antique/vintage latch

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free2beme

CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Joined
Mar 21, 2011
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149
Loc
Brookings, SD
Does anyone have a good source for vintage/antique looking latches? I need to keep a front opening large shadowbox door from sinking or swinging out. the box is about a 32x40, but the front lip is only 1/2" deep, so half of the latch has to be skinny.

The box holds antique photos and a 1920's flapper wedding gown, so cute! If I can just get the door to stay shut and level with the box! Help! (and thanks!)
 
VanDyke's restorers has lots of hardware. Not cheap though. L
 
Use rare earth magnets. Drill small hole for magnet and on other side counter sink a flat head screw. Adjust the screw head so that the magnet "latches" onto it.

Rare earth magnets can be found at Harbor Freight, Radio Shack and you better bb stores
 
With 32x40 you have too much weight to rely even on three or four
small tin-pop hinges. Three miniature barrel hinges, or a piano
hinge running the entire height is the way to go. (inset the the hinge
into both door and frame, and paint the back of the hinge to color match)

The glass will keep the door square. mk is right... the rare earth will keep
the door shut and is the most sanitary. Then you can apply (glue) any
kind of latch you like the look of - - and it doesn't have to work.
 
While others have given you some great advise, I just wanted to share this resource.
http://www.kennedyhardware.com/

I stumbled across them when I was thinking of doing my design counter like an old trunk. They have some great items at quite reasonable prices.
 
The 32x40 door has adjustable self closing cabinet hinges installed into it, by a cabinet guy. I just need a latch to keep the door level with the box/frame, and to keep it closed, it wants to barely be open from the slight angle the hanging wire puts on the entire frame. Also sincer they are cabinet hinges, there is about an 1/8 inch gap all the way around keeping the front door from fully closing.... I think the very first link might work! If I think about it tonight I have a picture of the project on my home computer!
 
free2beme said:
The 32x40 door has adjustable self closing cabinet hinges installed into it, by a cabinet guy. I just need a latch to keep the door level with the box/frame, and to keep it closed, it wants to barely be open from the slight angle the hanging wire puts on the entire frame. Also sincer they are cabinet hinges, there is about an 1/8 inch gap all the way around keeping the front door from fully closing.... I think the very first link might work! If I think about it tonight I have a picture of the project on my home computer!
Click to expand...

You should be able to adjust the type of hinges installed to close up the gap. If not I would still use the magnet trick.

PS. Instead of wire to hang the box with, why don't you use a french cleat type hanger or metal z hangers. A whole lot easier to keep everything tight against the wall.
 
I used a wire so I could use the four hole super steel hangers, the edge of the box is only about a half inch wide, so I thought that would be the best support-wise... Also the 1/2 depth is why I having trouble finding a latch...I am tempted to try wall buddies tho, but it would still be out at the top slightly. I have adjusted the hinges as much as I possibly can, now it's up to the weight of the box. The customer keeps thanking me for fixing her mistakes, as she had this box made by a hobby woodworker, who instead of making a frame for this dress, made a shallow grave. But she had hundreds of dollars sunk into this box and insisted on using it instead of sprining for an appropriate shadowbox frame. Ugh.
 
Here's the photo!
 

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