The international Door Knob museum

13/01/2025

10/09/2024

Not a door k**b, but definitely a total k**b head!!!

31/08/2024

27/08/2024

What Were Used Before Door K**bs?
We do know that surface rim locks were first used by the Egyptians and it is likely that some form of pull handle, perhaps bronze or iron, would have been used to pull the door open. The key would have been used merely to lock the door.

In fact, people often only used locks with keys (if they could afford it), before the invention of door handles. If a lock was not possible, people would be able to keep their valuables in boxes that could be locked away. Due to the expense of locks and security, door k**bs were not essential and there were simpler and cheaper ways of operating doors. This was why the latch-string was created so that people could keep their belongings secure. Eventually, internal doors could be simply nailed together allowing either the use of a wrought iron thumb latch, or a cott latch to open and shut the door.

During the reign of Louis XIV (1643 - 1715), very decorative gilded doork**bs were created to mirror the opulent lifestyle he created for himself and his courtiers. We can assume that crude concealed mortice locks were invented then so that these delicately crafted doork**bs could be screwed to the face of the door maintaining a crisp clean appearance.

27/08/2024

Medieval knockers and k**bs