BUILDERS’ HARDWARE from the GROUND UP By W. N. Thomas The A B C of Builders’ Hardware Written Specially for Retailers, Wholesalers, and Their Salesmen Reprinted from HARDWARE AGEForeword «UILDERS’ Hardware From The Ground Up was written at the earnest solicitation of the Editorial Staff of Hardware Age, who recognized the urgent need of some medium that would impart to hardware merchants, jobbers and salesmen, a practi- cal working knowledge of a truly fundamental hard- ware line. To the average hardware merchant “Builders’ Hardware” stands for something deep and mysterious —an intricate problem to be solved only by the bril- liant minds of a favored few. ‘The hardware dealer is willing to concede that Builders’ Hardware, properly handled, is one of the ‘most profitable lines a retail merchant can handle, He realizes that it is a foundation or feeder line, which opens up opportunities for sales in every department of his store. However, he shies at the words “properly handled,” confessing his ignorance of what is to him more or less a mystery. ‘And yet—Builders’ Hardware is in no sense the abnormally mysterious and difficult line it has been pictured, ‘True, it requires a certain amount of knowl- edge to market it successfully, and that knowledge has, in the past, been somewhat difficult to obtain. Individual manufacturers have gone into details about their own particular items, but the subject as a whole has been neglected. ‘Some merchants who went ahead on the theory that experience is the only teacher, have found that ex- perience is both slow and expensive, and handicapped by poorly selected stocks or inadequate knowledge have either given up Builders’ Hardware as a bad job or allowed it to drift as an unprofitable side issue, Be that as it may, the handling of Builders’ Hard- ware is a simple problem once you know how, as the book clearly demonstrates, writer of 1 “Builders’ Hardware From The Ground Up" is a practical, A B C text book, which robs builders’ hard- ware of its mystery and presents it for what it really is, a comparatively simple, easily understood and profitable line of hardware. ‘The author, W. N. Thomas, knows his subject as few in this country know it. He also has the ability to impart his knowledge to others in a readable and He has been a builders’ hard- is fune- understandable way ware salesman, a contract man and for years tion was to figure the Big Jobs of his retail customers; to read the blue prints, select the hardware and satisfy the customer. ‘There is nothing mysterious about Builders’ Hard- ware so far as Thomas Is concerned. If you read what he has written, there will be nothing mysterious about it so far as you are concerned. In the following pages you will find the solution of those perplexing builders’ hardware problems which have bothered you in the past. Styles, kinds and finishes are fully explained and illustrated: blue- prints and specifications are made clear; methods of stocking, displaying and discussed. Nothing is left to the imagination. selling are “Builders Hardware From The Ground Up" lifts the veil—banishes the mystery and points the way to pleasure and profit. Kew 8 Bre _ Editor, Hardware Age. Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research LibraryBuilders’ Hardware From the Ground Up By W. N. THOMAS Table of Contents Paces ‘Cuaprer I. What You Should Know About Locks..........0000ccccecee0eeeeteeeee 1 CHapter II. Knobs, Roses and Escutcheons .. ee ee 1 Cuaprer IL Fire Exit Bolts .... eee ee ee u Cuaprer IV. Butts and Hinges eer eee rere eee 16 CuapTer V. ‘The Principal Features of Door Closers ............222:20000eeeeee es 21 Cuaprer VI. Bolts and Door Stops . 28 Cuaprer VII. Window Hardware 2.2... 00000e0eeeee 000 26 Cuaprer VIII. Hardware for Bath and Toilet Rooms .... peeeren penn ae) CuapTer IX. Rough Hardware and Contractors’ Supplie . 34 Cuaprer X. ‘Metals, Finishes and Woods. a . 36 Cuaprer XI. Architecture and Its Relation to Hardware ...0.........00000e000 40 Cuaprer XL. Hardware Suited to Period Architecture 43 Cuaprer XII. Colonial Hardware and Architecture ......-.066066..0c2c 2s ceeeee eee 46 CuapTeR XIV. Blueprints and Specifications . 48 CHaprer XV. Estimating the Quantity of Hardware oL Cuaprer XVI. Selecting Hardware for the House 55 Cuaprer XVII. Builders’ Hardware from the Sales Angle ............. sa oT Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research LibraryHARDWARE AGE 239 Wt $0 Soe SEW YORE Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research LibraryCHAPTER I. What You Should Know About Locks E are presenting these articles with the idea of being helpful to young men, probably now engaged in the hardware stores of this country, who are desirous of acquiring a working knowledge of builders’ hardware. We do not expect to make “puilders’ hardware men” of them, but we do hope to help them to such an extent that they will be able to make “builders’ hardware men” of themselves. With this