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The Turkey Dinner Door Knob |
![]() The Turkey Dinner doorknob…with all the fixin's. |
No matter what you collect, or how long you have been collecting, there are things out there you would never believe existed, yet the ultimate goal of colleting is to find one (or more) of these fascinating objects. This is the treasure hunt dynamic that drives the antiques market and keeps all of us collectors energized and forever young. |
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A Little Architectural History
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![]() This Greek Revival building could be a home, a school, a church, or the Town Hall. ![]() American Free Classic houses borrowed everything from everywhere. |
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A Strange Doorknob Design |
The quest for a solution has begat dozens of ideas, but the focus has primarily been to modify the metal rod or spindle that goes through the lock and activates the latch, and/or the screws that hold the knobs in place. Gilbert (and a couple of other people) went the other way, however, and decided to eliminate the spindle and shank screws and instead attach the knob solidly to the back plate which was screwed to the door. In Gilbert’s design, a patented lock/latch mechanism was activated by a little lever next to and beneath the doorknob. | ![]() |
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This may be the ultimate in a personalized doorknob. | The finger lever unlatched the door. |
In theory this is fine, but when someone has been blithely turning 100+ doorknobs in a dozen locations, what do they do when they are suddenly confronted with a doorknob that won’t turn and a door that won’t open? Loud cursing certainly comes to mind, but one can also imagine violent acts taking place as a pleasant train of thought is rudely interrupted and physical or property damage is incurred. |
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Note the date of 1879. | The shank was set into the plate so it would not move. |
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Worthless Treasure |
Every Gilbert knob and plate had to be assembled by hand. | |
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