Second door knocker: The design and dimensions given here show the general scheme of this knocker. The escutcheon plate is made with a piece of 1⁄8 × 51⁄2 × 7 in. soft steel. The corners of this piece are clipped off and filed rounding or square.
Knocker: The knocker is made in the same way as the knocker was made in the first design. You use a piece of very heavy material about 13⁄4 in. in diameter. The ends are drawn down to 1⁄2 in. in diameter. If the stock is 1 in. in diameter, the piece may be upset large enough in the middle for the centre. This lessens the work of drawing out and is perhaps a much quicker way of making a knocker. The length of the knocker ring before it is bent is about 15 ins. This is pushed into the eye bolt. This knocker is placed on the door with wrought iron nails, one in each corner. The bolts that hold the knocker are riveted flush to the back of the plate. This finishing work should be done by the peen end of the hammer while the metal is cold.
Escutcheon plates: Escutcheon plates are used for lock plates and fancy key ways. Some are plain, while others lend themselves to elaborate decorations. They are forged out while hot. Two designs are here given. The simpler one explains itself.
Decorated Plate:
Stock: 1⁄8 × 1 × 6 in. soft steel.
Directions: Mark off 11⁄2 in. each way from the centre of the plate and centre-punch. This allows about 11⁄2 in. on each end for drawing-out purposes. Draw ends out. (See [sketch]). Split the metal down to the centre-punch mark as shown in the sketch. These small ends are now bent out, and the long ends are bent in a circle, thus forming the design. The key way is made by drilling two 1⁄4 in. holes 1⁄2 in. apart about the middle of the piece. Chisel out a piece between the two holes according to the design. Drill four holes as shown. These are for screws or wrought iron nails, used to fasten plates to doors. Many escutcheon plates are used for wall cabinets, cedar chests, doors, etc.
DOOR KNOCKERS
Stock: Piece of soft steel 1⁄8 in. thick, 3 × 7 ins., for the escutcheon. Knocker, 3⁄4 × 1⁄4 × 51⁄2 ins. Eye bolt 3⁄4 × 1⁄2 bar any length. Strike pin, 3⁄8 in. round, 3⁄4 in. long (on bar).