Does anyone know how to change a doorknob, and where I could purchase a replacement? Some of the beautiful old knobs in my flat were replaced before I rented it, presumably because they were worn out. The replacements are truly hideous. So now I would like to find replicas matching the knobs on the other doors and install them.

The carpenter who services my building is very sceptical about this project because apparently matching the knobs to the width and inner fittings of the door is difficult. That seems strange: don't you just weave the new knobs through the existing fittings? Any advice? Thanks!

I was able to replace some new knobs with quality replicas which matched older ones but I guess it all depends on the circumstances, type of fitting etc. Normally the carpenter should give good advice.
Have you spoken to your landlord?
Do you have a picture of the door knob?

Hi Nev,

It's good to know this can be done! I haven't spoken with the landlord yet since I'm sure I would have to pay for any professional work myself.

I'm attempting to attach some pictures of the new and old knobs - the quality is poor since I took them with my phone, but they give an idea.

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Okay, you have two different types of lock here. The new ones are mortice locks which are inserted or "morticed" into the door itself. The old ones are rim locks (sometimes called box locks) which are fitted onto the surface of the door and rebated in a bit.

From the little I know the handles for the two types of locks aren't interchangable. It's all to do with the length and thickness of the spindles which go through the lock and connect the two handles. Because rim locks are fixed onto the outside of the door, rim lock spindles are longer because the distance between the outside edge of the rim lock and the plate on the other side of the door where the other handle attaches is quite long compared to mortice locks where both handles fit flush to the doors. In other words the distance between the handles is greater on rim locks than on mortice locks. Also new spindles aren't as thick as spindles in the old days so a new spindle won't work in an old lock and vice versa.

You have two alternatives. You can certainly buy new, replica mortice lock handles and plates in a more traditional style and in say antique brass. They won't match the antique handles you have but they will look a whole lot lot nicer than the contemporary, stainless steel ones you have now. You should be able to thread these through the existing locks and will be by far the cheapest option. This is what I did. My carpenter had a catalogue with a wide choice of finishes and designs.

Otherwise you may be able to replace the modern mortice locks with rim locks but this will require a completely new lock and handle set, more carpentry and repainting of the door and frame. You will also have to source the antique locks (difficult) or get replicas from a specialist supplier in Switzerland or France. This will be expensive. I know of specialists in England who do this but in england they tend to have knobs rather than handles:
http://www.lassco.co.uk/app/product-...?viewType=list

Hi snowbear The doorknob can be change BBBut you 3 diff. doorknob ok The frist is main or fire door your 2door is inside door is this right The 3 is old door. but all can be change there small pins behide the doorknob ok to remove just a hammer an pinpunch. thin you can see what old knobs you like an fit too but ask the houseman maybe he got old ones. dekrim

What an amazing website! I've just looked at it properly and could wipe out my savings there.

Many thanks to you both for your answers: I think I know what I'm up against now and am feeling much better equipped. Back to you when the project is completed and my doors are restored to their original beauty!

Here's a pic of the knobs I used (from Hornbach) on six of my doors. The wood around the area had to be sanded after removal of the old hardware, and since I had some time on my hands I also completely repainted the doors before installing the new knobs, but that was a "nice to have".

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have you still got the old one in the middle - I'm looking for one of those to match?

Hi Odile,

Yes, I do. It's one of those which I didn't change because it's so pretty. I wasn't able to find affordable matching ones. Hope you have better luck!

Arggh. I thought I'd struck lucky here. We have a very old house and its not easy to find fittings to match. I'm glad you like it too.

Have a look on this site http://www.hoppe.com/conf_02.asp?L=3...=P&ID=14&ID2=5

They have wooden door handels in lots of different typs of wood.
"Hoppe" door handels can be bought all over Switzerland.

Salut Zämma

Do you only need to change the knob/handle itself - and leave the lock/latch mechanism in the door itself in situ?

If this is the case, the advice received thus far, may be more than required.

Bend down and look under the handle, but just a bit in towards the door. you should see a screw, but will probably be in a fact a hexagonal "hole", which needs a certain type of tool to undo called an allen key (Inbusschlüssel in DE/clé allen in FR):



Once you can undo this pull both handles/knobs from both sides. The handle that you have undone the screw will come away alone and the other will come away with a square spindle.

You need to replace with handle/knob of your choice - one of which is attached to the spindle and pushed through the square hole in the door latching mechanism. Once through put the other handle on, push both handles together and tighten the screw.

N.B. It is usual that a screw is on both sides by each handle, and both should be tightened.

thanks Big Mara, very stylish. Am looking for old originals though. Some of the fittings here date from the late 1600, when it was re-built after a fire.