From the outside, it still looks like a convenience store. But, the sign on the building says otherwise. And inside, it's history told through hardware. Hundreds of once forgotten, often discarded, door locks, hinges and window latches are on display. All the pieces look as good as new.
"Our whole thing here is useable hardware, said Ed Donaldson, co-owner of Antiques at the Turkeyfoot store just outside of Dillsburg. "We're not in it for collectors."
It's a niche in the antiques world that always fascinated Donaldson and co-owner Craig Mowery. They enjoy taking beat up and painted over door and window hardware and bringing it back to life.
"What we do is try to complete everything, said Donaldson. "We have everything ready so you can take it home and put it on your door and enjoy it."
Both Donaldson and Mowery say you can't beat the look and feel of locks and latches made centuries ago.
"It just gives you a good feeling, said Mowery, " that you took something that everyone looked at and didn't want, and you turn it around and make it into a nice early door knob lock to put on somebody's restoration project."
For nearly forty years, Donaldson and Mowery, along with their wives, have run separate hardware restoration businesses out of their homes. But, having a central location to display their wares makes it easier to meet customers and answer questions face to face.
Most of their customers are remodelers wanting an authentic look for an older home. But, some are new home builders looking for something unique. And, by using the Internet, their market is now global.
"I had a customer in Singapore, said Donaldson. "I've actually had customers in Japan. I don't know what they're doing with American hardware, but somebody there likes it."
