in 
July, 1912 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
and while crude were far from uninterest¬ 
ing in design. Even with the brass name¬ 
plate, they belonged with the other iron 
fittings or with such fittings combined 
with a limited amount of brass. Old ones 
are very apt to be somewhat rust-eaten and 
in purchasing them one should be careful 
that they be not too far gone. 
Brass or bronze are undoubtedly better 
materials than iron, owing to the tendency 
of the latter to fill up with paint if not 
carefully done, thus destroying the de¬ 
sign; also because of the aforesaid ten¬ 
dency to rust if not thus protected. With 
the older houses and iron hinges, iron is 
the thing, however. The most common 
form of the knocker was that in which 
the hammer “straddled” the design, its 
pivots generally occupying a position at 
its extreme width. The other type which 
did not perhaps admit of as much varia¬ 
tion of design, had but one pivot. In de¬ 
sign it is generally the elaborate effort 
that is of the later period. Many brass re¬ 
productions are made, many of them good. 
There is one rather important item in 
connection with the name-plate, and that 
is the lettering. The modern type of let¬ 
ter is very apt not to fit. If one secures a 
photograph from an old tomb-stone of 
about the period of the knocker, he will 
have a model that is worth following. 
Old-fashioned windows were not origi¬ 
nally hung with weights, although the lead 
weight may have been added later. The 
top sash was fixed and the lower raised as 
a dead weight. A catch at the side served 
to hold it at several heights and also as a 
lock. The raising of the window was not 
as laborious as might be supposed owing 
to the light weight of the sash. A modern 
“sash balance” adapted to the purpose may 
be had of the hardware dealer. It is a 
coil spring, the coil box of which is let in 
the stile after the manner of the modern 
pulley. Some sash slid sideways, but ex¬ 
amples of these are not common. As the 
only hardware was this spring catch, there 
is little to be said of it. With modern 
weighted sash, both fast and lifts should 
be of brass and simple. The simpler com¬ 
mon forms are not out of harmony with 
Colonial design. If you are inserting new 
windows in new walls you will probably 
use the weighted sash. 
The old-fashioned window shutter ante¬ 
dated the blind. Its fast, which secured it 
in an open position and was used with the 
blind as well, was highly ornamental and 
of varying patterns. Although slightly 
more trouble to manipulate, it was sure 
and did not get out of order as many of 
our modern contrivances are apt to do. 
The hinges were of the strap pattern. 
The old-time door-scraper offers de¬ 
lightful possibilities. It hangs onto the 
skirts of the hardware list; an outsider, 
but important. Being the work of the 
local blacksmith it was in design, like some 
of the best old outside iron latches, an ex¬ 
pression of local art and hence often of 
individual style. Such scrapers were 
naturally affixed to the great stone step. 
In the selection of your hardware, if 
Many of your trees may ap¬ 
pear sound and yet have some hid¬ 
den disease that will eventually kill 
them causing your property to depreciate in 
value. This tree, “The Old Sycamore” at 
Wells College, Aurora, N. Y., was not thought 
to be in serious condition. The Davey Ex¬ 
perts found several cavities and gave the 
tree a new lease of life. Before it is too late 
to save your trees, have them examined. 
The Davey Tree Experts 
Do 
this work, when requested, without cost, and the charge 
for treating trees in many cases is no more than the cost 
of carting dead trees away All Davey Tree Experts 
Graduates of the Davey Institute of Tree Surgery, 
are employed by the Davey Tree Expert Company. 
NEVER LET GOOD MEN GO. Before you let any man 
touch your trees, demand to see his credentials proving him 
qualified. All Davey Tree Experts carry such testimon¬ 
ials. If you own trees write for our interesting book 
arrange for an examination. 
The Davey Tree Expert Co., 
225 ELM STREET, KENT, OHIO 
Branch Offices: New York, Chicago, Toronto 
Canadian Address: 707 New Birks Building, Montreal, Canada 
Representatives Available Everywhere 
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Not for Future Generations 
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WM. WARNER HARPER, Proprietor 
In writing to advertisers please mention House and Garden. 
