Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [antique]

An object that is collectable due to its great age

37 questions
8
votes
5 answers

Tool identification - possibly antique

While cleaning out the basement, I found a toolbox that I haven't opened in probably 30 years, and it contained some items that I know were originally my father's, so these things could be 75-100 years old. Tool #1 This guy is about 2.5" long, we…
Betty Crokker
  • 381
  • 1
  • 5
  • 16
6
votes
5 answers

Replacing tongue and groove floorboards: but can't find a match

A room in an old farmhouse, formerly a porch, now enclosed, has floors made of tongue and groove lumber. I need to repair those floors by replacing at least some sections of floorboards - somewhere between 10-30 linear feet. Each original…
royal
  • 169
  • 1
  • 6
4
votes
1 answer

How to ground a switch without a ground screw?

I'm rewiring my house, and keeping some circa 1920 light switches, which don't have ground screws. The switch cases are porcelain, and have a brass yoke. I originally planned to sandwich a ground pigtail between the yoke and the box, but since the…
zwiebelspaetzle
  • 671
  • 1
  • 14
  • 26
3
votes
1 answer

Removing high-powered century-old-grime from windows?

We recently had the windows redone in our 1920s-era condo and, in the process, had a wall opened up to reveal windows that were walled off from the inside some time in the 30s. However, the grime on the exterior of the windows will not come off…
mjbraun
  • 138
  • 6
3
votes
1 answer

How to mount this sink?

Hello I'm new here. I've looked into sink wall brackets. (I prefer to hang rather than using a pedestal). I cant find hanging brackets for the back or the shelf type to hang it that way. Would it ONLY hang by 3 screws? I'm dyslexic, please post…
Racheal Hart
  • 31
  • 1
3
votes
1 answer

Antique Faucet replacement

I’m having serious issues replacing an antique faucet stem on old old claw foot tub. The hot water nozzle slowly leaks and I can’t find a replacement stem or even a washer that would fit. I emailed Faucet Parts Plus and they replied we have nothing…
Sam McKenon
  • 31
  • 2
3
votes
7 answers

Can I oil a push button light switch?

I have a circa 1920 push-button light switch which sticks occasionally. The push buttons move fine, but sometimes the blade switch inside doesn't flip unless the button is pressed very hard. I'd hate to replace this, because this antique switch…
zwiebelspaetzle
  • 671
  • 1
  • 14
  • 26
2
votes
1 answer

Test for arsenic / toxic enamel color (Scheele's Green / Schweinfurt Green)

I've come across a beautiful art nouveau stove by Deville & Cie of Charleville, France, prob. enameled iron in a beautiful green, around 1900-1930 (lay guesstimate) Is there a way to test for toxic arsenic colors like Scheele's green / Schweinfurt…
Creative Frankenstein
  • 121
  • 2
2
votes
0 answers

I need help fixing my leaking shower valve

I have an old shower valve that is from the 1940's that has a slow leak. I would like to repair it, but I can't find any of the typical screws to take it apart. Even after taking the handle off there are now visible screws. Has anyone seen this…
Ben
  • 21
  • 1
2
votes
2 answers

Reducing threaded rod to mount fixture cross bar

I have a very antique light on a very antique ceiling that I do not want, by any means, to compromise (meaning have to open). A few weeks ago, the ceiling light that was installed started losing its grip on the flange. The primary structural support…
amphibient
  • 7,702
  • 52
  • 152
  • 238
1
vote
1 answer

Identifying a piece of cast iron hardware

A friend has a very old house, and while exploring it found the following piece of cast iron hardware. It's about 2 1/2" across, has four holes with what seems to be set screws, and a fifth taller central hole. There are five mounting points that…
Daniel Griscom
  • 6,319
  • 33
  • 33
  • 43
1
vote
0 answers

How were these antique doors hung originally?

Scene: 1800's Brooklyn townhouse. Repair after years of neglect. Finally getting to front door. Typical French doors, each 24" wide by ~9' tall. Here's the mystery: the hinges are mortised into the doors backwards, hinges facing forward. this…
breuklyner
  • 21
  • 2
1
vote
2 answers

How can I identify this unusual antique wood finish smell?

I recently purchased an antique oil painting (18th century), whose frame has a very particular smell that I had never smelled before, touching the frame imparted a fair degree of grime onto my hands, but the smell is not like any grime I've smelled…
brubsby
  • 327
  • 4
  • 10
1
vote
0 answers

Mystery hand-tool, what's its use?

We got this tool from an estate sale. What was its original use? The markings indicate a patent date of Dec 15 1914 there are no makers marks or manufacturer names on it.
Renee Deierling
  • 11
  • 1
1
vote
0 answers

Identify old shower stem in 100 year old home

Every supply shop is stumped. Possible very old American Standard due to its 22 spline broach. I am also leaning towards Gopher due to similarity of appearance to some seats I found online. This is the shower: The stem is just over 5" (but I don't…
Pioneer4x4
  • 11
  • 2
1
2 3