Frequently Asked Questions

  • General Questions
  • What is your return policy?

    If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return your item(s) within 30 days of delivery. All returns require a proof of purchase. If you purchased a Nostalgic Warehouse product from a third-party retailer, returns must be initiated through that retailer. No returns after 30 days are permitted. For more information, please contact us directly via the form on our CONTACT US page using the topic "Returns/Exchanges/Warranty".

    Do you offer a warranty on your product?

    We offer a 5-Year Mechanical and 5-Year Finish Warranty. Refer to the a WARRANTY SECTION of this site for more information.

    Where are you located?

    Our headquarters are in Denver, Colorado.

    Why should I buy Nostalgic Warehouse products?

    We are the North American leader in vintage door hardware. Our products are the highest quality, and we offer the broadest selection of designs.

    Are Nostalgic Warehouse period designs authentic?

    Our vintage designs were adapted from original styles circa 1900. They are extremely faithful to the originals.

    Does Nostalgic Warehouse offer matching accessories?

    Nostalgic Warehouse offers beautiful solid brass push plates, hinges, coat hooks, flush pulls, bin pulls, flush catches, crystal knobs and pulls, and door stops in matching finishes and collections.

    What’s an Entry Door Knob?

    There are many different names for the locks used on the outside doors of a home: 1. Entrance Handleset/Handleset/Grip Handleset: large (18” to 20” tall) hardware on a front door that uses a grip instead of a knob or lever. We offer a wide selection of these. 2. Entrance Knobset: the combination of a passage knob lockset, and a deadbolt. This approach provides a perfect match for interior locksets, but on exterior doors. It also provides much better security than knobs with keys in the center (see below). We offer a wide selection of these. 3. Keyed Knob/Key-in-Knob: Knobs with in internal locking system frequently used on inexpensive homes. Having the locking mechanism inside the knob severely limits knob and rosette design. It also provides less security than a deadbolt. These should only be used in conjunction with a deadbolt.

    What is California Proposition 65?

    California’s Proposition 65 requires businesses to disclose when their products contain potentially hazardous chemicals. Regal Brands is complying with the law and notifying users that our products contain trace amounts of some chemicals listed in Prop 65. The risk of exposure to these chemicals from our products is very low. However, we are complying with the law to protect our customers. The following warning is included across our family of brands because our products contain brass, including trace amounts of lead, which are potentially hazardous: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals, including lead, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

    Is Nostalgic Warehouse easy to install?

    Yes! Just two screws hold the lock onto the door. All you need is a standard Phillips screwdriver. For additional installation support including downloadable instructions and how-to videos please view our Installation Help section.

    Why is forged brass better than cast brass?

    Forging costs more, but it produces stronger locksets without defects, and with better detail.

    Can Nostalgic Warehouse be installed on a steel or iron door?

    Yes, if standard door preparation has been done. Please note that the latch faces and strikes come with wood mounting screws. For steel or iron doors, you will need to purchase machine screws from a hardware store. Simply determine the threads on your door and/or jamb, and take the included wood screws with you to the hardware store. Ask for machine screws in the same size. Add a little satin black paint, and voilà!

    Is Nostalgic Warehouse suitable for the exterior of my house?

    Absolutely. All of our exterior hardware is lacquered for protections. And, we have Entry Handlesets, Entry Sets and Deadbolts for precisely this purpose.

    Are Nostalgic Warehouse products environmentally friendly?

    Yes! Our high-grade brass can be recycled ad-infinitum. Even the brass shavings created during manufacturing are collected and recycled into new brass.

    What is a “living finish”?

    Living finishes are designed to age and develop a beautiful patina over time. If you don’t want the finish to change, you should not order a lockset with a living finish.

  • Product Questions
  • Can I put one knob style on one side of a door, and another knob style on the other side?

    There are a broad range of designs in our catalog, and you can mix/match any knob style with any of our other knob styles.

    Can I install Nostalgic Warehouse locks on doors thicker than 1-3/4"?

    No, but our sister company, Grandeur Hardware, offers thick door kits.

    Are Nostalgic Warehouse passage and privacy latches adjustable?

    No. Adjustable latches are not as durable as nonadjustable latches. You will need to specify if you need 2-3/8” or 2-3/4″ backset latches.

    Is there an extra charge for keying-alike (so one key will operate several locks)?

    No - you simply select “keyed alike” when placing your order.

    Does Nostalgic Warehouse require any special door preparation?

    No. Standard door preparation with a 2 1/8” cross-bore is sufficient. To ensure a proper fit you should measure your backset to see if it’s 2 3/8” or 2 3/4″.

