Q: Hi I have a 70 year old home. Front door entry is starting to act up. Seems the deadlatch is sticking and no amount of spray will make it work right. Photos here:
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Looking for the right part to replace it if possible. Schlage line. Pretty standard sizes. Maybe even a standard design from 1940s. Looked at 12-100 deadlatch but looks inverted to my mechanics. Do you know if you can sell me the part needed? Best, Brad
A: What makes you conclude that this latch bolt is inverted in comparison to your photographs?
Q: Just my guess on the photo. If I oriented to the way the “working end” of the latch fits in our door then I wondered if the other end would line up with the 3 holes I need (turning lever arm plus 2 screw-throughs). I was also guessing even to land on this B250 series….. to replace a 1940s era Schlage front entry door lock. If you think it is the right part I will order it. Can I call to do that or is the website set up for an order? (I also need the T strike plate). Both in brass. Thanks
A: it's very likely going to work it's just there's no one alive that has any working knowledge of that locks that has been made from about the 1940s up until the very early 1990s
I can tell you that the vintage of those locks from the 1980s and 1990s we're compatible with the latch bolt we are currently discussing
Please tell me a very precise location of the two posts that go through the last bolt and then the tail piece that goes through the last bolt give me horizontal and vertical center to centers and I will take my caliper and measure exactly to see how close we are
Q: Your offer is very helpful. I need to pull the latch to get all the specs — might be need to allow time for that as this door has a copper weather strip in the way. I took some pictures of it installed. Can those help? The key measure that I could get close to is the space across the door handle pair of screws — that post-post measure is what looks like 15/16”. Photos here:
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Do you think this new part would fit? Thanks
A: I'll tell you - based on the information that you provided - I would now be amazed if the modern latch bolt was not compatible - I would proceed with pretty strong confidence.
regarding your weatherstripping please send photographs as I can supply that as well
Q: Hey Rich,
This client is looking to replace the current handleset they have on their door. They're stating they reached out to Schlage (this is a Schlage lock) and was informed the item was discontinued. They're looking for a suggested possible replacement.
Will you take a look at this and let me know what you think and or if I should get more info from the client...The lower plate on the interior door is the tricky part. We want to update the look on the door. Photos here:
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Thanks!
A: WOW - thats the venerable Schlage E series
What a superb lock. Might have been the E51PD PLY x FLA x LH x 605 (part number) and discontinued 20 - years ago +/-
Stated plainly, there is not a replacement for it.
What is wrong with it?
Q: It is broken and am updating the house. Thanks for replying. I look st your website and see if there is anything else we might need! Appreciate the response. Mary Anne
A: broken how? I ask as I expect you may want to repair this as a replacement will prove costly in terms of hardware and door rework.
Q: I don’t really want to repair it. I need a new handle set. I may have tenants in the house. I do not want calls about the door.
A: I understand - and I will give it to you speaking plainly - locating a replacement for this lock is going to cost $1,500.00 plus freight and not sure how EXACT I can match the design / color of yours
How shall we proceed? I will likely have this lock in stock, new old stock, by perhaps without the interior lever as I think mine are only interior knobs.
can you tell me what is wrong with it? Perhaps a repair?
Q: I can’t take it off to send for repair. I have to depend on the locksmith to fix it. One guy made it worse. The lever doesn’t go down, and it is ugly. Needs updating!
A: you want the lock replaced outright - that much is clear. What I am driving at is this; that is not as simple as it would seem to most people.
The E/EB series locks were made from about 1955 until about 1992 and an archival catalog on this 'E/EB' series can be seen here:
Download File
The link to the above catalog drives to the heart of the problem which is the preparation that you have in your door meaning that elongated cutout is unique out early to the Schlage series that you have. What I'm driving at is there is no lock that you can purchase to upgrade to that will fit into the same hole preparation. This drives home the point that wanting to update the lock is not a simple proposition by no means whatsoever.
for people interested in seeing the temp living and machining requirements can click the link here to the template:
Download File
I see that you have three options:
1. Leave the lock as it is and hope for the best.
2. Replace not only the lock but repair the door, possibly a dutchman the redrill and reprep for all new hardware (you're going to notice that duplicating the functionality of an independent locking thumb piece along with the auxiliary locking deadbolt above is going to prove all but impossible to inexpensively duplicate).
3. Let me help you repair the lock so that you can continue to get future decades of service out of the unit.
Q: I actually have the exact lock being discussed in this thread. Schlage lockset E 51 PD Plymouth. It is brand new in the original box! I've been reluctant to use it as that the paperwork in it states 1950's Vintage, and the packaging is exquisite! That's the only reason I purchased it years ago. Please hit me up if anyone is interested in it. Thanks! ~Michael
A: Please reply to this email with photographs of the unit.
Q: I saw this youtube video on Schlage E & EB Series Lock Review presented by Rich Howard. I had a question you might be able to answer. I have a Schlage Dorchestor E Series handleset. How do I remove the inside handle so that I can remove the handle? Images can be seen here:
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A: I have created a video that I hope will help you determine how to remove and reinstall your lock as seen here:
Click Here
If there are any follow-up questions to this please feel free to reach out to us.
Q: Richard, Thank you so much for the video. I would never have found that little tab on the bottom of the door knob without the help of this video. It’s tiny and easy to overlook if you don’t know it’s there. So I was able to get the door knob off with your help! We have the Plymouth Knob and Rose style, as seen in the 1978 catalog. To get the Rose plate off, there is tab at the bottom that needs to be depressed (similar but larger than the knob tab). With the Rose plate off, there are two bolts at the top and a place where there obviously should be a third bolt at the bottom. The problem is, I can’t get those top two bolts to budge and I’m afraid of applying too much force and stripping the bolt head. The problem with this particular handleset is that the cylinder is frozen. Several years ago I was refinishing the door after the paint started peeling and ended up removing the handleset to polish the brass. In course of doing that I disassembled the cylinder and by the time I got it back together the key would no longer turn. I tried lubricating the cylinder (with what I don’t recall) and at this point (several years later), I can’t even get the key into the cylinder. Do you have any suggestions for loosening the top bolts? If I can’t fix the cylinder, what would be a good candidate for a replacement cylinder?
A: Regrading removing the lock you will certainly want to use the perfect fitting screwdriver or call in an expert to remove the lock from the door.
Regarding the key no longer turning you may have reassembled it incorrectly so please review step 6 of the installation instructions as seen here:
Download File
And regarding the key entering the cylinder, that is an issue when you want a locksmith to help. You are welcome to ship the cylinder to us and, for a fee, we will strip the cylinder down, clean and reassemble with new parts.
Please let us know how this project unfolds for you.