The Beauty of Glass Cabinet Knobs and Pulls

Vintage Style Glass Knobs Give Kitchen Cabinet Doors A Classic and Traditional Look

It has long been known that multifaceted glass and crystal cabinet knobs were once standard issue with every new home. These wonderful glass cabinet door knobs silver bolts that shined in the front and came in several shapes and sizes. That was nearly 75 years ago - back in the days of the metal shortages of The Great War (World War I) and World War II.

Today, people seek out these classic cabinet knobs - mining them like Gold in salvage yards, flea markets and antique stores like diamonds at salvage yards and flea markets. Unlike the cheaply made "crystal style" models now sold at the corner hardware stores and bulk stores online, these World War II era glass knobs were made to last and had solid brass shanks. The lofty craftsmanship and attention to detail and the adaptability to work with most modern lock sets have earned them preferential status among owners of old and new houses alike.

Glass and Crystal cabinet knobs date back to 1800s when the process for pressing molten glass into pneumatic cast iron press molds was invented. These press molds were used to make all kinds of glass items from dishware to vases but using them to make glass and crystal cabinet door knobs didn't find wide usage until there was a metal shortage ... after the United States entered World War I. All of the metal cast doorknobs had dominated the hardware market since the beginning of the Victorian era were now in short supply. The metal used to make these knobs was needed for tanks, airplanes, boats and ammunition.

Crystal and glass cabinet knobs are made from sand - and sand was never in short supply. By the roaring 20s the largest hardware makers were mass-producing cabinet knobs from sand.

Since that time, most of the glass knobs were a hexagon or polygon style knob - featuring six, eight or twelve facets around the edges. This type of fluted knob had a single chrome bolt that was used to affix the knob to the cabinet. Occasionally, the manufacturers would make these glass knobs in various colors. This was done by doping the molten silicon glass with various minerals. For example, a dark blue knob could be made by adding the element Cobalt to the molten glass. Adding real Gold would create a Ruby colored glass knob. Vaseline glass was made by adding trace amounts of Uranium Oxide - a process which has been ceased today due to the rarity and value of Uranium Oxide.

As these glass knobs grew in popularity, companies introduced different shapes. Another popular shape was the Octagon, Oval and Ball shaped glass knobs. These shapes worked well into the Art Deco era hardware and have continued on even today. The use of these glass and crystal cabinet and furniture knobs continued to be used, although the metal back plates changed greatly over time.

Where to Buy Glass Knobs ...

Today, salvaged glass knobs are easier to find online and you can almost always find them at antique stores and flea markets. However, there are some important considerations to have in mind before making a purchase. Not all parts fit together easily - and different manufacturers used different parts, threading.

If you are looking to replace a kitchen home full of these glass knobs, your best bet might be seeking out an online retailer such as AntiqueHardwareSupply.com - they have thousands of styles of glass and crystal door knob sets - made in the antique traditional means with high quality parts. Manufactures such as Copper Mountain Hardware and Emtek have fantastic antique and vintage style knob sets that fit any modern door.

For affixing knobs, you'll want to measure the cabinet door's thickness and compare it with the span of the bolt to ensure a snug fit. There are some thicker doors out there and these can be accommodated with a longer screw set.

Prices for vintage and antique style glass knobs vary widely, depending on the size, style and back plate chosen. For the most part, you can find complete sets on places such as AntiqueHardwareSupply.com for as little as $2.00. More exotic sets can set you back upwards of $35.00 each. I would suggest taking a good look at the sets available - and see what strikes your fancy!