    There’s a little plate on the edge of my door. I think it’s called a “latch face.” Do these come with square corners or round?

    Both. Nostalgic Warehouse has square corner latch faces standard. If you need radius corners, just specify in the "Notes" section them when ordering.

    Are Nostalgic Collection backplate styles available without a keyhole?

    YES. All Nostalgic Collection backplates that use a tubular latch are available with or without a decorative keyhole. Interior lock sets with the mortise lock function all require a (functioning) keyhole to be used with an included skeleton key.

    If you wish to receive your hardware with a decorative (non-functioning) keyhole, please request "WITH KEYHOLE" in the order notes during checkout.

    How do I determine the handing (left hand or right hand) of a door?

    Handing of doors is critical when selecting Sets with Levers, Long Plates,or Split Design combinations. Handing for door sets is determined by standing on the OUTSIDE FACING THE DOOR.

    While standing on the outside of the door, locate the door hinge location.

    If the door hinge is on the LEFT, the door is LEFT HANDED.

    If door hinge is on the RIGHT, the door is RIGHT HANDED.

    Do you have other colors for your crystal or porcelain knobs?

    Our crystal knobs come in a variety of shapes and colors. Additionally, Nostalgic Warehouse offers four different porcelain knobs.

    How do I determine backset size and door thickness?

    When ordering door hardware, it is essential to know what will work with your door. If you have a new door, you may need to create your own bore hole. If you are replacing the hardware on an existing door, be sure to measure to determine which backset size will work with your door. Additionally, you will want to measure the thickness of the door to make sure the hardware fits.

    BACKSET
    To determine the correct backset measurement for your door, you will need to measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of your bore hole.

    DOOR THICKNESS
    The distance from the inside edge to the outside edge of a door is the door thickness measurement. The industry standard for modern (post-1950) front doors is 1 3/4”. Many interior doors measure 1 3/8”thick. If your door is thicker than 1 3/4”, choose products from Grandeur Hardware, from which thick door kits are available

    What is the difference between Mortise, Privacy, Passage and Dummy?

    A mortised door is usually an older door that has a longer, thinner, more narrow lock body and can be used as a passage or privacy. To use it as privacy, you have a skeleton key that unlocks and locks from both sides of the door. To use it as a passage you would simply not use the key or lock the door. A passage function (tubular latch) is used on a closet or hallway door and does not lock. A privacy (tubular latch) is a good door set to use on a bedroom, bathroom or any other interior door you are wanting to lock. A dummy knob does not turn and does not function as a working lock. A dummy function is typically used on doors with some other device which holds the door closed.

  • Troubleshooting
  • Why is my latch tongue turning 360 degrees?

    The tubular latch provided is called a self handing latch, which allows the installer to easily adjust the latch to accommodate a left-handed OR right-handed door. When the latch is installed, the face plate must be installed to hold the tongue in the desired position.

    Why are my Nostalgic Warehouse knobs hard to turn?

    Most likely, this is due to binding caused by over-tightening the knobs. To correct, simply loosen the hex screws on one knob, and rotate I counter-clockwise ¼ turn. If, after tightening the hex screws the knob is still binding, repeat with another counter-clockwise turn until smooth operation is achieved.

    Why does my Nostalgic Warehouse knob turn 360 degrees and not unlatch the door?

    There are two hex screws that screw into the base of each knob and secure the knobs to the spindle. These hex screws sometimes become loose with use. They can be tightened using the hex (allen) wrench supplied with your lockset. If you are having problems keeping the hex screws in place, try putting one drop of clear nail polish in the screw hole before installing the hex screw.

    Why is my privacy spindle in two pieces?

    The split-spindle on privacy sets allow the interior knob to function independently from the exterior knob. When installing a Privacy lockset, make sure that you screw the two pieces of the split-spindle all the way together and then back it off about a turn and a half. This will insure that the two halves of the split-spindle function properly.

    What do I do if someone locks themselves in a room?

    There is a small hole in the Rosette or Plate on the exterior side of the door that can be used to unlock a “locked” privacy door. Insert a straightened paper clip or something of similar size into the privacy hole and gently push to unlock the privacy.

  • Orders & Shipping
  • How quickly can I get my order?

    All products will be assembled for your order by our experienced, long-term personnel. Normal order turn-around time is 3-5 days once we receive the order. Our fill-rate averages over 99%!

    What is your shipping policy?

    We ship to all locations within the United States. Shipping times depend on your location. If you live down the street from us in Colorado, you'll get it faster than if you live in Alaska. Receive free shipping via via FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground Delivery in the U.S. on orders over $200. Expedited shipping option are available during checkout.

    Why didn't my order receive free shipping?

