Cannot Get Very Old Door Knob Off

[ladyalex]

Hello

We cannot remove a very old door knob attached to a very old Carpenter 60 rimlock. (Probably installed around 1860)
There is no screw attaching it to the spindle.
There is a hole underneath but poking around in there has not done anything.
I have some pictures but do not know how to put them on.

Any ideas ?

[The Builder]

Ladyalex... I'm so sorry that you are experiencing difficulties with your knob ;o)

I've had this a few times.
Sometimes, there is a grubscrew on one side of the door, but not on the other.
That means you unscrew the grubscrew, pull off the knob, then pull the spindle with knob attached from the other side.
That one is usually permanently fixed.
A certain amount of brute force is then needed to separate them.

[The Builder]

On the other hand..............

You mention a hole, so perhaps there was a grubscrew which has been lost, and the knob is just being stubborn?

[ladyalex]

Thanks, builder.
Unfortunately the problem is that there is no grubscrew to be seen.

[The Builder]

Has the other knob come off Ok?

[ladyalex]

The hole is on the underneath of the rose .
Peering up there is definitely no grubscrew and I can just see the spindle.

[ladyalex]

No the other knob is still attached

[The Builder]

Does that have a grubscrew?

[bhg481]

160 years is ample time for someone who has lost the grubscrew to glue the knob back on to the spindle. Perhaps some brute force and ignorance is called for.

[ladyalex]

No.
No grubscrew at all

[dannyk13]

Try squirting some WD 40 into the hole.

[ladyalex]

Tried the WD40, Danny, thanks

[dannyk13]

What are you intending to do with the knob if you can get it off? If you are going to scrap it I would suggest applying a wrench to it and try twisting it off.

[The Builder]

Ok, bhg is right.

It's a matter of levering it off then.

I don't suppose you have a nailbar (crowbar) in your handbag?
Sometimes if the nail extracting forked bit is hammered between the knob and the lockcase, a good shock can break the seal and loosen the knob.
Does that make sense?

[ladyalex]

Sorry, I'm not with you at all, Builder.

Where do you want me to hit the thing ? The wooden handle is attached to a brass ring , both of which turn to open the door.

Danny, we have no specific plans for the handle. It is wooden and we are not sure whether it is original or not, so losing it would not be a great problem. However, we do want to retain the old lock so are a bit bothered about wrenching things off.

[Mamyalynne]

Milady, I feel photos are required to make this clearer.

Read this.

Buenchico's guide...

The most popular site among AB members is probably Upl.co.
http://upl.co/

Click the green button.
Navigate to the location of your image file.
Double-click on it.
Click in the 'Direct link' field, to highlight it.
Then right-click and select 'Copy'
Come to an AB post, right-click and select 'Paste'.
Job done!

(Note that it's best to put the link on a line by itself, so that it doesn't get mixed up with anything else that you type).

[ladyalex]

Thanks mamya, I'll get onto that shortly.

[ladyalex]

http://www.upl.co/uploads/202005081426251588944680.jpg

[ladyalex]

http://www.upl.co/uploads/202005081426371588944821.jpg

[ladyalex]

:
http://www.upl.co/uploads/202005081426541588944927

[ladyalex]

http://www.upl.co/uploads/202005081427081588945047.jpg