thought we have planned a rather elemen- tary beginning, as a foundation on which to build. We will start’ with the general classification and common uses of the various types of locks. Locks are used in so many different places and are called upon to do such a variety of things that fre- quently the distinction between two locks is so slight as to be seareely noticeable. However, there are a number of well defined classes or groups into which locks ean properly be divided and it is from this angle that we will now consider them, ee ee. a aan Tube fr aaa | Se | infin | Fesa Ha ey Reference to the accompanying chart (Fig. 1) will assist the reader. ‘The Various Kinds of Locks Rim locks, the first general group, are those applied Some are Janus- to the outside or rim of the door. AC eft (Pia, 2), anne faced rim look, AL right (FB. 8. faced (Fig. 2); that is, two-faced—named for the Roman God Janus, who, as you know, is shown with two faces—one looking in either direction in order to be ready for any emergency. The Janus or double~ faced locks are ready to be applied with either face to the door and in that way are reversible. Others are single-faced (Fig. 3) with only one face suited to be applied to the door, and in locks that cannot be turned bottom side up are not reversible. Rim locks are the oldest type. They have been made in all sorts and descriptions but at the present time are not generally used in this country save only the cheaper kinds. They are still used in Europe, especially in France, where they are made of high quality and finish. In France gold plated rim locks of beautiful design are often used on high grade work. These fine and ornate rim locks are reproduced in this coun- try for use where the architectural requirements are Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research Libraryeer at the right (ie, 9), 8 teylinder™ might 1atch best carried out by having the hardware conform to the same period of time as the architectural details. Rim locks are divided into five classes—knob locks, knob latches, night latehes, dead locks and sliding door locks. If you will take from stock locks of the different kinds described in this article and study them in connection with the article it will help in fixing in your mind the points mentioned—take the locks apart and see how they are made. Knob Locks Knob locks, so called because they are operated by both a knob and a key, are divided into two classes— upright and horizont: Upright rim locks (see Fig. 2) are those having the knob over the keyhole, and their size is designated by the measurement from top to bottom. Horizontal rim locks (Fig. 4) are those having the long distance across the door and are measured zrom front to back. In this class the key-hole is between the knob and the edge of the door. Both upright and horizontal types are made in much the same types and have about the same functions. They each have fa latch bolt—so called because it latches or springs out after it is drawn in by a turn of the knob. They algo have a dead bolt. This has no spring, and there- fore is dead, and must be thrown in or out by the key. This is sometimes called a key bolt. In addition to the above two bolts some have a slide or thumb bolt (Fig. 5), which is pushed in or out by the, thumb or finger and is operated only from the inside of the door, Some styles also have stops. This is a little slide or lever which pushes into such a position as to stop the knob from turning from either side, so that the lateh bolt cannot be turned back while the stop Knob latches (Fig. 6) form the second class. ‘These have latch bolts but no key bolts; however, some do have the additional slide or thumb bolts. Night Latches Night latches fall within the third class—so called ecause they are most commonly used at night as an additional security to ordinary knob locks or knob latches, and still allow admission to those having the proper key. They have a latch bolt only which is ‘operated from the outside by the key only—but from the inside by a turn or slide knob. They are some- times improperly called “dead latches.” Night latches may be divided into three classes—bit key, flat key fahnter and ovlinder BUILDERS’ HARDWARE FROM THE GROUND UP file ie tlt Bt FER the "backs “te "the “genter Bit key night latches (Fig. 7) are those operated by a key having an extension near the end of a long stem. This extension is known as the bit—hence the name “bit key.” Flat key or tubular night latches (Fig. 8) are those operated by a flat steel key and are made with a tube on the back which projects through the door. In this tube are the tumblers or key obstructions th give the security to the lock. “Cylinder” night latch, (Fig. 9) are so called be- cause it is fitted with a pin tumbler cylinder which is connected with the lock by machine screws through fa hole in the door. These cylinders are made with four or five pin tumblers (according to the grade), and in regular stock