Historically Correct Brownstone Shutters Custom Made For Your Windows
Item Number: 114
Time Left: CLOSED
Value: $4,000
Online Close: Apr 9, 2013 11:00 PM EDT
Bid History: 0 bids
Description
I did a lot of research of old Brooklyn shutters, examining stacks of old shutters in junk yards, and comparing a lot of existing shutters that are still installed in area homes. I also had an opportunity to closely examine one of the top selling custom "historically correct brownstone shutter" offerings from a specialty mill, which even supplies a lot of shutters to film industry set builders. A few of the most important details of the shutters I make as opposed to what is being sold by this other company are:
1) Hand cut beading down the edges of the shutters, using a classic hand tool.-- This is extremely important for a historically correct shutter. It is time consuming and difficult. The other people who sell these shutters cut the bead with an electric router, which makes it easily identifiable as a modern built shutter which only approximates a historical shutter look.
2) chisel-cut recessed hinge pockets, and high quality extruded brass hinges. -- The contemporary shutters I have examined either quickly make a slot all the way through the edge of the shutter with a router, which is again easily noticed, and on the shutter faces, will skip making a pocket altogether. In both cases the hinges they include are cheap rolled steel plates, as opposed to extruded brass. The result is a cheap, sloppy look and a sagging shutter. I cut a proper hinge pocket for the door to door and the door to wall hinges, and use high quality, extruded brass hinges.
3) Primitive style panels held in place with custom cut and applied moulding -- Again, the contemporary historical shutter makers use an electric router to make a raised panel, like a modern raised panel cabinet or door uses. The rails and stiles which hold this panel in also have an edge profile which was made with an electric router. Going through stacks of old brownstone shutters, I have found this is simply not the way Brooklyn brownstone shutters from the early 20th century were made. I have studied Sears catalogs from the period, and electric routing tools hadn't been invented yet. To use routers to make obviously electric routed edge profiles on period shutters is fast, and increases the net profit, but it isn't historically correct at all. I cut and apply decorative moulding around the panels, which is the way the old shutters were made.
Special Instructions
For further information please contact David Rogers
j.david.rogers@gmail.com