tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post113902248029102352..comments2023-08-25T03:21:41.842-07:00Comments on The Petch House: Only My Home Builder Knows For SureGreghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139325070506905382006-02-07T07:11:00.000-08:002006-02-07T07:11:00.000-08:00I know how you feel about restoring things back to...I know how you feel about restoring things back to original, even if the original is something unexpected. That's happening with our bathroom. I had this big Plan with a capital P, but when I saw the original arrangement and saw that it <I>could</I> be restored to that, I just have to do it! Then again, we may not restore the window to the original size.Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14419829266401536453noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139292431892609332006-02-06T22:07:00.000-08:002006-02-06T22:07:00.000-08:00Our house in Seattle was done as a part of a devel...Our house in Seattle was done as a part of a development back in the early 1900s. Compared to the house my parents lived in (until recently) which was built as part of a cul-de-sac development in the 1930s, the details in our house were lacking a little. I've mostly noticed it on window hardware and a little on doorknob plates.<BR/><BR/>I think partly it has to do with how much building they were doing, just like how it is today. If they could get by with less then they did.<BR/><BR/>Just like a modern home you are free to upgrade any details to help make it the way you would like it to be (such as adding in baseboard and better moldings, etc.) you are within the realms of reason in my book. Splurge a little and enjoy.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139236747056786902006-02-06T06:39:00.000-08:002006-02-06T06:39:00.000-08:00Petch House is a lot higher end than the Devil Que...Petch House is a lot higher end than the Devil Queen, but our hinge situation is the same. Our front has fancy, filigreed hinges. We haven't stripped them yet, but I'm thinking they are cast iron. All the interior hinges are plain pin hinges.<BR/><BR/>I wouldn't feel too bad about replacing the hinges with your reproduction hinges. Every construction/renovation project is full of compromises. For all we know, your new hinges could be the ones the Petch family <I>really</I> wanted but couldn't justify buying.Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01111893364147445374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139174463104027172006-02-05T13:21:00.000-08:002006-02-05T13:21:00.000-08:00I know what you mean. Ultimately, I'd like origina...I know what you mean. Ultimately, I'd like original hardware on everything. Our hinges are very plain and I think they are at least copper plated. They have a copper colored finish anyway.<BR/><BR/>Door hardware also is fairly and modest and utilitarian. We bought a dozen or so plates and knob sets from an Antique Market that are from about the period of our 2-flat, but more decorative.<BR/><BR/>We are somewhat fancifying our place, making it a bit grander than what it was while staying with the craftman/prarie type elements that we like and mesh with the oak trim, coffered ceiling etc...<BR/><BR/>And when we renovate the semi-finished basement, we'd like to put in 6" oak trim same as the other 2 floors. <BR/><BR/>But of course, we've used drywall and not kept all the old plaster- we've kept some though!Jocelynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13570623978361702328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139149601380211922006-02-05T06:26:00.000-08:002006-02-05T06:26:00.000-08:00I think the repro hinges you bought on close-out a...I think the repro hinges you bought on close-out are really nice looking.<BR/><BR/>My house is a folk victorian. Some of the window lifts, sash locks and front door hinges are eastlake. In my case, I think the builders used whatever was around or at the local dealer. Way back when, I think they liked fancy hardware but it wasn't as much of a big deal as it is with renovators today.Ms. P in Jacksonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16044745952111340330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139120395221516412006-02-04T22:19:00.000-08:002006-02-04T22:19:00.000-08:00If you like your repro hinges, by all means use th...If you like your repro hinges, by all means use them. I don't think the Petches are going to come back and haunt you for that. It's such a small detail, and they are really nice, and I bet if the builders could have gotten their hands on them, they would have used them. They are period appropriate and add a little zing, which no one but you and your old house buddies will notice, and probably not them either. It's your home, not a period perfect museum, you're allowed some personal touches. Don't sweat it!