Their Use

Used to protect the keyholes cut in doors so that the holes do not get broken away by continually putting the key into the lock. When made with a cover they prevent dust getting into the lock.

The Process

i. To be cut out of 14 or 16 I.S.W.G. brass and outline filed to shape with bastard and smooth files.

2. Drill holes for screws and keyhole.

3. Trim off the burr and file keyhole to shape.

4. Hold the escutcheon on a flat piece of wood by means of pins round the edges.

5. Face up with bastard and smooth files.

6. Chamfer where necessary, then add the decorative features.

7. Polish, stain, or lacquer, as required.

The Decoration

The top line on page 58 shows decoration by means of an outline of pleasing form.

The bottom line shows how chamfering may be used as a decorative feature, additional to the outline.

The top line on page 59 is where simple lines, dots, and curved chisel marks are utilized as decorative motifs.

The bottom line on the same page gives a more difficult example of piercing with a fret saw; the second one shows a simple form applied and fixed by small rivets; this form is also shown on page 67; the third one is a covered escutcheon. A pattern would be made of this cover, and a casting obtained, then filed up and riveted together, so that the weight of the cover would allow it to drop into its correct position after the key was removed from the lock.

With regard to setting out the keyhole, a line should be drawn down the centre of the escutcheon, and the centre dots for marking the holes to be drilled should be placed on this line. This keyhole could also be punched out, or cut out with a fret saw (see page 91 for fret saw and method of using it).

The decorative screw heads with one exception are ordinary screws filed to the shapes suggested. The last one with the row of pearling round the edge would be cast and the pearls chased up by hand.

Fig. 1.-Examples of simple escutcheons.

Fig. 2. - Examples of decorated escutcheons.