2011 Cliffside Power Rankings 3 comments

Our last top ten list examined products quite some time ago. Since late 2008, there have been significant changes to the Cliffside product line, with the addition of over 500 hardware pieces in the last two years alone! That said, Cliffside’s products are timeless, and so this week’s power rankings will compare our 10 best-selling products to where they ranked when we first started our blog.

#1: 100 series knobs

The 100 series, shown in antique brass

Previous rank: 1
No surprises here. Cliffside Industries was founded with only 1 knob — the 100-PB. Since that time, we have expanded this series into 14 classic finishes which range from the glossy sheen of polished nickel to the deep vibrance of Venetian bronze. This elegant piece is a testament to the fact that the right piece of hardware can stand the test of time. It also comes in a miniature size, the 100-20, which is available in 10 finishes.

#2: BH2A series hinges

The BH2A hinge in black

Previous rank: 2
Cliffside’s BH2A hinge continues to be the best seller in our proprietary European hinge line. Styled by Old World craftsmen who pay the finest attention to detail, our hinges are precision-honed to exacting specifications to bring you the highest-quality product imaginable. Solid, one-piece construction characterizes our hinges as among the strongest brass pieces in the industry, and they are extruded rather than stamped for added durability. Available in up to 15 finishes, these hinges are, without question, the best on the market. An honorable mention is given to our ball-finial BH2A hinges as well, and they are available without a finial too.

#3: 161 series knobs

One of the 161 knob's 12 finishes is iron.

Previous rank: 4
The popularity of the 161 has recently skyrocketed — so much so, in fact, that it has surpassed some of our top-selling hinges in pieces sold! The attractive ridged face of the 161 combines with its wide base to complete our second-best selling piece. Available in 12 finishes, this knob can be used in a wide variety of applications (and it’s also your blogwriter’s favorite piece!).

#4: BH2A-NM series hinges

OA is the most popular hinge finish.

Previous rank: 3
The convenience of non-mortise hinges helps them to maintain their spot in our rankings, just below their mortised counterparts. The slightly thicker barrel and finial are an attractive option for manufacturers, and these hinges are extruded — as all Cliffside hinges are — to reduce metal wear and squeaking. With 15 finishes, the selection of the BH2A-NM, shown at right in old antique, is unparalleled.

#5: 158 series knobs

The 158 looks primed for big gains (shown in old copper).

Previous rank: 9
The biggest gain in positions among our prior top-10 members belongs to none other than the 158 series. Its attractive beveled backplate has made it a favorite among designers and manufacturers alike. It has a rounded face, which has become very popular among designers seeking polished chrome and polished nickel finishes. Since we added these items in early 2009, their popularity has only grown greater, and we at Cliffside predict further success in the future.

#6: B1 series pulls

B1-3 in polished brass

Previous rank: out of top 10
A newcomer to the party, the B1 series of pulls is a recent addition to Cliffside’s top 10 pieces of hardware. With a classic bevel around the feet of the full and bold, striking lines throughout the piece, the three sizes of the B1 (available in 3″cc, 8″cc, and 12″cc) are here to make a statement. These pieces were left out on the very cusp of our top 10 the last time around, but no longer! The B1 series pulls are now the most popular handle in the Cliffside line and are sure to remain a hit with clients and contractors for many years.

#7: K4235 series cup pulls

The K4235 cup in polished chrome

Previous rank: 7
The only cup pull to crack the top 10 is the K4235, long the leader among all of Cliffside’s bin-style handles. The simple half-circle design and the attention paid to the tiniest details in crafting this pull are what sets it apart from the competition. With a 3″ center-to-center measurement, like the rest of Cliffside’s solid brass standard pulls, the K4235 is great for drawers of many sizes and shapes. It is one of five standard cup pulls that Cliffside currently offers, but it has always been — and continues to be — the most popular.

#8: BH3A series hinges

In polished nickel, BH3A is popular.

Previous rank: 6
The longer length and beefy barrel of the BH3A series hinge keeps our customers coming back for more! Though the BH3A has dropped two positions in our rankings, it is no less popular in total pieces sold. With 12 attractive finishes, this hinge is designed to hold up to the toughest and heaviest cabinet doors. At 3¹/₂” long overall (2¹/₂” leaf), the BH3A is the largest mortised hinge in the Cliffside line.

