New product introduction: Contemporary and crystal No comments yet

Cliffside Industries is proud to announce the addition of several new hardware sets to our line. Rather than our hardware suites, which are constructed from solid brass and bronze and stainless steel, these smaller “sets” give customers the opportunity to mix and match on a smaller scale. This line includes several new elegant crystal options, as well as a wide variety of choices in contemporary styles.

New European crystal

Cliffside Industries’ line of special-order crystal now includes several items using elements from Swarovski, the famed Austrian crystal manufacturer. In addition to our wide selection of lead crystal knobs, Cliffside now offers a selection of crystal pulls, shining like sparkling diamonds inset in polished chrome. In all, Cliffside has added 12 new items, including the CX100 series shown below.

New stainless steel

Having carried high-quality stainless steel lines for years in the form of the T305, T366, and D85 series pulls, Cliffside has now added four new lines of special-order stainless steel handles. The CX403 and CX404 series are nearly identical; both are an attractive square design with the same thickness maintained throughout the pull. The CX403 is thinner, at approximately ¹/₂“, while the CX404 offers a thickness of approximately ⁵/₈“. Both are available in a variety of sizes (CX403-192-BNA shown below).

The CX753 and CX754 series are another alternative for those customer seeking a round shape that is not like the T305 and T366 that we already provide. Offering multiple sizes in both styles, the CX753 is a thinner, cylindrical shape, while the CX754 has a flatter, more elliptical bar with round feet. Shown below is the CX754 series in a 128mm (approximately 5¹/₁₆“) center-to-center:

New contemporary sets

While Cliffside’s focus has always been traditional hardware, we do realize that there is an occasional demand for contemporary products. Therefore, we have added this special-order line to fill that need. With a variety of knobs and pulls in different sizes, Cliffside offers several different styles, all offered as shown on our website. Some series, like the Italian pieces shown below, are available in three finishes (Polished Chrome, Silver Satin, and Weathered Bronze):

Others, like the contemporary collection here, are available only in one or two colors.

For information

To get information on any new Cliffside products, you can visit our website at www.cliffsideind.com or by clicking any of the product-specific links or pictures above. You can also reach us by phone at (800) 873-9258 between 8 AM and 4:30 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday, or by e-mail at info@cliffsideind.com or blog@cliffsideind.com. You can also ask questions or post comments about our new products at our Facebook page or on our Twitter account.

What’s the difference: part 1 of 3 No comments yet

Cliffside’s customer service representatives field hundreds of questions a day. We’ve compiled a list of some of the most common, and an overwhelming majority related to comparisons of Cliffside’s finishes. In this three-part series, we’ll examine some of the finishes that Cliffside offers as part of its signature line and clarify the similarities and differences between them.

What’s the difference between…

…polished chrome and polished nickel?

Cliffside’s polished chrome, or PC, finish is similar to the color of chrome you would find on a car. It’s a classic finish with a variety of uses, from traditional to contemporary. It has a high-polish lacquer on it to maintain that timeless reflective shine.

Polished nickel (PN) is also a high-polish gray finish, like PC. However, the major difference comes from the color tone. Where polished chrome tends slightly more toward colder, bluer tones, polished nickel is more warm and yellow-hued. Designers who have compared the two say that the polished nickel is slightly darker.

Below, you can compare the finishes for yourself on a solid brass knob:

161 knob, shown in PC (left) and PN (right)

Polished chrome is also available on zinc die-cast hardware; with a different base material, PC looks nearly identical. Polished nickel is a premium finish only available on solid brass hardware.

…polished nickel and silver satin?

Above, you can see that polished nickel has a high-gloss lacquer. Silver satin, or SS, also has a lacquer, but it is a clear lacquer with much less sheen. The color of “silver satin” is actually a brushed nickel finish, and is comparable to much of the brushed stainless steel that you will find on the market today.

Silver satin and polished nickel (along with polished chrome, above) are part of Cliffside’s ten signature finishes, which means that they are available on all of the pieces shown in the Cliffside solid brass hardware suites. When viewed next to one another, you can see that SS is merely a brushed version of PN.

