What’s the difference between…

…oil-rubbed bronze and old antique?

Cliffside’s finish named “oil-rubbed bronze” is only available on steel hardware. The knob currently offered in that finish is the S1204 series. The old antique, however, is a very popular finish which is part of our signature line; it is available on all of our solid brass hardware suites, which encompasses a large quantity of items.

The “oil-rubbed bronze” knob available on steel is a very dark finish, nearly a wrought-iron color. Our old antique, by contrast, is a rich brown color, popular throughout the industry. Below, you can make the comparison for yourself:

B600-OA on the left; S1204-ORB on the right

…old antique and Venetian bronze?

As shown above, the old antique is a solid brown representation of oil-rubbed bronze. Our Venetian bronze, the most recent finish added to the Cliffside line, is also oil-rubbed bronze, but it contains a light wash of copper. On pieces with more detailing or raised edges, the copper is more prominent. It also shows dramatically on our cup pulls, which bear a distinctive “thumbprint” of copper which sets the finish apart from the old antique.

Both the old antique (OA) and the Venetian bronze (VB) are available as part of the Cliffside hardware suites; any of our five solid brass hardware collections are available in those finishes.

For your reference, we’ve provided several different comparisons between OA and VB. First, on a simple 100 series knob:

At left, 100-OA; on the right, 100-VB

Next, on the more complex Ice Box Cupboard Latches:

IBCL in OA (left) and VB (right)

Finally, the thumbprinted cup pulls:

K4235-OA (above) and K4235-VB (below)

…Venetian bronze and old copper?

Because both finishes contain a copper color, many customers have asked about the difference between these two finishes since we added Venetian bronze to our line. In the Venetian bronze finish, the dark bronze is the primary color tone, while in the old copper, the copper itself is primary and the dark color comes from the antiquing process.

Both the VB and the OC are signature finishes, so you can get suite hardware in either color. It depends on which look you are trying to match: oil-rubbed bronze or antique copper.

Below, compare an item where the OC and VB finishes look similar…

K344-3-OC (top) and the same item in VB (bottom)

…and another item where they are very distinct and separate.

Solid brass cupboard latch (SBCL) in OC and VB

Cabinetmakers’ bonus!

What’s the difference between OA hinges and AB hinges?

A bonus for our manufacturing friends at the end of this series!

Our antique brass (AB) and old antique (OA) hinge finishes are very similar in color tone. The OA hinges are the same matte brown color as our hardware, but, as noted in our last edition, the AB hinges are also a very dark brown shade. The two major differences are this: the AB finish has a burnished golden undertone, where the OA is a simple brown; and the antique brass hinges have a high-polish lacquer, whereas the old antique hinges sport a flat finish.

See the difference for yourself:

3-8-OFFSET hinge in AB, on the left; and OA, to the right

That’s all for this series; check back next week for the start of a new set of weekly blogs!

Knobs

B674 knob

B674-31-OC

The B674-31 is one of the three original pieces in this suite. It features the braided rope design around the rim of the knob. With a 1¼” diameter, it is similar in size to many of our other standard round knobs while offering a decorative alternative to more traditional styles. As with all of the hardware suites, this item is solid brass and available in 10 finishes.

B721 knob

B721-VB

In response to customer requests, the original B711 knob has been replaced by the new B721, which was introduced in spring of 2009. This oblong knob has the same look and braided design of the B711; however, it has been enlarged slightly. Where the B711 knob was 1¼” in diameter and 1” in height, the B721 knob is 1½” in diameter with a height of 1¼”.

Other knobs

161-IR

Since all of the pieces in the Cliffside signature line are available in all ten finishes and are all made from the same material, any knob can be used with the Rope Suite, if you prefer not to utilize the above designs. In the new product supplement, the B674 and B721 are accompanied by the 161 knob, but any other knob can also be used.

Pulls

K344 series pulls in 3"cc, 8"cc and 12"cc models

Before our recent line expansion, the K344 series was notably inconsistent, with the 3″cc pull available in the BNI finish while the 12″cc appliance pull was available in SS (Silver Satin). We are pleased to announce that all of the pieces are now available in the SS finish only, allowing you a greater freedom to choose pieces that match your hardware! The newest piece is the K344-8, a stylish size that is appropriate for oversized pantry doors or for appliances like dishwashers and trash compactors with wood panel kits.

K544-AB

This suite is the only one to receive a completely new cup pull as well; it was designed in conjunction with our suppliers especially for Cliffside Industries. Borrowing the braided design of the K344 and following the style of the ever-popular K4235, the new K544 cup makes a bold statement on any drawer.

Accessories

SBCL-PN

Each Cliffside suite can be accompanied by the use of one or more latches. Cliffside offers two styles: the IBCL finger latch, and the SBCL turn latch. Each is cast from solid brass and will prove more durable in the long run than any similar products made of inferior materials. Cliffside also offers the widest variety of finishes in the industry for both of these products.

BH2A-FB-NF

Cliffside’s solid brass hinges are the perfect solution for matching an exposed hinge to your hardware. Made with solid one-piece construction, our hinges have been developed with the finest European craftsmen to bring you a product that remains unchanged over the years and continues to provide the high quality you deserve and expect. Cliffside currently offers six hinge styles, with a new seventh style arriving in early 2010. The BH2A hinge is available with our signature steeple finial (17 finishes), a ball finial (11 finishes), or no finial (11 finishes). Its larger counterpart, the BH3A, is available with its signature minaret finial in 13 finishes. The BH2A-NM non-mortise butt hinge has 16 finishes to choose from with the signature finial, and 11 finishes with a ball tip as well. The newest hinge style, BH3A-NM — a larger non-mortise hinge — will be available with the signature finial in 11 finishes coming in early 2010. Additionally, Cliffside offers two styles of offset hinges and two styles of armoire hinges to supply your cabinet construction needs.

The moral?

Let yourself get roped in to buying Cliffside hardware this winter – you won’t regret it!