These ornate escutcheons are shown in the Chicago Hardware Company catalog of 1895 and the design is referenced as simply “423”. Made of heavy cast iron, the detail remains crisp and clear with a warm iron patina.
These escutcheons are made to go with the Niles Chicago hardware line with their large raised doorknob collars to accommodate the special doorknobs that go with the unusual mortise locks. The mortise locks were made by the Chicago Hardware Company with the lock design patented by Milton & Sidney Niles in 1878 and 1880. The design allows for doorknobs to be installed without a spindle and is now referred to as “Niles Chicago”. There were minor changes to the design subsequent to the patents but what remains the same is that the locks, doorknobs and escutcheon plates are all constructed to work with this design only. They cannot be interchanged with other hardware manufacturers’ products.
Sold individually, the escutcheons are in excellent condition. The only issue I note is a tiny chip to the inside of one doorknob collar. It would be almost impossible to see once installed with doorknobs.
To find other Niles Chicago hardware on this site, enter the keyword Niles in the search box to the left. These door plates will fit mortise lock
DM10351-3/4” wide x 5-3/4” high
Center of doorknob hold to center of round portion of keyhole 2-1/2”