#9: 105 series knobs

105 in silver satin, our most popular finish

Previous rank: 8
The oblong 105 is the only non-round knob that features in Cliffside’s top 10. It’s a popular piece that is easily secured against spinning by a convenient brad that holds the knob in place against the face of the cabinet door or drawer front. Its elongated design makes it easy to grip — whether installed vertically or horizontally — and its solid brass construction ensures that this piece, and its popularity, will endure for years to come.

#10: 110 series knobs

Our newest finish, Venetian bronze, on the classic 110 series

Previous rank: 5
The 110 series knobs lend a touch of class to any cabinet face. The distinctive ringed face, a simple but classic design, matches well with any cabinet style or molding. This piece is a great complement, no matter what style of kitchen you are creating. One of the heaviest knobs in our line, it is also one of the most durable.

This concludes our Power Rankings to open 2011. With questions on anything you see here, contact our Customer Service department or e-mail the blogmaster.

Honorable mention

Honorable mention: BH2A-AB-BALL

• SP series pulls (previously #10; new #11)
• K341 series cup pulls (new #12)
• BH2A-BALL and BH2A-NM-BALL hinges (new #13 & #14)

The Twelve Days of Cliffside No comments yet

Everybody sing along!

On the first day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

A pull with a center of three.

On the second day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the third day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the fourth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Four offset armoires,
Three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the fifth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the sixth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the seventh day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the eighth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Eight stainless sizes,
Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the ninth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Nine crystal colors,
Eight stainless sizes,
Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the tenth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Ten standard finishes,
Nine crystal colors,
Eight stainless sizes,
Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the eleventh day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Eleven ball-tip hinges,
Ten standard finishes,
Nine crystal colors,
Eight stainless sizes,
Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three.

On the twelfth day of Christmas, Cliffside gave to me:

Twelve displays per tower,
Eleven ball-tip hinges,
Ten standard finishes,
Nine crystal colors,
Eight stainless sizes,
Seven appliance pulls,
Six two-inch hinge types,
Five hardware suites!
Four offset armoires, three shiny cup pulls,
Two golden knobs,
And a pull with a center of three!

Happy Holidays!

Adapted from the carol “The Twelve Days of Christmas”
Traditional English carol c.1780 (public domain)

Press Release: New items now available and in stock No comments yet

Cliffside Industries Offers Ten Standard Finishes Available For Most Popular Items.

Drawing on decades of experience distributing traditional solid brass hardware

Cliffside is now offering all 10 of our standard finishes on all our standard solid brass hardware. This includes round knobs, oval knobs, cup pulls, standard drawer pulls, oversized drawer pulls, appliance pulls, cabinet latches and hinges. Currently, twelve items in our inventory are now available in an expanded finish selection.

Additional finishes are now available in the following series:

• Knobs: 100-20 (round), 105 (oval), 110 (round), 158 (round, with backplate), K-580 (round), B674 (round rope design), B721 (oval rope design)
• Standard Pulls: P-399 (criss-cross design), K344 (rope design)
• Cup Pulls: P-398 (criss-cross design)
• Appliance Pulls: B1-12

Cliffside now has ten standard finishes to choose from for all standard solid brass hardware: Antique Brass, Black, Iron, Old Antique, Old Copper, Polished Brass, Polished Chrome, Polished Nickel and Silver Satin. Venetian Bronze will be available soon, and more new items are available with each passing week.

Mix and match from our 34 solid brass knobs, pulls, cup pulls, latches and hinges and 10 standard finishes to create your own personal hardware. The choice is up to you!

Product Photo Gallery

100-20 series knobs are new in the AB, FB, IR, OC, and PN finishes (shown in IR).

105 series knobs are now available in FB, IR, and OC (shown in PN – coming soon!).

110 series knobs are now available in FB and IR (shown in FB).

158 series knobs now available in FB, IR, PC, and PN (shown in PC).