See the similarities below:

K341 cup pull, shown in PN (above) and SS (below)

…silver satin, brushed nickel, and stainless steel?

These three finishes are all very similar in the Cliffside line. Silver satin is available on both solid brass and zinc die-cast hardware. It is similar to brushed nickel, but items like K-514 will be slightly different due to their underlying material and finish process. All Cliffside stainless steel is brushed, not polished, so its color tone is also very like the SS.

Compare the three side-by-side:

At left: solid brass items #100 and #SP-3; center: zinc die-cast items #K-514 and #P-195; at right: stainless steel items #T565-30 and #T366-96

This year’s knob-minees No comments yet

The 83rd annual Academy Awards are rapidly approaching and, with them, the presentation of this year’s Golden Knob Awards! Check back next Friday to find out who the winners are, but until then, here’s your list of nominees!

Best Foreign Feature

Foreign Feature nominee: PM3-WT

Presented to Cliffside’s best import from our lines of European lead crystal and marble

• M994
• PM5-BG
• M13-32
• PM3-WT
• P-3-BLACK

Best Original Piece

K544-IR nominated for Best Original Piece

Presented to the best hardware piece that is unique to the Cliffside line

• B600-VB
• 148-SS
• 149-PN
• K544-IR
• K579-AB

Best Adaptation

Scroll Suite: nominee for Best Adaptation

Presented to the Cliffside line whose adaptation best serves our customers

• Rope Suite
• Classic Suite
• Scroll Suite
• Artisan Suite
• Criss-Cross Suite

Best “Short”

The 97015 butcher block knob

Presented to the best piece in our line of “small” or “miniature” hardware

• 97015-SS
• 100-20-IR
• AZ-SM
• 72
• M25

Best Supporting Actor

Great supporting performance from BH2A-OC-BALL

Presented to the hardware piece providing the “best support”

• 3-8-OFFSET-AB
• BH2A-OC-BALL
• AHO-VB
• BH2A-NM-OA
• BH3A-PC

Best Picture

24BP is a backplate for crystal knobs.

Presented to the piece that best exemplifies the great new photography on Cliffside’s website

• 3405-BZ
• M995-AQUA
• BH2A-RA
• IBCL-SS
• 24BP-PN

Be sure to check back Friday to find out this year’s winners!

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)

Go for the Gold! No comments yet

With the conclusion of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Cliffside is taking the time to examine some of our own “metal” winners. Here are the top three reasons to choose Cliffside over other hardware suppliers:

The (Oil-Rubbed) Bronze Medal: Style

Venetian Bronze is one of Cliffside's two oil-rubbed bronze finishes.

Cliffside Industries’ hardware suites offer a variety of styles in 10 signature finishes. All items within the suites are available in every finish, so you have the ability to mix and match simple styles like the Classic Suite with the designer touches of the Criss-Cross Suite, or the timeless design of the Scroll Suite with the unique twist of the Rope Suite. The selection of finishes allows you to come to Cliffside for all of your hardware needs: you can put together several distinct rooms in the same home just using one hardware suite!

The Silver (Satin) Medal: Speed

Cliffside's ball-tip hinges were introduced in 2009.

All stock items from Cliffside ship from our warehouse within 24 hours of receiving your order. Whether it’s hinges or handles, knobs or pulls that you need, Cliffside Industries is ready and willing to fulfill any and all of your hardware needs. If you need your hardware even faster, we offer a variety of expedited shipping options to get the hardware to your door by the day you need it. Cliffside’s customer representatives strive for excellent service and unparalleled reliability to ensure customer loyalty; please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you!

The Gold Medal: Quality

Like gold? Try Antique Brass!

No other company in the hardware industry can match the quality that Cliffside Industries’ hardware provides. Crafted from the finest materials, our solid brass hardware provides a security that you simply cannot get with products made from zinc or other economy materials. In particular, Cliffside’s hinges, developed in cooperation with some of the industry’s largest and most well-respected manufacturers, are constructed with the help of our European partners with a reputation for the finest precision manufacturing.

For all of your hardware needs, Cliffside Industries is a winner! Please contact us if you have any questions on any products that we offer.