.  The detail of the casting would be extremely expensive to reproduce today in order to achieve the same quality.  Most reproduction hardware stops short (way short) of achieving this detail because of cost issues and lack of quality with foundries that are overseas.


custom appliance pulls | antique nickel

Posted on 27th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This captioned hardware is all hand hammered by the folks here in Wilmette.  The finish is an antique nickel and because of the hand work no two pulls or knobs are alike.  Be certain to check out our shop when selecting hardware for your next project.  Call ahead for a tour of our shop.


chicago adler reproduction cabinet hardware

Posted on 26th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These gems were reproduced for a local David Adler home.  The glass was cast matching the robins egg blue and the bronze casting and detail is second to none.  The hardware/knobs are actually active cabinet knobs for wardrobes that are built-in to a master bathroom.  We also have several other molds in our collection of David Adler’s reproduction hardware.


pocket door edge pulls | privacy pair

Posted on 24th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This pair of pocket door edge pulls is set up for a pair of pocket doors with a privacy function.  This configuration includes an integrated edge pull and dust proof concealed strike.  As with all of our hardware it is available in any finish.


custom bronze hand hammered knobs

Posted on 22nd November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

These cabinet knobs have been finished in an extremely dark bronze.  The hammer detailing was actually done by hand and not a press or machine allowing each knob to be just a bit different.  Stop by our showroom for a real ‘WOW’ when you are selecting your mill work hardware.


flush pull concept | round 1.0

Posted on 21st November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This is a concept for a flush pull for a suite of hardware that we have completed.  Final version in process.


exterior hardware restoration | soft bronze finish waxed

Posted on 20th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

Captioned here is an exterior door with restored circa 1890′s hardware.  The mortise case interior was rebuilt by our shop in addition to an overdue cleaning.


antique glass knobs | oil rubbed bronze

Posted on 19th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

All of the captioned glass knobs are salvage pieces that have been cleaned and bronze plated by our shop.  Often knobs are poorly copied – nothing is just like the original.


teak cabinet knob

Posted on 17th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. 1 Comment

This cabinet knob will be turned in teak and then finished to match the existing mill work in a teak closet.  The knob will be affixed by a polished acorn nut and washer on the interior of both drawers and cabinetry.


diamond knob concept sketch

Posted on 14th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This is a sketch of a door knob and rose we will be making both in a hand hammered and clean machined finish.  The hammered version will be done by hand by literally using a hammer (not typical in this day mass production).  We should have samples on display in our shop in a couple weeks.


casment fastener

Posted on 13th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This is a standard casement fastener that is solid brass and available for your inswing or outswing casment windows.  This hardware is available in any finish.


brass rim lock | restoration & repair

Posted on 12th November, by gbettenhausen in Recent Projects. No Comments

This solid brass rim lock from the 1930′s was restored and repaired for a local home owner.  All the hardware, hinges and window hardware (cremones, locks, strikes) were all restored, cleaned/waxed as well.




a few of our latest projects...

We are dedicated to hand-crafted quality and want to show it off. Click on full-blog to see an archive of our abilities.