have three keys each, while the cheaper form of night latches ordinarily have but two keys. Cylinder night latches are the highest grade and afford the greatest degree of protection. These are made in a number of variations to suit the many requirements. A particular type of cylinder night latch is made for the export trade. It is of the drawback type (Fig. 10), the latch bolt is drawn back on inside by a little handle or tail piece instead of by the knob type. Some have in addition a dead bolt. This is really a form of rim cylinder front door lock. Dead Locks and Rim Sliding Door Locks Dead locks (Fig. 11), the fourth class, so called because they have dead bolts, or key bolts only, are divided into three classes—bit key, cylinder and store door or folding key. Rim sliding door locks, the fifth class, are adapted to use on sliding doors, such as garage and barn docrs. Guegample of @ Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research LibraryBUILDERS’ HARDWARE FROM THE GROUND UP 3 Mortise locks, the second general group, are so called because they are mortised or let into the stile of the door. It may be well to say here that the stiles of a door are the two outside upright pieces. The one ‘on which the lock is put is called the lock-stile, and (Eig. 10) Cylinder night taten of arawedack type the one to which the hinges or butts are attached is called the hinge stile. The cross pieces of a door are called the rails—top rail, bottom rail and center or lock rail. Mortise locks are divided into seven classes —knob latches, night latches, dead locks, knob locks, sliding door locks, store door locks and mono unit or union locks. ‘The mortise lock types or classes, so far as the functions of the locks are concerned, compare very closely with the same type or class of rim locks, but differ mainly in the fact that they are mortised into the door instead of being placed on the outside as rrim locks are, ‘Mortise knob latches are made in three classes. Some are made with the latch bolt only (Fig. 12), others with a latch bolt and one dead bolt, while others have a latch bolt and two dead bolts. The dead bolts are operated by thumb knobs. ‘Those hav- ing one dead bolt (Fig. 13) are for use on bathroom and toilet room doors. ‘The thumb knob on the inside of the door being much more convenient than a key because it is always there. Those having two dead bolts (Fig. 14) are intended for doors between two rooms and are called communicating door locks. There is one bolt to operate from either side of the door, so the door cannot be opened unless it is agree- able to the occupant of each room. ‘Mortise night latches are made both in bit key and cylinder key. ‘There are some variations of the regu- Ab loft (Pig. 18), Mortiee knob latoh with stegle deadbolt RE AEAE: GB TS Same ease ttn tice dead bots lar night latches, made to suit special requirements, usually intended’ to lock people into a room rather than out of it, and in that respect differ from the night latehes, “These are principally used in asylums or other institutions. There are four classes of mortise dead locks: Bit key (Fig, 16), cylinder (Fig. 17), dead locks operated by thumb’knobs (Fig. 18) and turnbuckles (Fig. 19) the bolts of which are turned up and down, instead of in and out, by a thumb knob, and are intended for casement or Frerich windows, the strike and bolt being made in such a manner as to bind the window tight to the jamb when the bolt is turned down. Mortise knob locks are divided into four classes : The narrow stile or French window lock (Fig. 20) with a backset (that is, the distance from the face of the lock to the center of the knob and keyhole; narrow stile locks are also called short backset locks) from Lin, to2 in, Next is the “regular style” (Fig. 21) the backset of which ranges from 2% in. to 234 in. These are made in several sizes, the size being determined by measuring the case from top to bottom, suiting them for the various grades of buildings on which they are to be used. They are intended for passage doors where the function of a knob lock gives the required convenience and security. (i, 18) Bee Sigal oy Te G28 ook ape (rig. 12) sortiee Exod Late mace ith nate tach bolt only ‘The third class of mortise knob locks is hotel locks— 80 called because they are especially adapted to the peculiar requirements of hotel work (will take up this later) and embody a large variety—eorridor (Fig. 22), single and twin communicating (Fig. 23) with keys, bathroom (Fig. 24). The fourth subdivision of mortise knob locks are the front door and office door locks (Fig. 25), s0 r tho ig, 16), be ey (Fig, AD) eplinder Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research Library4 BUILDERS’ HARDWARE FROM THE GROUND UP $2 olde tegma deh of x te called because they are used for entrance doors to dwelling houses, apartments and offices. For good buildings these should always be of the cylinder type. Bit key, front door locks are