Architectural Ironmongery Restoration
Blackstage offer a broad array of professional restoration services for clients with period properties.
Blackstage are specialists in professional restoration services for clients with period properties. We are based in the grounds of Catton Hall, Derbyshire. We employ highly skilled craftsmen and offer a variety of services including:
- Restoration & refurbishment of original antique ironmongery and locks
- Replication of antique ironmongery and locks
- Manufacture of keys for antique locks
- Supply of high quality English reproduction ironmongery, rim and mortice locks for restoration purposes
- Sourcing of original antique ironmongery for individual clients
- Manufacture and restoration of locks for antique furniture
Restoration of antique ironmongery
By using master craftsmen we are able to restore and repair original fittings and return them to their former glory. This includes manufacture of missing components and professional re-polish. Our craftsmen are second to none and are passionate about their work and the end result. Typical areas for this category include repair and refurbishment of:
- Door handles, knobs & bolts
- Escutcheons
- Window fittings
- Exterior door furniture
We are able to de-lacquer and re-polish hardware when the lacquer wears away and spoils its appearance. If required we are also able to strip plating and re-plate individual pieces of ironmongery.
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| An escutcheon replicated from an original piece supplied by client. |
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| A small knob for a rim lock also manufactured from an original piece supplied by client. |
We have provided our services internationally to a number of listed buildings and stately homes, along with various projects for film & TV industries. Recent projects include:
- Custom made rim locks & handles for Peter Jackson's movie King Kong, filmed in New Zealand
- Sourcing and restoration of locks & fittings for Sir Ernest Shackleton's "Nimrod" hut at Cape Royds, Antarctica for the Antarctic Heritage Trust
- Restoration of door knobs and escutcheons in the Willett Building, Chelsea, London
- We have also done work for the National Trust, Foreign Office and Home Office.
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Blackstage refurbs locks of | ||
| BLACKSTAGE, the Derby- shire lock refurbishers, have been getting some interesting jobs recently. Last year they made locks, door knobs and handles for the new King Kong movie by Peter Jackson of Lord Of The Rings fame. All the locks and handles on the Venture (the ship in the movie) were made especially for the set in a matt brass which they then aged themselves in Stone Street Studios in Wellington, New Zealand. They used the B102/5 (which is also on Royal Yacht Britannia), B123/5 and B107/5. On the lockside was a round drop ring and on the door-side a solid brass ball knob. “It was a fantastic project,” said David Benford, Blackstage’s director, “although I never got to the premier!” As a result of the King Kong job and its NZ connections, they were chosen to work with the Antarctica Heritage Trust in New Zealand, with UNESCO backing, in the restoration of the huts, used on Ernest Shackleton’s 1908 Nimrod expedition when he almost reached the South Pole. Firstly they are matching up locks and ironmongery that is | missing from the hut at Cape Royds on Ross Island. It was made of stout fir timbering of the best quality; walls, roof and floors were all pre-morticed and tenoned to facilitate erection in Antarctica. Walls were strengthened with iron cleats bolted to the main posts and horizontal timbering, and the rood principals were provided with strong iron tie rods. (Heart of the Antarctic by Ernest Shackleton) The hut is in a fine state of preservation owing to the cold dry polar atmosphere. “Among the items we have sent over is a handmade restored mortice lock that, as | luck would have it, was made in 1908! When the team return in February we will have more details to allow us to either find or produce something more accurate. “It is a small but very prestigious and exciting project for us and we are dealing with explorers in both New Zealand and Canada with regard to getting it right. Fingers crossed that all goes well and they all return safely,” said Mr Benford. Tel Blackstage ++44(0)845 003 8833 Web blackstage.co.uk Below: Shackleton’s 1908 hut |
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| Reproduced from Salvo News | ||
All of our restoration work and manufacturing is carried out in and around the West Midlands and our craftsmen are among the best in the industry. Two of our master locksmiths have over 100 years experience of making locks between them and possess rare and greatly sought after skills.
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| Our reproduction 4 ¼ inch keeps weigh approx. 230g and are cast in solid brass, powder-coated and then highlighted. This image shows the keep in both raw casting and finished stages.. |
Restoration of antique mortice locks, rim locks, latches, furniture locks & keys
We have the finest locksmiths in the country and are able to repair and restore antique locks and latches to a very high standard. Options for restoration in this category include:
- A full overhaul of internal mechanisms
- Manufacture of new components as required
- Manufacture of keys to suit by use of lock or original key
- Stripping of paint and dirt and refinishing by use of powder-coat, paint or re-polishing. Our powder-coated finishes are generally available in either satin black, stippled black or gloss white
- Manufacture of replacement keeps & strike plates
- Manufacture of replacement lock springs
- Repair and key replacement services for antique furniture locks
We would be pleased to offer a free quotation for any of our restoration services.
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| An antique brass rim lock we recently repaired with manufactured keys for a client in North Carolina, USA. |
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| Antique wood brass and cast iron church lock which has been subject to a lock and key restoration. |
In addition to our restoration services we supply a very wide selection of English reproduction locks and ironmongery. All of these products are made locally in the Black Country, West Midlands and are finished to a high standard. Most of our products and catalogues are available in the downloads section of our website. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions regarding these.
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| The lock shown to the left is our 8" plain rim lock. This reproduction lock weighs over 2kg and is handmade in England from un lacquered solid brass. It is also available in polished bronze and other finishes. |
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| This is an image of a lock supplied by a client alongside the lock we manufactured to the opposite hand. The original was missing and they both needed to be suited to work on the same key. The lock situated on the left of the image is the reproduction. |
Replication and specialist manufacturing services.
Bespoke manufacturing of ironmongery and locks is a major and unique feature of our specialist services. Features of this category include:
- Replication of antique fittings such as door handles, knobs, window fittings and many other fittings in brass, bronze or even iron. We endeavour to get as close as we can to the make-up and finish of the original supplied
- Manufacture of locks. We manufacture a large number of furniture locks for antiques restorers and cabinet manufacturers. We are also able to reproduce mortice and rim locks to customer specification
- We accept commissions to design and manufacture one-off pieces of ironmongery for individual clients. We are able offer sand-casting, lost wax casting, plating polishing, or specialist chemical finishes such as “antiquing”
Please note that when we have cast bespoke pieces for clients, the moulds & patterns can be given to the client at the end of the job for security. We will never copy any piece supplied by a client for any other party without permission of the owner.
Sourcing of original antique architectural ironmongery for individual clients.
We are sometimes able to source original antique ironmongery by request. This can also include restoration of the product before delivering to our customers if required.
Blackstage is able to provide a variety of rare and increasingly difficult to find services and products. Please do not hesitate in contacting us with any enquires, however or small. Our telephone number is tel:- ++44(0)845 003 8833 or email us I hope we can be of service to you in the near future.
Blackstage Ltd. accept payment by Credit or Debit Card from any of the cards shown to the right. Thank you for choosing Blackstage for Rim Locks, Miniature Locks, Reproduction Locks, Door and Window Furniture and Architectural ironmongerySitemap Website Design Linx Data Ltd.© Copyright 2000 - 2008
