A new law in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, says lever handles are required on all doors and faucets in all new housing construction. That means a doorknob can't be used on a front or inside door. The city removed old Art Deco doorknobs from doors in the historic city hall built in 1936. The pressed glass doorknob was patented in the United States in 1824, but fancy metal knobs were most popular from the 1840s to 1915 and are collected today. (Visit the website of the Antique Doorknob Collectors of America, AntiqueDoorKnobs.org, to learn more.) Why no knobs in new Vancouver houses? To make it easier for a person with a disability to open doors and turn on faucets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photo: Antiquedoorknobs.org