Our bathroom door knob has been acting wonky for a week, and today it finally locked us out. It's an old door knob, and a solid wooden door.
Spoiler!
The hole in the door shows what looks to be a larger than average Robertson-style bit. There is a bit that fits into that with a flat-head type screw and I'd imagine this is how I'm supposed to unlock the door. Unfortunately, trying to turn it does nothing.
I've removed the door knob, and the other side door knob could easily be pushed out onto the floor inside the bathroom. Won't take that step until I know it will help.
The hinges are on the inside, and there isn't the usual small strip of wood stopping the door - it's full on casing built into the wall.
Really don't want to call a locksmith - how can I open this door?
Last edited by BsFaninCGY; 12-01-2018 at 02:34 PM.
Usually the latch assembly for a doorknob (the part that sits inside the door and that the doorknob moves to open the door) has a way to go into different doors where the doorknob is in a couple of different distances from the edge of the door. That's what the square hole inside the hole in the door looks like, so that should be able to open the door in the same way as a door knob.. maybe if you get a screwdriver in there and turn that the same direction you'd turn the doorknob and turn the post that the doorknob turns as well you'll get enough leverage to turn it?
If you push the doorknob out on the other side, you'll just have to use a screw driver to turn the mechanism, so there's not much drawback if that happens.
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This knob is likely same vintage as the house - 1956. I've installed many newer knobs over the years, and know about what you're talking about for sizing, but that's not what this is. Like I mentioned, there's a 'bit' that goes into that square hole, the bit has a flat head style top, and when the knob is properly installed, the flat head is available to accessed - leading me to believe it's what will unlock the door. Normally.
Hole saw. Drill around the locking mechanism at the center to get access from your side.
That would be my suggestion too. You will need a hole anyway to install a new privacy lock-set. Drill half-way, carefully, remove the round wood piece to get to the mechanism, open the door, then finish drilling all the way. Done.
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My suggestion is to push the rod through and try a screwdriver to turn the mech. Some wd40 might help. These mechs are quite simple. Opening the hole a bit might help. That knob looks way older than 1956. That’s a 20’s vintage piece.
My suggestion is to push the rod through and try a screwdriver to turn the mech. Some wd40 might help. These mechs are quite simple. Opening the hole a bit might help. That knob looks way older than 1956. That’s a 20’s vintage piece.
Glass knobs were popular from the 1890s to 1940s, but they've been around since. Even today you can buy brand new glass knobs and old-fashioned mortise locks.
BSFan, rather than trying to describe "a 'bit' that goes into that square hole", just post a photo of the back side of the knob. How does it normally lock from inside the bathroom? A push-button? A small switchlever? Push the knob in and turn? Modern privacy locks —and by modern I mean just about anything made in the last century other than a replacement mortise lock—will have the lock mechanism contained in the inside knob, so if you've already got access from the outside as pictured in your photos you should be able to just push the other knob out, stick a screwdriver in the mechanism and turn the bolt to unlatch the door.
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Help me unlock this door
