why does a brass door knob 1920s look so different than one from the 1980s?

Question

why does a brass door knob 1920s look so different than one from the 1980s?

In: 392

Answer 1

A major distinction I haven’t seen mentioned yet is that newer brass hardware is often lacquered. This seals the metal from environmental aging (patina) and keeps it looking shiny and yellow. Older hardware is typically not lacquered, allowing the metal to develop a natural patina (darker and dull).

Additionally, a lot of newer hardware is plated brass on a cheaper base metal. This makes it even harder to develop a patina, as any surface imperfections are more likely to rupture the plating and expose the underlying metal, often corroding. Older (and higher quality) brass hardware is typically solid brass, which allows scuffs and dings to look like “character” instead of damage.