Sample List of Antique Hardware Finishes

It’s incredible to consider the vast array of finishes that were once available for antique hardware, reflecting the high level of craftsmanship and customization offered by manufacturers of the time. This sample list, derived from the catalog of Earle Hardware Manufacturing Co., showcases the variety and detail that even smaller manufacturers provided to their customers.

Earle Hardware Manufacturing Co. was one of many companies that transformed the hardware industry by offering an extensive selection of finishes and materials. These options not only served practical purposes but also added a layer of aesthetic appeal to architectural and decorative hardware. Below is an example of the range of finishes and materials available, highlighting the attention to detail and commitment to quality that defined antique hardware production.

Description of Finishes

Key Numbers of Metals

Key Letters of Finishes

  • A: Antique, mottled, or shaded
  • B: Black
  • C: Crystallized (on cast brass or bronze only)
  • D: Dull or dead luster
  • E: Light or natural color
  • F: Dark, generally oxidized
  • G: Gold finish lacquered (on brass only)
  • H: Raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • I: Raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • J: Aged
  • K: Statuary color (on bronze only)
  • L: Even shade
  • M: Wheel or ship finish
  • N: Unpolished, natural texture of metal
  • O: Smoked
  • P: Polished and buffed, high color
  • Q: Acid
  • R: Rusty
  • S: Sanded
  • T: Galvanized
  • U: Unlacquered
  • V: Verde (green)
  • W: Waxed
  • X: Electro-plated
  • Y: Enameled
  • Z: Polychrome (state colors desired)

Symbols of Finishes

Brass

  • 1N: Unpolished, natural texture of brass, bright dipped
  • 1P: Polished brass, high color
  • 1PU: Polished brass, high color, unlacquered
  • 1C: Crystallized brass (on cast metal only)
  • 1D: Dull brass, lacquered
  • 1DU: Dull brass, unlacquered
  • 1X: Electro brass plated, bright, unpolished
  • 1O: Smoked brass
  • 1J: Aged brass
  • 1M: Brass, wheel or ship finish
  • 1A: Antique brass, oxidized, shaded
  • 1AH: Antique brass, oxidized, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 1AI: Antique brass, oxidized, shaded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • 1Y: Brass enameled

Sanded Brass

  • 1S: Plain sanded brass, natural color
  • 1DS: Dull brass, sanded, light
  • 1IS: Sanded brass, slightly oxidized, light center, raised surface or edges dull and light
  • 1HS: Sanded brass, slightly oxidized, light center, raised surface or edges polished
  • 1AS: Antique brass, sanded, shaded
  • 1ALS: Antique brass, sanded, even shade
  • 1AIS: Antique brass, sanded, shaded, center relieved, raised surface or edges dull and light
  • 1AHS: Antique brass, sanded, shaded, center relieved, raised surface or edges polished
  • 1ANS: Antique brass, sanded, shaded, natural texture of metal

Bronze

  • 2N: Unpolished, natural texture of bronze, bright dipped
  • 2M: Wheel or ship finished bronze
  • 2D: Dull bronze, lacquered
  • 2DU: Dull bronze, unlacquered
  • 2C: Crystallized bronze (on cast metal only)
  • 2P: Polished bronze, high color
  • 2X: Electro bronze plated, bright, unpolished
  • 2O: Smoked bronze
  • 2J: Aged bronze
  • 2W: Waxed bronze
  • 2K: Statuary bronze, slightly antique
  • 2KF: Statuary bronze, dark antique
  • 2KFH: Statuary bronze, dark antique, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 2KIF: Statuary bronze, dark antique, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • 2JV: Aged bronze with verde background

Sanded Bronze

  • 2S: Unpolished natural bronze, sanded
  • 2DS: Dull sanded bronze, light
  • 2KS: Statuary bronze, slightly antique, sanded
  • 2KFS: Statuary bronze, dark antique, sanded
  • 2KHS: Statuary bronze, sanded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 2KIS: Statuary bronze, sanded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved

Copper

  • 3P: Polished copper, high color
  • 3E: Natural copper, light
  • 3D: Dull copper
  • 3W: Waxed copper
  • 3O: Smoked copper
  • 3X: Electro copper plated, bright, unpolished
  • 3J: Aged copper
  • 3JV: Aged copper with verde
  • 3A: Antique copper, mottled or shaded (Old Copper)
  • 3AN: Antique copper, shaded, natural texture of metal
  • 3AH: Antique copper, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 3AI: Antique copper, shaded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • 3AL: Antique copper, even shade, gunmetal finish

Sanded Copper

  • 3S: Sanded copper, natural color
  • 3AS: Antique copper, sanded, shaded
  • 3ALS: Antique copper, sanded, even shade
  • 3AHS: Antique copper, sanded, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 3AIS: Antique copper, sanded, shaded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • 3ANS: Antique copper, unpolished, shaded, sanded

Iron or Steel: Plain and Sanded Finishes

  • 4N: Rustless or regular iron, unpolished
  • 4PS: Rustless or regular iron, polished and sanded
  • 4XSB: Sanded iron, electro-plated, dead black, imitation Barr Barff
  • 4XB: Iron, electro-plated, dead black, not sanded
  • 4BY: Iron, dead black enameled
  • 4T: Galvanized or sherardized iron
  • 4Z: Polychrome iron (state colors desired)
  • 4DW: Polished iron or steel, dull finish, waxed (Armor Bright)
  • 4R: Rusty iron or steel, natural
  • 4P: Polished iron or steel, high color
  • 4XR: Electro iron plated or enameled, rusty on any metal
  • 4O: Smoked iron, old English iron, old iron, highlights relieved
  • 4L: Boiled iron, even shade, not relieved
  • 4XO: Electro-plated or enameled on any metal to imitate smoked iron
  • 4XN: Electro-plated black iron, natural texture of metal

Nickel Plate: Plain and Sanded Finishes

  • 5P: Highly polished and buffed nickel, high color
  • 5N: Unpolished nickel plate, natural texture of metal, white nickel
  • 5D: Dull nickel plate
  • 5A: Antique nickel plate, shaded
  • 5AH: Antique nickel plate, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 5B: Black nickel, steel-plated, dark gray metallic cast
  • 5S: Sanded nickel, plain
  • 5AS: Antique sanded nickel, shaded
  • 5AHS: Antique sanded nickel, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 5AIS: Antique sanded nickel, shaded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved

Silver Plate: Plain and Sanded Finishes

  • 6P: Polished and buffed silver plate, high color; hand-chased articles burnished
  • 6D: Dull silver, all light
  • 6A: Antique silver, oxidized, shaded
  • 6U: Unlacquered silver, will oxidize and age naturally
  • 6O: Smoked silver, old English effect
  • 6AH: Antique silver, oxidized, shaded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 6AI: Antique silver, oxidized, shaded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved
  • 6S: Sanded silver, all light
  • 6AS: Sanded silver, oxidized, shaded
  • 6AHS: Antique silver, oxidized, shaded, sanded, raised surface or edges polished, center relieved
  • 6AIS: Antique silver, oxidized, shaded, sanded, raised surface or edges dull and lighter, center relieved

Gold Plate: Plain and Sanded Finishes

  • 7P: Polished gold, high color; hand-chased articles burnished
  • 7D: Dull gold, light
  • 7DA: Antique dull gold, shaded
  • 7DAH: Antique dull gold, shaded, highlights burnished
  • 7Y: Gold enameled
  • 7AY: Gold enameled, antiqued
  • 7S: Sanded gold, light
  • 7SA: Antique dull gold, shaded, sanded
  • 7SAH: Antique sanded gold, shaded, highlights burnished
  • G: Gold finish, lacquered on brass only

Verde Finishes

  • AV: Antique verde, glazed
  • AVI: Antique verde, glazed, raised surface or edges relieved
  • QV: Acid verde, on brass or bronze only
  • QVI: Acid verde, on brass or bronze only, raised surface or edges relieved

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