The two open-backed designs below are both from Schlage, dating back to 1956: the Manhattan and the Continental, respectively.
![Ring plate](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3230/3010013857_93e516c5d6.jpg)
![Squared ring](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3019/3010014653_738b0c7cb6.jpg)
Schlage, by contrast, went for the starburst designs, including the two below.
![Starburst with a round backing plate](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3170/3010013389_5f53855c2e.jpg)
![Starburst](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3055/3010014329_f4a9f94db2.jpg)
Heavy round designs were also common, simple but massive plates with textured patterns.
![Basic round & heavy](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3139/3010850210_dc627d1a80.jpg)
![Complex round](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/3010012583_1a04be448b.jpg)
And then I've encountered a few that are seemingly unique, elegant patterns of unknown inspiration and as-yet undetermined manufacturer.
![Onassis fabulous](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/3010851164_6d1d3c042d.jpg)
![Equilateral polygon](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3200/3010012857_64ef97e2b5.jpg)
![Some kind of Aztec thing or something](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3010012767_d4fc5da355.jpg)
Finding these bits of hardware takes a bit of diligence, a lot of peering into the shadows and past the trees and bushes and screen doors. They don't pop out like a spectacular building does. It's rare that a good photograph can be taken from the public right-of-way (once or twice I've indulged in a little benign trespassing to get the shot!), so getting a good capture is all the more rewarding.
5 comments:
I would love to have any of this door handles. I am guessing my trip to the local Home Depot will turn up empty.
I grew up next to a red brick and white limestone "infill" building (next to our "heraldric medieval" red brick and limestone six-flat) which had a brass starburst door escutcheon.
When we lived in the country before we were reverse white-flight my best friend lived in a ranchy house with a center knob (as in being in the middle of the door) with a crazy escutcheon. The house also had sunken tubs with fish faucets and a Monte Carlo AND Orange Civic in the garage (this was the mid-70s).
Very cool pics. I'm going to pass this along to my wife. She's a designer with a huge affinity for mid-century modern elements. She'll love it.
Thanks for posting!
Great pictures, they do say that God is in the details!
Here is one for sale -
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220548079475#ht_500wt_1159
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