the Fine Architectural Hardware Blog

This is a photo of some of our molds in our pattern collection of over 500 pieces (relating mostly to hardware and some other miscellaneous projects).  We are working on another entry for this fall that will detail the lost wax process and show patterns being made as well as examples/details of hardware projects.

If you are missing a piece of hardware (even if it is only a cabinet knob) for your restoration project we would be happy to make one for you.

Bower-Barf is a black rust-resisting finish applied to steel and iron only and is not applicable to non-ferrous metals.  It is named after two men, Mr. Bower and Mr. Barff, who originally developed the process.

 Iron or steel items to be finished are heated in special furnaces to approximately 1700 degrees Fahrenheit, at which temperature they are cherry red in color.  While at this temperature, live steam and volatile hydrocarbon liquids are injected in to the furnace for a period of several minutes.  The chemical action of the heat, water-vapor and hydrocarbon gases on the iron and steel is such that the surface of the items being treated become oxidized and carbonized.  The surface becomes covered and impregnated with a hard, non-porous, grayish-blackish coating.  The surface with this treatment practically becomes impervious to moisture.  After parts are removed they are dipped in a special oil and wiped off.  The finish becomes a dead black and is extremely beautiful and very practical for interior use.

Current Day Finish Option:

We at Al Bar Wilmette have a colder process that is done with a non-volatile process in our shop.  We refer to our finish as the ‘Olde Iron’ finish (though Bower-Barf is certainly more interesting).  We use a oil, wax or acrylic for our final step of the process (depending on what the final location of the hardware/lighting will be).  As with any finish we do the base metal must be extremely clean, have no surface tension, and in the case of iron or steel be finished almost immediately because of how fast surface rust occurs.

This hardware is for a historic building in Chicago we are restoring all the hardware on.  The finish is Bower-Barf — we are in the process developing a historic finishes resource to assist homeowners, designers and architects with determination and the historical process of plating and finishing. 

Much of these finishes cannot be done today because of environmental regulations.  However, new technologies and processes allow us to achieve the same final finish with a more advanced and cleaner process.  Unfortunately most of the time the labor involved with even the new process is just the same if not more intense.

These knobs are installed as an active privacy on a pair of doors using our automatic transom bolt in a previous entry.  Always remember to allow for egress (entry to a room from the outside) especially if you have small children running around.

This is a great example of using the new with the old.  These mirrored pocket doors are a part of a local hardware installation.  The flush pulls are actually about 90 years old and being used with new edge pulls.  Hopefully we will see some more photos from this project soon.

 These photos show our automatic transom bolt installed and in use.  This part is perfect for master bath french doors and other small openings (pairs of doors).  The ball automatically engages the bolt on the inactive door allowing your door latch/lock to function.  No more loud transom bolts or annoying flush bolts (though these have there place in the hardware world).

 This knob and rosette was removed from an apartment at 1500 North Lake Shore Drive in Chicago. 

The building is a French Renaissance style and cost $5mm to construct in 1927-29.  Each unit was built with silver vaults and wood burning fireplaces.

This sculpt is the center portion of a knob created by a Chicago architect (for more information on the designer contact geb@albarwilmette.com) for a Chicago apartment. 

The final oval knob will have a turned rosette and be finished in burnished nickel. All existing hardware in the apartment will be finished to coordinate with the new hardware.

Do you have an application for a custom spindle for multi-point or exterior door?  We can fabricate custom spindles for your project.

This hardware is for a boat and was completed in an oil rubbed bronze finish.  The bars were all milled from solid brass bar stock.

This silver hardware will be installed this week on a local home.  Every piece here has been prepared especially for this project.  The hardware will be located on custom doors made at a local mill-work shop.

The only better thing than our screen door lock is our screen door lock in silver.  This is for a local project and will be used in conjunction with our cremone bolt hardware and Russell Versaci Classic Editions (corona knob) hardware.

Here are some finials for our 4″ butt hinges that we have finished in silver.  These are then waxed prior to completion.

 This art deco entry set is part of a project we just finished for a local Chicago home.  The finish is a distressed nickel finish that is left un-coated to naturally patina and change with use. 

If you think you are going to use a custom finish always be certain to ask for a production sample for review.  This sometimes will delay your project but it is often worth the extra time involved.

These are a couple photos of a project we did recently.  The plates on this project were steel and desperately in need of re-plating.  Note the installation detail and the orientation of the slotted head screws (something every detail lover can appreciate).