Full Mortise Passage Latch

[Mark Bolton]

Ive been trying to track down some reproduction passage latches and coming up empty. These are the smaller body passage latches. 2 1/2" backset, body is 1 3/4" tall x 3/4" wide x 3 1/2" deep. Renovators doesnt seem to show these (their offering seems to have gone in the ditch to me but maybe its just the site). Ive found only one source and one or two used on Ebay. Thought surely someone is making them.

Kicker of course is finding them somewhat affordable. This isnt a historic preservation.

Any input is appreciated.

[peter gagliardi]

Have you checked Van Dykes restorers? I seem to remember seeing them in a catalog a couple years ago.

[Mark Bolton]

I did Peter. Their catalog is at the shop and their web site doesnt really give an easy way to search based on the latch body. It seems most of what they have (that I have seen) is reproduction using a conventional/modern latch OR the full mortise passage latches are using the full size latch body sans the lock. That short pattern (1 3/4 tall) is looking to be a bit tougher to track down.

[peter gagliardi]

Another thought would be meritmetal.com. They have them, but I didn't research the specs.

[Mark Bolton]

Thanks Peter, They do have them listed in solid brass.. Will give them a ring Monday but guessing they wont fall into the reasonably affordable catagory ;-) I found some from a restoration shop in TN. May have to go that route.

[jack forsberg]

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/images/products/45002.jpg

is this what your looking for, there $15

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/product_info.php?cPath=124_228&products_id=45002

[Jerry Miner]

Maybe this?:

http://www.thepreservationstation.com/bath/other-antique-vintage-bathroom-items/new-old-stock-mortise-locks.html

[Mark Bolton]

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/images/products/45002.jpg

is this what your looking for, there $15

http://www.allaboutdoors.com/product_info.php?cPath=124_228&products_id=45002


Thanks Jack, but no. Thats a privacy and its the full size body. The style I was looking for is without the privacy bolt and is only 1 3/4" tall where the one you posted is 3 19/32". I will check out that site though. I may well just wind up going with the privacy and mortising the door. I was just trying to avoid the extra work as the doors are already mortised for the passage option. The only other dimension difference is these are 2 1/2" backset which is pretty common instead of 2 3/8" but 1/8" isnt going to make or break anything.

[Mark Bolton]

Maybe this?:

http://www.thepreservationstation.com/bath/other-antique-vintage-bathroom-items/new-old-stock-mortise-locks.html

Jerry, thanks, Thats the TN source I mentioned. Those are old, but unboxed inventory and they only have 6 of them. I am likely going to grab them the only reason I was looking around is I was hoping to find a complete set with knobs, trims and bolt. Cant have it all though. Its just more expensive to part them out but may well be the only option.

Thanks again.

[Jerry Miner]

I believe Accurate makes the 6500 series--you may have to find a local dealer ---Accurate does not sell direct

http://www.accuratelockandhardware.com/6500.html

Any reason you can't use a modern "tube latch" instead?

[Mark Bolton]

I believe Accurate makes the 6500 series--you may have to find a local dealer ---Accurate does not sell direct

http://www.accuratelockandhardware.com/6500.html

Any reason you can't use a modern "tube latch" instead?

There really isnt, and like I mentioned this isnt a historic preservation, but the rest of the house is using the same latches (except for privacy latches) and was wanting to keep the continuity.

[Robert LaPlaca]

Thanks Jack, but no. Thats a privacy and its the full size body. The style I was looking for is without the privacy bolt and is only 1 3/4" tall where the one you posted is 3 19/32". I will check out that site though. I may well just wind up going with the privacy and mortising the door. I was just trying to avoid the extra work as the doors are already mortised for the passage option. The only other dimension difference is these are 2 1/2" backset which is pretty common instead of 2 3/8" but 1/8" isnt going to make or break anything.

Interesting, just got done restoring a house built in the 1920's that had tons of interior mortise locksets that were full size privacy style, even the closets had the same locksets on them..

[Mark Bolton]

I believe Accurate makes the 6500 series--you may have to find a local dealer ---Accurate does not sell direct

http://www.accuratelockandhardware.com/6500.html

Any reason you can't use a modern "tube latch" instead?

Thats a great link Jerry, thanks a million, exactly what I was looking for. I would venture to guess my local commercial hardware vendor would have access to them. Another call to make on Monday. Thanks a bunch.

[Mark Bolton]

Interesting, just got done restoring a house built in the 1920's that had tons of interior mortise locksets that were full size privacy style, even the closets had the same locksets on them..

Yeah for sure. I am accustomed to the full size bodies that just have no key and no privacy bolt. That way all the faceplates are identical in a room. This one though has these style latches on closets with round escutcheons and privacy's where needed with deco trims.

[Peter Quinn]

This looks pretty close.


http://www.progressivehardware.net/images/1080_spec.pdf

[Mark Bolton]

This looks pretty close.


http://www.progressivehardware.net/images/1080_spec.pdf


Definitely close Peter. The only kicker is the bolt location for the handle on that one is offset from the center (throw) of the latch. These are in-line like the ones in the link Jerry posted above. Im not being fussy here, just trying to avoid re-mortising/dutchman's and so on.

[Peter Quinn]

Definitely close Peter. The only kicker is the bolt location for the handle on that one is offset from the center (throw) of the latch. These are in-line like the ones in the link Jerry posted above. Im not being fussy here, just trying to avoid re-mortising/dutchman's and so on.


Oh, old doors receiving new lock sets? So you need a dead perfect match. I saw something like that from old hardware resellers, not coming up with anything new exactly. We just use cylinder locks these days for passage doors, it never even occurred to me to put mortise boxes in a non security door. Funny how things change over time.

[Mark Bolton]

Oh, old doors receiving new lock sets? So you need a dead perfect match. I saw something like that from old hardware resellers, not coming up with anything new exactly. We just use cylinder locks these days for passage doors, it never even occurred to me to put mortise boxes in a non security door. Funny how things change over time.

Thanks Peter,
These are not new doors. They are salvaged doors that are identical to the ones in the house (talk about luck). Of course they were salvaged from the area local to the house so oddly they are hinged at the same locations (within 1/4") and are all in a passage application and are all mortised for that application. So yes, they are old doors, mortised for the latches I am looking for, which coincidentally matches the rest of the house.

My options are to open up the mortises for privacy latch bodies (with 3 3/4" tall mortises) which equals the labor of enlarging the mortise in the doors as well as the strike OR I try to track down the appropriate latch and escutcheons which allow me a stick-it-in, screw-it, and go, option. Needless to say I am hoping to land on the latter ($$$).

I am still going to have to dutchman the hinge locations on the doors and some of the jambs that dont line up perfectly. The doors, being salvaged, have been hinged both left AND right so the hinge locations will need dutchmans and a fresh mortise.

If they were new doors I would still be looking to match the existing if it were reasonably possible. If not, Id go with the cylinders in a heartbeat.

[jack forsberg]

Oh, old doors receiving new lock sets? So you need a dead perfect match. I saw something like that from old hardware resellers, not coming up with anything new exactly. We just use cylinder locks these days for passage doors, it never even occurred to me to put mortise boxes in a non security door. Funny how things change over time.

I use the box sets all the time when doors are not the standard thickness(1 3/8 1 3/4)Many old doors are thin )1 1/8 ) and the the new lock sets don't fit and cut way to close to the face and then they split out. had to fix a few of theses over the years that were done by well meaning finish carpenters.