Questions tagged [antique]
An object that is collectable due to its great age
35 questions
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What's the right router bit for the edge of my table?
I have an antique wooden table that expands with leaves. The shape of the leaves matches the table, but the wood and shade are wrong, and the leaves are in poor condition, one with a tire track, one ...
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Long #8-32 screws needed [closed]
I have an old dresser that has very thick, carved, drawer fronts. One of the long screws that hold the lovely drawer pulls has broken off, and I need a new one that is a #8-32 x 3.25 to 3.5” long. ...
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French Curtain Tie Backs
How would one go about installing these french curtain tie backs? I don’t have the stake or dowels as in the link
https://www.ebay.com/itm/285065768857
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2
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1
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333
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Test for arsenic / toxic enamel color (Scheele's Green / Schweinfurt Green)
I've come across a beautiful art nouveau stove by Deville & Cie of Charleville, France, prob. enameled iron in a beautiful green, around 1900-1930 (lay guesstimate)
Is there a way to test for ...
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1
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141
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1920s Standard Ejecto repair - results or advice?
Working on my 1928ish Standard Ejecto toilet with a low mount tank. I am facing the same situation as Matt Burland in the following post: Installing a repair kit on an old toilet
He did not post a ...
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1
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390
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How can I pull these antique stair treads closer to riser?
I'm refinishing these old stairs and I'm looking for a way to eliminate the gap between tread and riser. I don't have access to the underside.
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1
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147
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Tool Identification - screwdriver-like
I got this tool from my grandfather's house. It looks incomplete, like some parts are missing. The tool is simply a 1/8" steel rod about 7" long with one end flattened into a screwdriver ...
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185
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How can I identify this unusual antique wood finish smell? [closed]
I recently purchased an antique oil painting (18th century), whose frame has a very particular smell that I had never smelled before, touching the frame imparted a fair degree of grime onto my hands, ...
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Removing high-powered century-old-grime from windows?
We recently had the windows redone in our 1920s-era condo and, in the process, had a wall opened up to reveal windows that were walled off from the inside some time in the 30s. However, the grime on ...
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Got this at the sale where I got the combination plane. What is it?
This antique tool is wood. It has precise measurements marked to 3 inches, an adjustable depth gauge. Short pins that stick out along the measuring area. Is it used for masonry?
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How to mount this sink?
Hello I'm new here. I've looked into sink wall brackets. (I prefer to hang rather than using a pedestal). I cant find hanging brackets for the back or the shelf type to hang it that way. Would it ...
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Mystery hand-tool, what's its use?
We got this tool from an estate sale. What was its original use? The markings indicate a patent date of Dec 15 1914
there are no makers marks or manufacturer names on it.
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Identify old shower stem in 100 year old home
Every supply shop is stumped. Possible very old American Standard due to its 22 spline broach. I am also leaning towards Gopher due to similarity of appearance to some seats I found online.
This is ...
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319
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Identifying old cabinet latch
I bought an old piece of furniture with two cabinet doors. One of them is missing a catch, and I am having a hard time identifying it. The overall dimensions of the latch are about 1" x 0.5"....
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I need help fixing my leaking shower valve
I have an old shower valve that is from the 1940's that has a slow leak. I would like to repair it, but I can't find any of the typical screws to take it apart. Even after taking the handle off there ...
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Identifying the hot and neutral wires of an antique lamp
I'm trying to rewire a couple of identical antique lamps. Unfortunately, I don't have a clear idea of which wire is which. The lamp has been rewired in the past, but it seems it was a long time ago.
...
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How to size a VFD for this Antique 5 HP Motor
I bought a fairly antique 20" Monarch bandsaw. It came with a gigantic (~16" diameter) 5HP electric motor. I'm not sure a bandsaw of this size needs this much motor, but since I have it, I'...
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Antique Faucet replacement
I’m having serious issues replacing an antique faucet stem on old old claw foot tub.
