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Completed, refurbished gates at Locks Gallery

In 1908 Samuel Yellin hand-forged a beautiful set of Iron gates for the editorial offices of Lea and Febiger Publishers in Washington Square Philadelphia. Ever since then, these gates have expressed their beauty for all that pass by.

In 2016, Compass Ironworks was contacted to refurbish these Yellin Masterpieces. Locks Gallery, the building owner, was very prudent in getting them refurbished at this stage. Definitely within that golden hour, just when the finish is starting to deteriorate, but there is minimal corrosion or damage to the structural integrity.

“We just love these gates, they are awesome. You can tell each individual scroll was forged by hand. There are no two exactly alike. With the joinery method, the hot collar detail and the rosettes, these gates are truly inspiring for us,” says Amos Glick of Compass Ironworks.

Weighing in at over 400lbs each, removing these gates was not an easy feat, and due to the alcove they sat in, it was impossible to utilize any hoisting or lifting equipment. Once both gates were stripped down, the Samuel Yellin Stamp was clearly visible. Once cleaned up, the gates were dipped in a liquid epoxy for complete encapsulation of the fine details of the beautiful work. Next, an eco-friendly powder-coat was applied to withstand the elements for decades. The Latch mechanism was deconstructed, cleaned and oiled and reassembled, but did require some adjustments for smooth operation.

The workings of the latch still in mint condition after 108 years of use.

Upon installation, it was discovered a previous refurbishment had compromised the door opening. Some strategic alterations were made, the gates were realigned, and these magnificent gates now have a new lease on life, ready to perform for the next 108 years.

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Thanks to the Compass team. The original work that was done 12 years ago still looks great. Unfortunately, we had to remove the railings to install new pillars this year due to weather related issues with the stones. Compass removed the rails and reinstalled them after the repairs were done. All looks beautiful again.

Thomas Zentz

We were thrilled to work with Compass again on our back porch project! The end result is gorgeous and the process was seem less. In a time characterized by delays, labor shortages and supply chain issues, Compass exceeded our expectations by providing a beautiful product and outstanding service in a timely manner. We look forward to working with Compass again in the future on all our metalwork needs.

Thank you so much again for your help!

Gina Bevan

Compass was very flexible when we changed our design. Quality was so wonderful, and unexpected.
We would never go to anyone else.

Amy Stone

Amos, your team exceeded extremely high expectations. The stairs are the heart and soul of the house, and as the main focal point are a treasure to the owners and architect. Every visit is followed by “come see the stairs”. I know how challenging it was to build and install this masterpiece, having worked as a builder for 50 plus years, and admire how your crew stayed positive and focused throughout. I can’t wait for the next one!

Custom Home Builder~ Northern VA
Front entrance metal gate