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In 1980, Andrea Ridout started an antique business
near Dallas, Texas.When she had trouble finding old-style hardware for
her furniture inventory,she scoured a local library looking for manufacturers.
She finally found a few companies who were reproducing old patterns, but
they had large minimum orders. So Ridout designed a simple catalog and
began wholesaling the pulls to other antique dealers. Soon she was selling
more hardware than furniture. Her selection expanded to include vintage
door hardware, plumbing fittings,lighting, and millwork.
Over the years, Ridout's company, renamed HARDWARE+Plus, amassed a nationwide
following of clients. Customers included thousands of antique dealers,
restoration contractors, homeowners, builders, architects and others.The
firm was also a favorite among Hollywood art directors. The company's
products were used in over 150 films and television programs including
Sommersby, Legend of the Fall, The Firm, The Client, Casper, and The Ghost
and the Darkness.
In the early 90's, the company developed a new line of hardware to fill
a common need for its customers. Often clients would want to use antique
doorknob styles on new home construction, however older designs would
not usually fit on modern, pre-drilled doors. The backplates were often
too narrow to cover a standard 2 1/8" hole. Eventually, the company
convinced an overseas foundry to widen a few vintage backplate designs
and to standardize the patterns so that they would mate with modern tube
latches. Nostalgic Warehouse(TM) was born.HARDWARE+Plus began offering
the new hardware to select clients. It received such enthusiastic response,
that it soon became a top seller for the company. After the hardware was
used in the MGM Theme Park in Las Vegas and the film, Jumanji, it was
featured in several decorating magazines and word began to spread. Hardware
stores from coast to coast soon wanted to offer their own customers the
Nostalgic Warehouse(TM) line.
Early in 1997, Nostalgic Warehouse(TM) split from HARDWARE+Plus, Inc.
Nostalgic Warehouse, Inc., offers a select grouping of vintage designs
in door and cabinet hardware.The product is available through authorized
Nostalgic Warehouse(TM)dealers.
The SteelWorks Corporation aquisition story coming soon...
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