B674 rope knob is now available in SS. The BNI finish will be phased out and replaced with SS in the upcoming months.

B721 series knobs are an enlarged version of the B711. It is currently available in FB, IR, OC, PC, PN, and SS (shown in OC). B711 is still available in certain items (quantities may be limited).

K-580 series knobs are now available in FB, IR, OC, PC, and PN (shown in VB – coming soon!).

K344 rope pull also now available in SS.

P-399 series pulls are now available in FB, IR, OC, and PC (shown in OC).

K341 series cup pulls are now available in OC, PC, and PN (shown in PN).

P-398 series cup pulls are now available in FB, IR, OC, PC, and PN (shown in OA – coming soon!).

B1-12 series appliance pulls now available in AB, FB, OC, and PC (shown in AB).

Company Information

Cliffside Industries has been designing and distributing high-quality solid brass hardware since 1987 and supplies many of the industry’s most respected cabinet manufacturers, dealers, builders, remodelers and designers. We believe our hardware to exemplify the highest quality in the industry. Orders for stock hardware will ship within 24 hours, and matching break off screws are included with all orders.

Further information

Contact Cliffside customer service for more details and ordering information:

• Phone: (800) 873-9258
• Fax: (800) 926-3435
• E-mail: info@cliffsideind.com or blog@cliffsideind.com
• Website: http://www.cliffsideind.com/
• Address: 60 Wright Avenue; Lititz, PA 17543

“Cliffside Industries is an award winning distributor of traditional solid brass hinges, knobs and pulls respected industry-wide for our customer service. Family owned and operated since 1987.”

What’s the difference between solid brass and die cast? No comments yet

One of those questions you may have been burning to know…

Brass is a metal alloy used in making many of our high-quality products. Many of our pieces are classified as solid brass, meaning that they are not hollow and are composed entirely of brass, making them quite dense, very durable, and more expensive than die cast. Brass pieces can retail for 20%-30% more than a comparable piece of zinc die cast hardware, but the increase in price is made up by an increase in quality and durability. The brass used to manufacture Cliffside’s solid brass hardware consists of approximately 60% copper, 37% zinc, and 3% other trace metals.

Die cast hardware is made primarily from zinc, a bluish-white, malleable metal. Unlike brass, which is an alloy, zinc is a element, meaning that it occurs naturally. Zinc is used to make paints, a variety of hygiene products, and, of course, die cast cabinet hardware. Zinc hardware is more affordable than solid brass, but is also much lighter and scores much lower in a standard salt spray test, used to test the durability of metal and plating. The zinc alloy used to make Cliffside’s die cast hardware consists of approximately 95% zinc, 4% aluminum, and 1% other trace metals.

Cliffside’s Top Ten List No comments yet

For our inaugural blog entry, Cliffside Industries is proud to present our top ten hardware styles. This list encompasses some of our most popular knobs, hinges, and pulls. Enjoy!

100 series knob

1. 100 series knobs

True to its roots, the 100-series knob has remained the same since Cliffside’s founding in 1987. Featuring an elegantly tapered stem and a pristine flat face, this hardware will lend a classic look to your kitchen or bath. There are also backplates available in a few select finishes to match this particular knob.

Important facts:

The diameter of the 100 series knob is 1¼” at the widest point and ¾” at the base. It is also approximately 1⅛” tall. This is the first knob that Cliffside Industries marketed and sold. It is available in all of our top 10 finishes, as well as several others.

BH2A series hinge

Unlike many of our competitors, Cliffside’s hinges are and have always been manufactured from high quality solid brass. These hinges are also adjustable and are made with 6 countersunk screw holes (4 have adjustment space). The BH2A is the top seller in our hinge line by far, topped with our signature decorative finial, though a few selected finishes are available without the finial as well.

Important facts:

All of our hinges are extruded brass, meaning that they are pushed through a die and cut individually rather than stamped from a sheet of metal. Copper, a main component of brass, often requires temperatures in excess of 1100°F to extrude. The benefits of extruded brass are great, reducing squeaking and wear on the metal and providing increased durability. The plate face of the hinge is 2 inches in length, while the barrel is 2¾” inches long. Read more »