Gonzales
Locksmith Service
Locksmith Service
GONZALES LOCKSMITH SERVICE, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA 505-920-5004 * info@gonzaleslock.com |
Decorative Hardware, locks and accessories.
Decorative hardware is a very subjective thing, people have different tastes and priorities, here's my long-winded
opinion. Production methods have become more efficient, thus reducing hand-labor. The products were more artistic,
interesting designs and finishes. Even the keys were fine nickel-silver with interesting "coining" like the lion that
Master Lock used to coin on their keys and the smoke designs on P&F Corbin keys. Quite unlike the mostly bland
key coining going on these days. It was a different era in manufacturing entirely, I call it "The Bronze Age". The
hardware was over-built and naturally artistic, even if no one would see it. Some of the old safe locks made by Yale
had designs inside the lock case that no one would see unless they were working on it.
After that, manufacturers like Kwikset , Schlage and dozens of other USA based companies offered several
knob and handle designs over many finishes. Schlage, in particular, offered such things like the Leo's Head lock and
crystal doorknobs. I have Schlage "Novo" knobs outside and "Portola" knobs inside my home, if anyone's wierd
enough to know what those are. They were made long before Schlage died.
Things change and that stuff is obsolete now. Styles and finishes have changed. Very often an existing lock will be
given new trim and finish and sometimes different manufacturers make one unit. One makes the basic boltwork,
another makes the cylinder and another makes the trim. Many times the trim is too heavy and breaks off at the
spindle.
Most of the hardware is mid-range, meaning nothing special in the quality or security departments to me. Some
prices are in-line and others are heavily marked-up. Some of the expensive hardware is really junk. There are more
names in this part of the industry than can be kept-up with. I'll start with what I would sell.
Medeco makes some great deadbolts, entry locks, and handlesets. Omnia makes locks and hardware I think is
O.K. Special order only, no returns, may require a deposit. Baldwin is O.K. but nothing special, the like for sale
at Home-Depot is not the same line sold through hardware houses. Baldwin customer service is excellent and the
keys are pretty. Lowes has a similar product line but I can't remember the name. Kwikset makes some very nice stuff
for tight budgets. I'm really not fond of Emtek, the bolts got better but the cylinders are really crappy. She company
formerly known as Schlage Lock Co. makes nothing but JUNK. Their "Accents" line is some of the sorriest
junk (pretty keys!) I have ever seen! Ashley-Norton is another name to avoid like the plague. Many new homes are
coming with a brand called Bravura and they are not too stout. Medeco is made here in USA, everything else on
this list is imported from Mexico and China.
Then there's the stuff from Europe. Usually they are "Profile-Cylinder" and sometimes they are the old
"skeleton-key" design. The profile cylinders are also used on some "premium" patio and sliding doors. They are
usually serviceable if newer, older profile cylinders are probably not serviceable. They can be replaced but the finish
may not match.
The latch just to keep the door closed and is really unimportant. A good deadbolt is necessary for security.
Santa Fe Hardware is a great source for decorative hardware, the owner really knows his stuff, he knows what
Schlage "Novo" and "Portola" style knobs are.
opinion. Production methods have become more efficient, thus reducing hand-labor. The products were more artistic,
interesting designs and finishes. Even the keys were fine nickel-silver with interesting "coining" like the lion that
Master Lock used to coin on their keys and the smoke designs on P&F Corbin keys. Quite unlike the mostly bland
key coining going on these days. It was a different era in manufacturing entirely, I call it "The Bronze Age". The
hardware was over-built and naturally artistic, even if no one would see it. Some of the old safe locks made by Yale
had designs inside the lock case that no one would see unless they were working on it.
After that, manufacturers like Kwikset , Schlage and dozens of other USA based companies offered several
knob and handle designs over many finishes. Schlage, in particular, offered such things like the Leo's Head lock and
crystal doorknobs. I have Schlage "Novo" knobs outside and "Portola" knobs inside my home, if anyone's wierd
enough to know what those are. They were made long before Schlage died.
Things change and that stuff is obsolete now. Styles and finishes have changed. Very often an existing lock will be
given new trim and finish and sometimes different manufacturers make one unit. One makes the basic boltwork,
another makes the cylinder and another makes the trim. Many times the trim is too heavy and breaks off at the
spindle.
Most of the hardware is mid-range, meaning nothing special in the quality or security departments to me. Some
prices are in-line and others are heavily marked-up. Some of the expensive hardware is really junk. There are more
names in this part of the industry than can be kept-up with. I'll start with what I would sell.
Medeco makes some great deadbolts, entry locks, and handlesets. Omnia makes locks and hardware I think is
O.K. Special order only, no returns, may require a deposit. Baldwin is O.K. but nothing special, the like for sale
at Home-Depot is not the same line sold through hardware houses. Baldwin customer service is excellent and the
keys are pretty. Lowes has a similar product line but I can't remember the name. Kwikset makes some very nice stuff
for tight budgets. I'm really not fond of Emtek, the bolts got better but the cylinders are really crappy. She company
formerly known as Schlage Lock Co. makes nothing but JUNK. Their "Accents" line is some of the sorriest
junk (pretty keys!) I have ever seen! Ashley-Norton is another name to avoid like the plague. Many new homes are
coming with a brand called Bravura and they are not too stout. Medeco is made here in USA, everything else on
this list is imported from Mexico and China.
Then there's the stuff from Europe. Usually they are "Profile-Cylinder" and sometimes they are the old
"skeleton-key" design. The profile cylinders are also used on some "premium" patio and sliding doors. They are
usually serviceable if newer, older profile cylinders are probably not serviceable. They can be replaced but the finish
may not match.
The latch just to keep the door closed and is really unimportant. A good deadbolt is necessary for security.
Santa Fe Hardware is a great source for decorative hardware, the owner really knows his stuff, he knows what
Schlage "Novo" and "Portola" style knobs are.
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For some really old stuff
go to
www.muffshardware.com
go to
www.muffshardware.com
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