Monroe Coldren & Son

The unassuming building in the photo above is typical of the architecture found in and around southeastern Pennsylvania such as in the city of West Chester. The fact that the sign on the side of the building reads “antiques” is a bit of a misnomer. Yes, the shop does sell antiques, but they are not what you might expect. There are a couple small tables and a corner cupboard in the front room. There’s also a sampler hanging on the wall. But the important findings at Monroe Coldren & Son are the 18th and 19th century hardware and other building materials.

Ask Tim Coldren exactly what his business does and he immediately says, “conservators of metal and hardware.” According to Coldren, the shop is the largest supplier of 18th and 19th house restoration goods in the country , full house restoration goods. They have been acquiring, restoring and supplying materials for some of the nation’s finest homes for more than fifty years. The company has been involved with the Winterthur Museum, the Jimmy Carter Ancestry Homestead and the Grover Cleveland Home located in New Jersey as well as many other historic places.

I’ve briefly discussed in earlier entries some of the period hardware, quickly mentioned the period fireplace mantels and described stacks of shutters. The company also has a full line of lighting, hearth equipment, candlesticks, brass and copper. In addition, they offer a full line of restoration, repair and reproduction services on all metals. This is not just a buy and sell shop. These guys are blacksmiths with an on-site forge and all the tools necessary to do the job. They can make almost any item you’ll need , if, that is, they don’t have a period piece sitting around the shop.

What’s the odds they do have that special piece you’re looking for? Very high, I would say. As you walk the premises, it becomes overwhelming. How could anyone find a particular piece? That’s where Coldren begins to beam. He is the Pete Rose of restoration hardware. He’ll gladly bet you that he can find any piece they have in stock. And if you accept that bet, you best be digging in your pocket for the money. Coldren grew up rummaging through the shop, watching his father move inventory and sorting massive amounts of materials. In all, he’s been around the shop for 40 years , he knows where things are. Especially the odd things they have on hand.

Take a look at the above photo. That is a copper flask that was made and used during prohibition. It wasn’t right to attend a sporting event without the necessary refreshments available, so some enterprising copper smith made a rather large flask that belted around one’s middle. With a layer of clothing and an outer coat, it would be difficult to detect such an item , these were the days before actual pat downs before you entered the stadiums.

Here, though, is my favorite story Coldren gave us during our visit. The can he holds in the photo at the right is full of period rosehead nails, the larger size nails. He discovered the nails one day while scouting through an area auction. It just happened that his Mother was at the auction, too. Coldren asked his mother to buy the nails that where, at the time, in an old paint bucket. “How much do you want to pay,” she asked. “Just buy the bucket,” was his reply. In the end, Mom bought the bucket of nails for $400 and became known as the old women that paid $400 for an old paint bucket. Little did anyone know that the bucket contained about a thousand nails that sell for nearly $2 each. Now that’s a great buy.

If you’re looking for period house items, have a family heirloom that is in need of repair or are interested in adding period hardware to your reproduction, Monroe Coldren & Son is the place to call. You don’t have to buy $300 William & Mary pulls (shown in a previous entry). How about nailing on your backboards with period nails. That would be a great story to add to your own work.

– Glen D. Huey