A BRIEF LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF GLASS DOOR KNOBS
Ever since they were first introduced into the market, glass door knobs have always been very well received. Their versatile designs as well as classic looks made them universally accepted by everyone who wants to add some unique spice to the doors of their homes. The original multifaceted glass door knobs that appeared in the market almost a century ago have unique designs that were marked by striking patterns that made them a hot favorite among homeowners. These glass door knobs were strong and sturdy and they were mounted on brass or steel shanks. The top notch design of these door knobs along with their enduring craftsmanship has earned them the preferential status with homeowners having both old world and newly styled houses. This has been also facilitated by the fact that the products work well with most types of modern locksets.
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The history of glass door knobs goes back to the year 1826 when artisans first discovered the method of pressing molten glass materials into molds. However, it was not until 1917 that the mass production of glass door knobs started. Up until that time, door knobs made of cast bronze, brass and iron were mainly used for all kinds of homes. However, such metals became increasingly rare as they were being used for crafting ammunition and airplanes. This eventually led many manufacturing companies to start working with sand in order to develop glass door knobs as sand was readily available in large quantities. By the year 1920, leading door knobs UK manufacturers were mass producing high quality door knobs with machine-cut glass and molded glass materials. They also perfected the art of cutting crystal materials to suit the décor needs of different types of house styles, preferences and budget.
At the initial stages, the glass door knobs that were produced had 12, 8 or 6 facets and had a clear disposition. The faces of these glass door knobs were rather flat which allowed users to look inside them and explore kaleidoscope-like images of various forms and shapes that have been molded into the bases. While colored glass door knobs were also available, they were comparatively less in number. Some of the common colors available with these products included cobalt blues, robin egg blues, amber, emerald, white milk, violet and Vaseline glass. The Vaseline glass gets its unique yellow-green shade due to the presence of trace portions of uranium in its mold. The shapes of the glass and crystal door knobs varied greatly as well and included crystal globes having tiny bubbles inside oval door knobs with precisely incised star patterns. Elements of popular artistic trends were also included in their designs from time to time.
The widespread popularity of these products eventually encouraged more manufacturing companies to come up with their own line of glass doorknobs. This led to the creation of uniquely designed products that catered to the needs of different kinds of customers. currently, glass door knobs are some of the most widely used door knob products in UK and other parts of the world.
