Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony

by George Francis Dow

Knocker, Latch and Bolt on the Door of the "Old Indian House"

Built in 1698 at Deerfield, Mass.

Plate 28

Types of Wrought-Iron Door Latches

FIG. A FIG. B FIG. C

Figure A. An inner door, wrought-iron latch that may have been made by a local blacksmith. Outer door latches were of similar type but larger. The lifts were made straight until about 1800 and the thumb-press was not saucered until about the same time. There is great individuality in the ornamentation, varying with the fancy of the smith.

Figure B. This latch was imported from England. It was cheap and in common use between 1750 and 1820. The cusp, resembling the outline of a lima bean, and the grasp, thumb piece and lift are always flat.

Figure C. The Norfolk latch appeared about 1800 and until about 1810 was made with a straight lift. The grasp is riveted to the plate of sheet iron as is the end of the bar and after about 1825, the catch. This latch was commonly used in the 1830's. After 1840 the cast-iron latch was generally adopted.