intended only for cheaper dwellings. In the fifth class of mortise locks are found the sliding door locks, so called because they are used on sliding doors. ‘They are made mortise and half mor- tise (Fig. 26), i. e, set into the door so the case is flush with one side of the door. The half mortise kkind are used mostly on elevator sliding doors. Mor- tise sliding door locks are made bit key and cylinder key. Store door locks (Fig. 27) comprise the sixth class of mortise locks. ‘These are used particularly on store entrance doors. ‘The latch bolt is drawn back by press- ing on a thumb piece instead of turning a knob. ‘They are made with flat keys and cylinder keys. ‘The seventh class of mortise locks is known by sev- eral different trade names, such as “Mono,” “Unit” and “Union” (Fig. 28). The lock, knobs and escutcheon plates are assembled at the factory into a compiete set that is slipped in a simple mortise cut into the door and is adjusted to the thickness of the door by the tightening of a couple of machine screws. ‘The par- ticular advantage claimed for this type of lock over the regular mortise sort is that the operating parts all retain their proper relative position one to another ove, Fp. 21) “rege ia. "85 pater “cor ‘itr eek 285, Bar B SRE gt sees indo toa as they were made at the factory, and therefore op- erate more satisfactorily than the sets assembled by the carpenter on the door. These are usually made cylinder type with the key operating in the outside knob. They are especially suitable for entrance doors to offices and apartments in high-grade buildings. In order to give a short explanation of the several principal parts of locks, as shown in Fig. 29, it may assist the beginner in fixing in his mind the common usage of these names, The face of a mortise lock is that part which shows on the edge of the door (Fig. 30). A “flat face” is one that stands at right angle to the body or case of the lock. Most of the smaller locks intended for thin doors have fairly narrow faces and are flat-faced, For thicker doors the lock faces are wider and usually are beveled, that is, they stand slightly off of right angle to the case so as to fit the face of the door. ‘The bevel is on the edge of the door that closes against the stop. Doors, 1%4 in. and over in thickness are usu- ally beveled at the rate of % in. to 2 in. This is done to permit the doors being opened and closed easily when closely fitted. “Bevel-faced” locks (Fig. 31) are handed—that is, right hand or left hand—and are {Eig 22, stuate ana Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research LibraryBUILDERS’ HARDWARE FROM THE GROUND UP not generally reversible, However, some manufactur- ers make locks that have the face put on the case in such manner as to allow it to be adjusted on the job either beveled right hand, beveled left hand, or flat- face. This is a great convenience to the hardware man, Pairs of doors (double doors) frequently have the Jock faces rabbeted (the standard rabbet is ' in.) and require locks with rabbeted faces; these are not reversible, Double-acting doors—that is, doors that are hung on spring hinges and open in either direction—usually have the edge of the lock stile rounded so that the door will not strike in closing from either direction. These require locks with rounded faces to fit the edge of the door; and they should be dead locks, as latch bolts do not work from either side. Lest (Pip, 35) F850 taro office lock “ng door” tack Cabinet and cupboard doors are usually fitted with cabinet locks of the half mortise kind—that is, mor- tised in flush with the inside of the stile of the door. ‘The face of such a lock is known as the selvedge. Strikes—Rim locks ordinarily have strikes set on the outside of the casing. These are known as rim (ig, 27), store door Bviea Aafettane aon on Facs.q fills for Patre of Doors ‘Hounded for Double" Acting Doors savedee Biin--Reverse Bevel *) Mortise Box Berse Protected Best op Rey on "thom Knob Boum {Be oP Thumb Bolt Ruishiary or Guard ‘lat of Sti {F8 srmxos Eager taay rome cocoon {SE |B itbt mm, py {oe ot crue ooo. { Bog acta -sDitgpg Hon to Cota f ned ——— i. torn Br. | Bae Fig. 99. Chart showing principal parts of Tooke strikes (Fig. 82). If a rim lock is placed on the inside of a door which opens out—such as a closet door—the lateh bolt has the bevel reversed; then it must have an angle strike, known as a reverse bevel strike (Fig. 33). This strike is placed on the door stop. ‘A mortise lock requires a strike that is mortised into the jamb or casing. It is a flat piece of metal with the proper holes to receive the bolts of the lock to which it belongs. ‘Strikes for mortise locks having latch bolts have a Lock Case Flat Foce Lock Case Left (Pia. 20) face of mortise ‘eek Beveled Face At right. (Pla. Shy "Diagram of Z bevel faced Took ‘Lock Case faces Rounded Face LLZIZZZZZZIZIZIZZIZI Lock Case VELL Rabbeted Face Original from the E.R. Butler & Co. Research Library