value of door handles from house build during the 40 ths (auctions, place)

[isaworldwide]

Need information about door handles from house in Westchester, Los Angeles build during the 40ths, was told even they look and feel like plastic, the material is not plastic.
thank you for any info. concerning value

[bellalunatic]

Sounds like they're Bakelite.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...e+door+&aqi=g3

[kettlepot]

They may be Bakelite, pronounced Bay-ka-lite. Bakelite was an early form of plastic, or a predecessor to modern plastics. Bakelite had a more substantial feel to it than modern plastic.

I have no particular knowledge of the value of your doorknobs, however, they do have value. Anyone looking to restore his home to it's original 1940s condition would want them. EBAY auctions might be a good place to gauge the current supply and demand crossover point.

[ehcsrop]

Brass was hard to find during WWII and there were plastic knobs. Bakelite is a plastic just like fiberglass laminated products are.

Call Liz's Hardware in LA for more info. And look at the pic in my link:
Vintage and Antique Hardware : Bakelite Door Knobs

I've seen them in an ivory tone as well.

[isaworldwide]

Thank You all for the info.