    Shipping charges are calculated after all discount offers and promos have been added and before tax is applied. If you did not receive free shipping on your order, it may have been because your total before tax or after your coupon was applied was below the minimum amount needed to receive free shipping.

    What is your policy on sale item price adjustments and price matching?

    If you see an item on sale, don't wait around to purchase it. Sale prices are not permanent and special promotions often end within a few days.

    If we mark down the price of an item you've already purchased, let us know and we will gladly adjust the sale price at your request within 14 days of your shipment date. Price adjustments will be credited back to the original form of payment used to purchase the item. Price adjustments are only valid for items purchased at NostalgicWarehouse.com.

    We do not price match products sold through 3rd Party retailers or websites like Ebay, Overstock.com, Amazon, Wayfair, Home Depot, Build.com, House of Antique Hardware, Houzz and MyKnobs.com.

    Can I modify my order after it's been placed?

    If you need to modify your order, please contact us directly within an hour of placing it. We'll do our best to help with your order, but if it has been shipped out already, it can not be modified.

    Do you offer free freight on large orders?

    Yes. All orders totaling $200 or more will be shipped via FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground Delivery at no charge. On orders totaling under $200, the customer will assume responsibility for shipping charges. Free shipping is only applied to orders that total over $200 before tax. Orders that total below $200 after coupon/discounts are applied will not be eligible for free shipping.

  • Mortise Locks
  • Where can I purchase Mortise Locks?

    While we currently do not sell these directly on our website, they are available for purchase on House of Antique Hardware and various showroom dealers.

    Are your Mortise Locksets designed for older houses?

    Yes. Our Mortise Locksets are designed to retrofit most older style doors originally built with interior mortise cases. Even if you want to keep your existing mortise lock chasis, our plates, knobs and spindles are made to work with most mortise lock cases.

    Will your interior mortise lock chassis fit all older doors with mortise locks?

    It fits most, and can be adapted to many others with 2-1/4” backsets.

    What is the backset of your mortise lock?

    2-1/4” – We do not offer any other size.

    Can your mortise lock be used on exterior doors?

    No, it is recommended for interior use only and only available with Nostalgic Warehouse products.

    Do your mortise locksets include keys?

    Yes, a strike, latchface, mounting screws, and two “skeleton” keys are included.

    What size is the latchface on your mortise lock chasis?

    7/8” x 6” latchface fits many old-style mortised doors.

    Is your mortise lock chassis handed?

    Yes, but it’s easily field reversible.

What is your return policy?

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your purchase, you may return your item(s) within 30 days of delivery. All returns require a proof of purchase. If you purchased a Nostalgic Warehouse product from a third-party retailer, returns must be initiated through that retailer. No returns after 30 days are permitted. For more information, please contact us directly via the form on our CONTACT US page using the topic "Returns/Exchanges/Warranty".

Do you offer a warranty on your product?

We offer a 5-Year Mechanical and 5-Year Finish Warranty. Refer to the a WARRANTY SECTION of this site for more information.

Where are you located?

Our headquarters are in Denver, Colorado.

Why should I buy Nostalgic Warehouse products?

We are the North American leader in vintage door hardware. Our products are the highest quality, and we offer the broadest selection of designs.

Are Nostalgic Warehouse period designs authentic?

Our vintage designs were adapted from original styles circa 1900. They are extremely faithful to the originals.

Does Nostalgic Warehouse offer matching accessories?

Nostalgic Warehouse offers beautiful solid brass push plates, hinges, coat hooks, flush pulls, bin pulls, flush catches, crystal knobs and pulls, and door stops in matching finishes and collections.

What’s an Entry Door Knob?

There are many different names for the locks used on the outside doors of a home: 1. Entrance Handleset/Handleset/Grip Handleset: large (18” to 20” tall) hardware on a front door that uses a grip instead of a knob or lever. We offer a wide selection of these. 2. Entrance Knobset: the combination of a passage knob lockset, and a deadbolt. This approach provides a perfect match for interior locksets, but on exterior doors. It also provides much better security than knobs with keys in the center (see below). We offer a wide selection of these. 3. Keyed Knob/Key-in-Knob: Knobs with in internal locking system frequently used on inexpensive homes. Having the locking mechanism inside the knob severely limits knob and rosette design. It also provides less security than a deadbolt. These should only be used in conjunction with a deadbolt.

What is California Proposition 65?

California’s Proposition 65 requires businesses to disclose when their products contain potentially hazardous chemicals. Regal Brands is complying with the law and notifying users that our products contain trace amounts of some chemicals listed in Prop 65. The risk of exposure to these chemicals from our products is very low. However, we are complying with the law to protect our customers. The following warning is included across our family of brands because our products contain brass, including trace amounts of lead, which are potentially hazardous: WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals, including lead, which is known to the state of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information, go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov

Is Nostalgic Warehouse easy to install?

