Okay here’s more breaking news: five styles of mid century modern front door backplates, or escutcheons, launched by Rejuvenation in catalogs arriving today. These include the much-desired atomic star backplate. The style above, the Titan, is in three finishes — bright brass, polished chrome and bright chrome.
There also is a more subdued star, the Atlas, also available in the three finishes. There also are three more subdued — but equally attractive reproductions on their website. Circles and squares. All of these look to be authentic reproductions of midcentury modern manufacturers. I am announcing this on a Saturday of a holiday weekend — cuz that’s when my catalog landed in my mailbox. I’ll get more info on the original sources during the workweek. These reproduction are around $200, or a bit more. One of their advantages, I presume, is that they are sized for today’s door-knob and -bore sizes. Link: Door sets from Rejuvenation.
Can someone tell me the difference between the older door knobs and the new ones? I just bought this http://www.ebay.com/itm/270825943653?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_654wt_1037 and I really have no idea what the differences are. I am hoarding things until we buy our first house. 🙂
@Susan: I read another post somewhere about the same issue you have – they suggested calling Beeson Hardware (High Point, NC) for replacement parts. They have a website, too. http://www.beesonhardware.com/ (although I don’t see specifically what you’re looking for). Maybe a phonecall is in order!
I’m a few years late to the party, Susan, but hopefully you’ll see this and find it helpful.
Since you probably can’t get a replacement latch for your old centered doorknob, there’s another option – total lock replacement.
You actually CAN get brand-new keyed knobs that have a long enough backset to be centered on a door (usually 15-18 inches, depending on your door width) . In my research, I found only two extended-backset offerings, both from commercial lock companies: Sargent’s “8 Line”, and Yale’s “5400 Series”.
Sargent’s knobs offer backsets up to 18 inches, and Yale can do even LONGER backsets – up to 42 inches (I’d love to see THAT door!). Both companies’ knobs come in common MCM finishes: brass, brushed bronze, and chrome.
Being commercial-grade, the knobsets are pretty expensive ($250 to $350+ per set), and the long backsets likely make them special order items. However, you may consider total lock replacement a worthy investment, if it means keeping the period look and functionality of your door without modification.
Here’s PDF files for each company’s extended-backset offerings:
Yale (from their commercial line website; backset info on page 3):
http://extranet.assaabloydss.com/library/catalogs/Yale/pdf/42126_YALE_5400_Cat_lo.pdf
Sargent (8 Line Series knobs are on page 3; this PDF is from a lock supply company):
http://www.mfsales.com/book02/445-448.pdf
Wow, thanks for the info, Emma!
I live in a 1950’s Doelger home and I live across from the ocean. Will brushed chrome or polished chrome fare better in the salty air. What finish was used in that era, brushed chrome or polished chrome for door knobs? I’m interested in this: http://www.rejuvenation.com/catalog/products/atlas
I am not absolutely sure but would guess that polished chrome was more popular. You should ask Rejuvenation if they have any historic information to answer this question.
Likewise, ask them about salt air resistance…
Good luck.