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Fun Facts About Antique Hardware

Primitive Latches – fortifications universally comprised a repurposed bar placed across the portal and secured at both ends. Designs permitting the bar to slide aside and miniaturization of the device created the ‘slide-bolt’ and enabled this timeless and sometimes decorative locking system to be affixed to the door.

By anchoring one end of the bar whilst allowing it to swivel the bar could be lifted in and out of its keeper. This revelation birthed the first thumb-latch. Blacksmiths created highly imaginative designs- heart, spade, tulip, cannonball, and swordfish to name a few.

1700s – Hundreds of years passed passed until the 18th century. During the reign of George II (1727-1760) a Georgian blacksmith passed a spindle through a door, a plate mounted on the inside of the door, and a cam abutting the plate. To the plate he then attached one end of a latch-bar, with the latch-bar resting on the cam such that turning the knobs on either end of the spindle rotated the spindle, and in turn the cam, thus raising the latch-bar.

This was a EUREKA moment.

1800s – During the ensuing Regency period, in approximately 1820, John Carpenter’s designs enclosed the mechanism in a box. Fast forward fifty years and find that during the mid 19th century the Victorians modified the mechanism’s rotary motion to withdraw, rather than lift the latch… another milestone.

In 1840 the industrial revolution was beginning. It celebrated mass production and heralded the demise of individualized hand wrought hardware. At this point in time the latch was buried (mortised) into the edge of the door.

1900s – Hardware thus became totally reliant on its trimmings for aesthetics. Mass marketing and early consumerism entrenched 20th century style trends like Art Deco, Art Nouveau, Arts and Crafts and a plethora of revival styles.

For more information on hardware, check out our blog post entitled “Three Centuries Of Door Hardware“.

OUR MISSION

• to stimulate and inspire home, store and set decorators
• to encourage and inform heritage-minded environmentalists
• to support and indulge artistic and cultural pursuits by providing fundamental to frivolous architectural salvage in a meticulously organized imagination market.

WE PROUDLY SUPPORT

Heritage Canada, The Architectural Conservatory of Ontario and The Cobourg Museum.

We don’t stop at the three R’s of recycling, we’ve added a fourth R, REPURPOSE!

LEGAL INFORMATION

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CONTACT INFORMATION & STORE HOURS

LEGACY VINTAGE
540 Division Street
Cobourg, Ontario, Canada
K9A 3S4

CLICK HERE FOR AN INTERACTIVE MAP

+1 905 373 0796

legacyvintagebuilding@gmail.com

Open : THURSDAY, FRIDAY & SATURDAY from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Closed: SUNDAY to WEDNESDAY

GOOGLE PLACES RATING

Legacy Vintage Building Materials

4.7

Based on 67 reviews

review us on

Topher Topher

00:13 29 Aug 21

Amazing mix of architectural salvage, hardware... and antiques, all arranged beautifully. Can wander around for hours.read more

ILYA

15:15 23 Jul 21

Incredible store. Everything from vintage nails,... to door hardware and bathtubsread more

Graham Dutton

21:02 14 Jul 21

If you need old building supplies this might be... the place for you! Lots of doors windows and what nots! All kinds of good stuff to look at. Check it out!read more

Brian Lucyk

20:49 29 Jun 21

Great to visit in person again and spend some... time touring around inside. So much to see in plenty of nooks and crannies. Lots to get inspired by. Treasures everywhere. Went home with some red well weathered barn board. Excited to turn them into some rustic cottage picture frames! Pleasure speaking with the staff there as well. A fantastic visit. Certain to see you again. Thanksread more

warflower warflower

13:33 10 Jun 21

I recently got an old house in Montreal.I was... as careful as I could during the move, but accidents happen: I broke the spindle of one of the doorknobs.Was that a bad sign?Christine, from Legacy Vintage, showed me it was not.Desperately browsing the internet for the old trinket, I found many people trying to sell me hardware that "would/should/could work" or "worth a try."Christine promptly answered my request by giving me the certainty of the exact item I wanted.Of course, I was already at ease with my finding, but I was secretly lamenting to pay shipping fees that would surpass the spindle's price.Then, here's where Christine won me over: she asked me if I knew a particular antique store in my city that could offer the same article. So, she followed with its name and address.I was head over heels! How uncommon is it to find an unselfish, kind, and proactive merchant willing to put the customers' interests above his/her profits?Indeed, yesterday, after a 20-minute drive, I got my old spindle for a bargain.Thanks to Christine, my little old house is wholesome again, and so is my belief in kindness!read more

Jill A. Salter

16:33 09 May 20

I purchased a vintage screen door from Legacy... Vintage Building Materials via their online website and I could not be any happier. Legacy Vintage has a great selection of quality, vintage materials at a great price. The vintage door I purchased is more beautiful and better quality than any reproduction I had looked at elsewhere. The service provided by Legacy Vintage also sets them apart. I needed to have my order shipped to the US in March (2020) and there was a lot of uncertainty at that time. The staff at Legacy Vintage took great care and kept me informed every step of the way and my door arrived safely. I was also able to find out some information about where the piece came from and its age. I now have a unique piece on my porch that gets lots of compliments. I highly recommend Legacy Vintage.read more

S. Miller

18:40 07 Mar 20

Great service!Found a solid door in excellent... shape to re-purpose into a headboard.Will go back for more treasures. 👍read more

Brian Rutherford

13:22 06 Mar 20

This is a pretty unique gem that I don't think... enough people know about. Everytime we go to visit we discover something we missed last time, and we've been bringing all our friends and family. If you are into vintage stuff, fixing up an old house or looking to add something old to your new digs this is the place. From old doors, old lights, old tubs and the hardest to find piece, I'd highly suggest checking them out. And don't let the word Old scare you away, everything in there will last another century.. at least.read more

Elle F

05:03 27 Feb 20

This was an excellent stop for salvage... architectural! So many items for our renovation and the place is organized and often has multiples of everything.read more

Devon MacPhee

02:41 28 Jul 19

Lots of awesome material, don't expect bargain... basement prices, as these are often VERY rare pieces and the prices reflect that.read more

Scott Murduff

13:58 06 Jul 19

This is a place to find all those unique hatd to... find items that are not available any more any where...Cast iron gates,claw foot tubs,fencing,barn boards,etc. Etc. Etc.Most items have been salvaged and saved for those looking for those special items for your garden,man cave,business decor...or hang it ad art...There are do many items be prepared to spend some time hunting for those special treasures..a fun way to remember when and keep those special items around from yesterday for those today to enjoy.read more

Rico Sabatini

19:51 13 Feb 19

Amazing place. Best collection of vintage... hardware I have seen. This is one display of many.read more

John Marchand

21:40 13 Jan 19

It was the first time in a few years that I went.... I was very impressed with the way they organized things which makes it very easy to find what interests you. I will surely be going back in the future.read more

Simon Tonkinson

13:30 05 Aug 18

One of the few places around where you can get... authentic vintage architectural items. They have loads of things like doors and windows and also harder to find items including locks handles lamps etc. Also items needed for bathrooms kitchens too. They are not cheap however, so don't expect bargain basement prices. But if you need specific items give them a try. The site is almost like a museum so worth a visit just to see what they have!read more

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