Yes! Just two screws hold the lock onto the door. All you need is a standard Phillips screwdriver. For additional installation support including downloadable instructions and how-to videos please view our Installation Help section.

Why is forged brass better than cast brass?

Forging costs more, but it produces stronger locksets without defects, and with better detail.

Can Nostalgic Warehouse be installed on a steel or iron door?

Yes, if standard door preparation has been done. Please note that the latch faces and strikes come with wood mounting screws. For steel or iron doors, you will need to purchase machine screws from a hardware store. Simply determine the threads on your door and/or jamb, and take the included wood screws with you to the hardware store. Ask for machine screws in the same size. Add a little satin black paint, and voilà!

Is Nostalgic Warehouse suitable for the exterior of my house?

Absolutely. All of our exterior hardware is lacquered for protections. And, we have Entry Handlesets, Entry Sets and Deadbolts for precisely this purpose.

Are Nostalgic Warehouse products environmentally friendly?

Yes! Our high-grade brass can be recycled ad-infinitum. Even the brass shavings created during manufacturing are collected and recycled into new brass.

What is a “living finish”?

Living finishes are designed to age and develop a beautiful patina over time. If you don’t want the finish to change, you should not order a lockset with a living finish.

Can I put one knob style on one side of a door, and another knob style on the other side?

There are a broad range of designs in our catalog, and you can mix/match any knob style with any of our other knob styles.

Can I install Nostalgic Warehouse locks on doors thicker than 1-3/4"?

No, but our sister company, Grandeur Hardware, offers thick door kits.

Are Nostalgic Warehouse passage and privacy latches adjustable?

No. Adjustable latches are not as durable as nonadjustable latches. You will need to specify if you need 2-3/8” or 2-3/4″ backset latches.

Is there an extra charge for keying-alike (so one key will operate several locks)?

No - you simply select “keyed alike” when placing your order.

Does Nostalgic Warehouse require any special door preparation?

No. Standard door preparation with a 2 1/8” cross-bore is sufficient. To ensure a proper fit you should measure your backset to see if it’s 2 3/8” or 2 3/4″.

There’s a little plate on the edge of my door. I think it’s called a “latch face.” Do these come with square corners or round?

Both. Nostalgic Warehouse has square corner latch faces standard. If you need radius corners, just specify in the "Notes" section them when ordering.

Are Nostalgic Collection backplate styles available without a keyhole?

YES. All Nostalgic Collection backplates that use a tubular latch are available with or without a decorative keyhole. Interior lock sets with the mortise lock function all require a (functioning) keyhole to be used with an included skeleton key.

If you wish to receive your hardware with a decorative (non-functioning) keyhole, please request "WITH KEYHOLE" in the order notes during checkout.

How do I determine the handing (left hand or right hand) of a door?

Handing of doors is critical when selecting Sets with Levers, Long Plates,or Split Design combinations. Handing for door sets is determined by standing on the OUTSIDE FACING THE DOOR.

While standing on the outside of the door, locate the door hinge location.

If the door hinge is on the LEFT, the door is LEFT HANDED.

If door hinge is on the RIGHT, the door is RIGHT HANDED.

Do you have other colors for your crystal or porcelain knobs?

Our crystal knobs come in a variety of shapes and colors. Additionally, Nostalgic Warehouse offers four different porcelain knobs.

How do I determine backset size and door thickness?

When ordering door hardware, it is essential to know what will work with your door. If you have a new door, you may need to create your own bore hole. If you are replacing the hardware on an existing door, be sure to measure to determine which backset size will work with your door. Additionally, you will want to measure the thickness of the door to make sure the hardware fits.

BACKSET
To determine the correct backset measurement for your door, you will need to measure the distance from the edge of the door to the center of your bore hole.

DOOR THICKNESS
The distance from the inside edge to the outside edge of a door is the door thickness measurement. The industry standard for modern (post-1950) front doors is 1 3/4”. Many interior doors measure 1 3/8”thick. If your door is thicker than 1 3/4”, choose products from Grandeur Hardware, from which thick door kits are available

What is the difference between Mortise, Privacy, Passage and Dummy?

A mortised door is usually an older door that has a longer, thinner, more narrow lock body and can be used as a passage or privacy. To use it as privacy, you have a skeleton key that unlocks and locks from both sides of the door. To use it as a passage you would simply not use the key or lock the door. A passage function (tubular latch) is used on a closet or hallway door and does not lock. A privacy (tubular latch) is a good door set to use on a bedroom, bathroom or any other interior door you are wanting to lock. A dummy knob does not turn and does not function as a working lock. A dummy function is typically used on doors with some other device which holds the door closed.

