those brass door plates thingies

[conny29]

I own an Edwardian house and under my exterior door is an original brass plate over the doorstep . It is badly tarnished, but where it has made contact with the door over the years, you can clearly see shiney brass underneath. Does any one know the best way of restoring the plate back to it's former glory and what the name of the door plate is called?

[mrs.pudding]

Autosol (from a motor shop) is brilliant stuff and recommended by some conservationists for brass.  Or a solution of citric acid (used in wine making I think).  1/2 oz. to a pint of hot water.  Swab the solution on to the metal.  Leave for a little while and then rinse it off.

But I don't know what the plate is called!

[zmudge]

It is simply a brass threshold cover plate. Autosol is certainly the stuff to use.

[smudge]

The correct names are simly:

Door Plates for above/below the door handles.

Kick Plates for the bottom of doors.

[smudge]

*simply

(Too early in the day for me)!

[zmudge]

The small plates near to door handles are Finger Plates.

A wide metal plate at the bottom of a door is a Kicking Plate.

A wide metal plate in the centre of a door is a Trolley Plate.

Door is from the Old Norse Dyrhh, a walk-through window.

[smudge]

zmudge - That's interesting, I have a few books on Victorian & Edwardian houses & accessories. The articles on 'plates' only show/read Door Plates & Kick Plates. Never thought of Trolley Plate. 

I shall now Google to find a wider picture of the ones you menton, unless you could furnish me with the details of where you found your suggestions.

[BillyBB]

I got the impression that this plate was fixed to the floor not the door. If it is only as wide as the door is thick it would be a 'Threshold Strip'. It sounds like it extends out more, so 'Threshold Plate' would be more applicable.

If the lacquer has been baked on you could try paint remover, some hardware shops sell brass cleaning and lacquering kits.

[smudge]

I see what you mean BillyBB - the beginning of conny29's question refers to the doorstep, the latter part refers to the door.

[X111]

zmudge had already said that it was a threshold cover plate (second answer from top). Incidentally, whilst we are at it, the hole through which the postman sticks your lottery winnings cheques is covered by a letter plate.

[Oneeyedtic]

The disc thingy that covers the Chubb lock keyhole on the outside of my front door is apparently called an escutcheon.