History of Hinges

The history of the door hinge dates back to antiquity. This ancient hardware is much different than how it is used today according to archaeologists, but the door hinge still maintains its original function and purpose. There is no exact origin of the hinge, but the oldest date back to almost 5,500 years ago for metal door hinges. However, there is evidence that even older cultures used stone and wood to create hardware that connected doors to their frames.

Today’s hinges are much more flexible and functional - serving a wide range of uses. The 20th century gave rise to hinges that allowed doors to pivot in any direction. Hinges were also developed with springs to keep devices from snapping shut or jumping open randomly. In addition, corrosion-resistant hinges are now used to protect metal hinges from rust due to salt and other impurities in the operational environment.

Hinges now come in numerous configurations and serve multiple purposes for various industries. For example, there are hinges specific to military, aerospace, computing, industrial transportation, and other commercial applications.