Why is my latch tongue turning 360 degrees?

The tubular latch provided is called a self handing latch, which allows the installer to easily adjust the latch to accommodate a left-handed OR right-handed door. When the latch is installed, the face plate must be installed to hold the tongue in the desired position.

Why are my Nostalgic Warehouse knobs hard to turn?

Most likely, this is due to binding caused by over-tightening the knobs. To correct, simply loosen the hex screws on one knob, and rotate I counter-clockwise ¼ turn. If, after tightening the hex screws the knob is still binding, repeat with another counter-clockwise turn until smooth operation is achieved.

Why does my Nostalgic Warehouse knob turn 360 degrees and not unlatch the door?

There are two hex screws that screw into the base of each knob and secure the knobs to the spindle. These hex screws sometimes become loose with use. They can be tightened using the hex (allen) wrench supplied with your lockset. If you are having problems keeping the hex screws in place, try putting one drop of clear nail polish in the screw hole before installing the hex screw.

Why is my privacy spindle in two pieces?

The split-spindle on privacy sets allow the interior knob to function independently from the exterior knob. When installing a Privacy lockset, make sure that you screw the two pieces of the split-spindle all the way together and then back it off about a turn and a half. This will insure that the two halves of the split-spindle function properly.

What do I do if someone locks themselves in a room?

There is a small hole in the Rosette or Plate on the exterior side of the door that can be used to unlock a “locked” privacy door. Insert a straightened paper clip or something of similar size into the privacy hole and gently push to unlock the privacy.

How quickly can I get my order?

All products will be assembled for your order by our experienced, long-term personnel. Normal order turn-around time is 3-5 days once we receive the order. Our fill-rate averages over 99%!

What is your shipping policy?

We ship to all locations within the United States. Shipping times depend on your location. If you live down the street from us in Colorado, you'll get it faster than if you live in Alaska. Receive free shipping via via FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground Delivery in the U.S. on orders over $200. Expedited shipping option are available during checkout.

Why didn't my order receive free shipping?

Shipping charges are calculated after all discount offers and promos have been added and before tax is applied. If you did not receive free shipping on your order, it may have been because your total before tax or after your coupon was applied was below the minimum amount needed to receive free shipping.

What is your policy on sale item price adjustments and price matching?

If you see an item on sale, don't wait around to purchase it. Sale prices are not permanent and special promotions often end within a few days.

If we mark down the price of an item you've already purchased, let us know and we will gladly adjust the sale price at your request within 14 days of your shipment date. Price adjustments will be credited back to the original form of payment used to purchase the item. Price adjustments are only valid for items purchased at NostalgicWarehouse.com.

We do not price match products sold through 3rd Party retailers or websites like Ebay, Overstock.com, Amazon, Wayfair, Home Depot, Build.com, House of Antique Hardware, Houzz and MyKnobs.com.

Can I modify my order after it's been placed?

If you need to modify your order, please contact us directly within an hour of placing it. We'll do our best to help with your order, but if it has been shipped out already, it can not be modified.

Do you offer free freight on large orders?

Yes. All orders totaling $200 or more will be shipped via FedEx Home Delivery or FedEx Ground Delivery at no charge. On orders totaling under $200, the customer will assume responsibility for shipping charges. Free shipping is only applied to orders that total over $200 before tax. Orders that total below $200 after coupon/discounts are applied will not be eligible for free shipping.

Where can I purchase Mortise Locks?

While we currently do not sell these directly on our website, they are available for purchase on House of Antique Hardware and various showroom dealers.

Are your Mortise Locksets designed for older houses?

Yes. Our Mortise Locksets are designed to retrofit most older style doors originally built with interior mortise cases. Even if you want to keep your existing mortise lock chasis, our plates, knobs and spindles are made to work with most mortise lock cases.

Will your interior mortise lock chassis fit all older doors with mortise locks?

It fits most, and can be adapted to many others with 2-1/4” backsets.

What is the backset of your mortise lock?

2-1/4” – We do not offer any other size.

Can your mortise lock be used on exterior doors?

No, it is recommended for interior use only and only available with Nostalgic Warehouse products.

Do your mortise locksets include keys?

Yes, a strike, latchface, mounting screws, and two “skeleton” keys are included.

What size is the latchface on your mortise lock chasis?

7/8” x 6” latchface fits many old-style mortised doors.

Is your mortise lock chassis handed?

Yes, but it’s easily field reversible.