Cup pulls, sorta like this, sorta ORB, but not really

11 years ago

I'm trying to pull together some samples (don't get me started!) to see if my overall direction works. So I don't need to buy anything right now, but I do need to get materials all into my hot little hands so we can see if they work together.

So my requirements are:

- The above general shape

- No visible screws

- Basically black or near-black

- Kind of ORB but not brown and no copper hints. Might be OK if it looked like really aged brass

- No "brushed" finishes or anything that gives it away as new

- Mild distressing could be OK if it's a high-quality piece. I did see one piece of hardware a while ago (can't remember where) that was very, very lightly pitted and actually looked old

- Look is 20s, not Victorian or craftsman

Any ideas where to look, other than the obvious ones--or more importantly, tips on brands that meet these criteria?

Here is a link that might be useful: Here's the sample pull

Comments (25)

Audry Barber
11 years ago
Have you looked at pullsdirect.com ? I haven't used them but they are a build.com site and I've had very good experiences with faucetdirect and lightingdirect. Very good customer service, good return policy, etc. Just browsing around I saw several that might fit your criteria

Here is a link that might be useful: Cup Pulls
chesters_house_gw
11 years ago
Have you tried Horton Brasses? The dark antique might work, and there are two styles that seem to fit your general description.

Here is a link that might be useful: and there is one other bin pull style
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marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks both--poking around now.
breezygirl
11 years ago
I was going to suggest HB also. I've not seen their dark antique finish IRL, but the description sounds right. The Crescent Pull is the right shape. The company owner Orion, who sometimes posts here, was easy to work with. It seems like a great, small, American company. Good luck.
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
HB look nice but they are more circular. I'm trying to match pulls I've seen of the period, which were a bit more elongated.

On the other site I've found

Topknobs Somerset

Berenson Vibrato (worried about that highlight color)

This Hickory Hardware Deco thing (actually I can't find it on a retail site yet)
{{!gwi}}

Laurey

JVJ Hardware

Hafele (prolly way too modern)

and Tamba

I'm just trying to get 2 or 3 good possibilities to sample now. Any experience with these brands?
corgimum
11 years ago
Schaub makes a distressed cup pull.

Regarding your pulls above, Top Knobs makes outstanding cabinet hardware. You can usually get a sample for $5.00 (including shipping) from their website.

Here is a link that might be useful: Schaub Cup Pull
momtofour
11 years ago
I have Century Hardware Apac pulls and am very happy with them. But the finish is wearing off of the coordinating knobs that are frequently used. I didn't want the distressed type either and really like the color of these.

Here is a link that might be useful: Century Hardware Apac cup pull
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
Cool, good leads. I think Top Knobs is actually affiliated with my local branch of Inaccessible Hardware.
Circus Peanut
11 years ago
hi M -- are you sure the originals you had in mind don't have exposed screw heads? I'm thinking of ones I see in salvage all the time, like:

Here is a link that might be useful: eBay auction, cup pulls
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
Heavens, no. The Mrs. demanded only modern conveniences.

Plus, I don't like the engineering of putting all the force on the threads of a screw in wood.
deedles
11 years ago
The Hickory Hardware deco one is great.
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
I'm ordering a couple to play with. Thanks!

Does anybody know of a really good, quite dark finish that is like very aged brass? Antique brass is not really what I'm looking for.
Bunny
11 years ago
My pulls are from Top Knobs' Somerset line. They're not what you're looking for, but I like their quality and affordability.
sas95
11 years ago
Top Knobs has a finish called Rust. We have it in our kitchen (but not the cup pulls). It's dark, but not black. It has a bit of bronze but is not like ORB. More black than ORB. Might be worth a look.
Gigi_4321
11 years ago
This pull is nice, I love the coloring, I would try steel wool to remove the shine.
CEFreeman
11 years ago
I figured this might be the place to ask, since I'm looking at the same things. :)

When something says "center to center" is 1.5", for example, does that mean it's 3" long?

Can't they just say that...
thx!
palimpsest
11 years ago
The center of one screw to the center of the other is what that means.
palimpsest
11 years ago
Did you look at:

Berenson American Classics rubbed bronze
Cliffside Solid Brass flat black (two variations)
Schaub and Company matte black or flat black (several variations)
Sorry if there are repeats. There are 700+ on this page.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hardware Hut Bin Pulls
CEFreeman
11 years ago
Oh, thank you! I just couldn't figure that out for the life of me.
rococogurl
11 years ago
The ones from Crown City Hardware look good in principal and it's a well touted source, no screws but $$$. No idea on color or patina quality or whether coated or integral.

There is real bronze (no coating or nonsense to wear off) from Rocky Mountain with discreet screws offset by the choice of 10 finishes. The patina on these is tops. I ordered knobs and doorsets from Cape Cod Brass which supplied them for two houses at very good prices and efficiently with no errors in complex orders. After 9 years the finish looks better and better. No bargain but worth it IMO for someone who is particular about cabinet hardware. I went with bronze medium. Might require a trip to see the finish samples.
kimiko232
11 years ago
Try here... they were around since 1937 and american made. :) I just found them last night.

http://colonialbronze.com/

And, here... these are supposedly cast from originals. I was considering something from there. At least, you can read some reviews about the pulls.

http://houseofantiquehardware.com/s.nl/sc.11/category.92/.f

Good luck!
Kim
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
Wow, you guys turned this thread into a goldmine of information. Thanks so much!

Right now, I'm just going to get a couple of samples to make up a concept board--but there are so many resources here I'm bookmarking and coming back come ordering time. Really, thanks.
marcolo
Original Author
11 years ago
So I sent away for a couple of samples.

I must say, the Hickory Hardware sample is a-trosh in real life. The highlights are copper and it feels cheaper than a Jersey barmaid.

Are there any other manufacturers who do true patination (not a coating or paint) other than Rocky Mountain, whose available shapes I don't like?
EngineerChic
11 years ago
How about Emtek? They make a brass pull in a flat black finish. I have not bought kitchen hardware from them but did get doorknobs there and love them (they were one of the few places that had flat black as a finish option as well as crystal, so I could get a split set for the bathroom).

When you click the link it will show in brass, but the list of available finishes includes flat black. HTH!

Here is a link that might be useful: Emtek cup pulls
Dana
3 years ago
Marcola, I know this thread was ages ago. I wrote down so many of these resources, as it sounds like I'm looking for the same pull you are. what did you end up with ?

Cup pulls, sorta like this, sorta ORB, but not really

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Audry Barber

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Cup pulls, sorta like this, sorta ORB, but not really

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