The hot water nozzle slowly leaks and I can’t find a replacement stem or even a washer that would fit. I emailed ...
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Safe assembly of antique Italian four poster bed frame
I've assembled this bed frame and am not sure how to make it sturdy enough for use.
I have this 100+ year-old Italian bed frame that I've inherited from my parents. They used it for decades and it ...
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2
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299
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Displaying heavy antique wood doors
I'm trying to display 3 antique wooden doors that I've acquired but not sure the best way to display them. I definitely do not want to drill into the doors.
Optimally I'd just rest them on the floor ...
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5
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4k
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Tool identification - possibly antique
While cleaning out the basement, I found a toolbox that I haven't opened in probably 30 years, and it contained some items that I know were originally my father's, so these things could be 75-100 ...
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4k
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How to ground a switch without a ground screw?
I'm rewiring my house, and keeping some circa 1920 light switches, which don't have ground screws. The switch cases are porcelain, and have a brass yoke. I originally planned to sandwich a ground ...
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7
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6k
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Can I oil a push button light switch?
I have a circa 1920 push-button light switch which sticks occasionally. The push buttons move fine, but sometimes the blade switch inside doesn't flip unless the button is pressed very hard. I'd ...
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Which colored layer is the orignal brass and what is the other colored layer?
I restored antique brass door knobs and plates.
This is what the brass looked like before restoration.
This is what the brass looked like after restoration.
The door knobs have a color mix of yellow ...
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How do I correctly change hard wired antique wall sconces to plug In with the toggle box
I have 2 antique sconces (candelabras) that I used for years hard wired in one of my previous homes. I would like to switch them to plug ins because of several factors that I won’t detail unless asked....
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Replacing tongue and groove floorboards: but can't find a match
A room in an old farmhouse, formerly a porch, now enclosed, has floors made of tongue and groove lumber. I need to repair those floors by replacing at least some sections of floorboards - somewhere ...
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Does anyone know what this type of furnace/heater is called?
I have this old style of heating but I cannot find any information on it. Can anyone help? It's gas and just sorta gets hot heating the house. No blower, no ducts, just the exhaust. The brand on the ...
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How do you remove a stuck glass door knob?
I have an antique glass door knob I am trying to remove.
I have removed the screw at the base of the door knob and have tried to unscrew the door knob. It is stuck. I have tried spraying WD40 to ...
2
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2
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3k
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Reducing threaded rod to mount fixture cross bar
I have a very antique light on a very antique ceiling that I do not want, by any means, to compromise (meaning have to open). A few weeks ago, the ceiling light that was installed started losing its ...
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Are these sconces from the 1920s or newer?
I'm trying to determine if these are original to my 1920 house.
- They appear to be stamped brass which has since been painted gold.
- The wiring is cloth-wrapped.
- The switches are newer.
- The ...
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How do I turn light the oven pilot on this vintage stove?
My 30s Wedgewood stove has an oven pilot that is funky. I distinctly recall that I had to do something special to light the oven pilot last time I shut the gas off, but I can't remember what it was. ...
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Will installing a deadbolt on a 1920s bathroom door decrease the resale value [closed]
If this is the wrong place to ask, I apologize and please direct me to the right place. Common sense arguments are welcome.
My house has 1920s era doors with crystal door knobs
example here: https://...
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What is this tool. Pizza cutter?
It's pot metal, three screws holding it together. It has a sharp rolling disk inside. Looks like it can be held in the palm of your hand to cut something. Maybe leather, carpet, or Pizza. It's at a ...
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Antique headboard and footbard with iron frame
I have an antique headboard and footboard along with the one piece iron frame that attaches to it. Problem is that when you attach the frame to the head and footboards, the "L" shape is upside down ...
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Identifying a piece of cast iron hardware
A friend has a very old house, and while exploring it found the following piece of cast iron hardware. It's about 2 1/2" across, has four holes with what seems to be set screws, and a fifth taller ...
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