Antique lock

These finger buttons on the bottom of an antique lock are supposed to be how you trigger the door to lock behind you (without a key). They no longer work, and I don't even know what they are called to search on the internet.

Any ideas?

Maybe they aren't called anything. Try to find an
old door hardware catalog online. c1910 I'm
guessing.

My house had all brass knobs too. I replaced them
with old milk glass knobs I bought at an auction
years ago.

http://www.historichouseparts.com/pdshop/shop/item.aspx?itemid=18640

It looks to me like a push button Mortise lock.

Quote: DRich

It looks to me like a push button Mortise lock.

I tried to pop it out of the door (as in the photo below) and it won't come loose. The image below doesn't have a place to put the key. I put it back together, and now, not only the push buttons don't work, but they key doesn't work. So I can't lock it at all.



mortise (n.) c.1400, "hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint.

I get that there is a hole in the door, but I don't see how it forms a joint.

It's called a push button mortise lock.
Worth a hundred bucks if it worked.
I know a guy who's collected door
hardware for 40 years, he has a barn
to the rafters with it. Bought it at
farm and barn auctions for $10
a box sometimes. Great stuff,
from a period when we had actual
craftsmen. Worth a fortune now.

Quote: Evenbob

It's called a push button mortise lock.

I tried to take it out of the door to fix the pushbuttons. But the key lock cylinder in the upper left side of the picture didn't move. I couldn't get the thing out of the door. When I put it back together the key no longer turned the deadbolt.



It seems to be very sensitive to alignment. It's about 85 years old.

install another deadbolt above the whole business, if you must lock the door

Quote: Pacomartin

I tried to pop it out of the door (as in the photo below) and it won't come loose. The image below doesn't have a place to put the key. I put it back together, and now, not only the push buttons don't work, but they key doesn't work. So I can't lock it at all.



mortise (n.) c.1400, "hole or groove in which something is fitted to form a joint.

I get that there is a hole in the door, but I don't see how it forms a joint.

You likely have to take both door knob faceplates off as well Paco. There is likely 2 through bolts hold them together that also pass through the latch mechanism. The through bolts likely can be unscrewed from the non-secure side of the door.

Quote: Pacomartin

I tried to take it out of the door to fix the pushbuttons. But the key lock cylinder in the upper left side of the picture didn't move. I couldn't get the thing out of the door. When I put it back together the key no longer turned the deadbolt.

Way to go, Bob Vila..