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139075238738236352006-02-04T09:47:00.000-08:002006-02-04T09:47:00.000-08:00That’s an interesting idea. I think I read some pl...That’s an interesting idea. I think I read some place that brass attracts magnets and copper doesn’t. I’ll have to do a test.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139069895912812612006-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:002006-02-04T08:18:00.000-08:00Greg - your "plain" hinge looks like it could be c...Greg - your "plain" hinge looks like it could be copper, not brass. Not sure how you can tell for sure though.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139036670027894292006-02-03T23:04:00.000-08:002006-02-03T23:04:00.000-08:00I'd take brass, iron and wood anyday over vinyl, c...I'd take brass, iron and wood anyday over vinyl, carpet, or any other cheap "throw-it-up-quick-and-sell-it" building supply (except the insulation) ;)<BR/><BR/>-chrisC&Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654543897843350680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139035766314306682006-02-03T22:49:00.000-08:002006-02-03T22:49:00.000-08:00I think you are absolutely right. It was all about...I think you are absolutely right. It was all about image just as it is today. They just didn't have access to PVC and vinyl. Instead they were <I>forced</I> to use brass, iron, and wood.<BR/><BR/>Love your house, by the way!Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139035453119108632006-02-03T22:44:00.000-08:002006-02-03T22:44:00.000-08:00It may not be Eastlake, but all the hinges in our ...It may not be Eastlake, but all the hinges in our house look just like that. If I was going to classify our house, I would have called it Folk Victorian, it's definitly not ornate like a Queen Anne, or Stick style.<BR/><BR/>http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/bicyclemonkey/bee157a7.jpg<BR/><BR/>We did find an older document at the public library that was pretty much a walking tour guide of the historic district our home is in. It stated something along the lines that ours was built in the Eastlake style, or something like that. It even mentioned the stained glass above our front window.<BR/><BR/>Builders are always cutting corners, I'm sure they were back then too. I'm sure if they had the ability back in 1895, our house would have been built on a slab, had vinyl siding and windows, cheap three year carpet, 12" white tile in the kitchen & baths, etc. (but at least I would have had a working shower!)<BR/><BR/>-chrisC&Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654543897843350680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139034014080384712006-02-03T22:20:00.000-08:002006-02-03T22:20:00.000-08:00Now that’s a nice hinge! But I'm not so sure I wou...<B>Now that’s a nice hinge!</B> But I'm not so sure I would call that an <I>Eastlake</I> hinge. Maybe the house is <I>Stick/Eastlake</I>.<BR/><BR/>Not only that, I’ve see original 1890s hinges much fancier than that. I don’t doubt they exist, just as gas guzzling SUVs exist today, but it’s easy to think that everybody had everything that was high-end Victorian in the 1890s. Just as it is easy to think that all Americans drove SUVs in the year 2000.<BR/><BR/>I think the other door hardware in my house was a set (doorknob, back plate, lockset, and strike plate) bought as a unit. They all have the same pattern. But when it came to the hinge, the builder cut a corner. He saved a little money. However, if you showed my hinge to a hard-core Victorian Revivalist they would probably tell you that <I>it is not original and my house would have never had such a plain hinge</I>.<BR/><BR/>I think it's interesting.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139033667510724092006-02-03T22:14:00.000-08:002006-02-03T22:14:00.000-08:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02807710209656158413noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11904671.post-1139032678209552892006-02-03T21:57:00.000-08:002006-02-03T21:57:00.000-08:00Here is a link to a photo of the hinges in our 189...Here is a link to a photo of the hinges in our 1895 Eastlake.<BR/><BR/>http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v329/bicyclemonkey/hinge.jpg<BR/><BR/>As far as I know they are original to the house. At least the man who lived there the 53 years before we bought the house never changed them, so if they were it was sometime before that (I don't think they were though...at least I hope not.)<BR/><BR/>-chrisC&Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16654543897843350680noreply@blogger.com