For this project, we fabricated custom wood double hung weight and chain windows with bent glass.
Project: Prospect Park, Brooklyn
This project consisted of two phases: one was replicating four bent glass weight and chain windows, and the other was restoration of the front wood double doors at the entry.
Project: 80 White St.
Right Path Windows & Restoration was tasked with the historic replication of this 6 story building, in a variety of ways.
How Weight and Chain Windows Work
Weight and chain windows employ a counterbalance system that is quite simple. On a basic level, the weight and chain window system involves a pulley, a chain, and a weight. This highly efficient system leverages mechanical advantage to harness a simple machine to make everyday life easier, especially when operating weight and chain windows.
The Pulley: A Simple Machine
Weights and chains have been used to facilitate the operation of windows since the early 1700's. This system has stood the test of time due to its sheer simplicity. The pulley is believed to date back to 1500 BCE, when the people of Mesopotamia used ropes and pulleys to hoist their water.
A Working Vocabulary of Window Hardware
Windows are constructed of more than just wood and glass. Hardware not only makes windows functional, but it also enhances their appearance. Hardware is a bit like jewelry for your windows. However, the nomenclature for the hardware may be rather confusing at first glance. Below you will find a brief glossary of some terms that may be of interest when restoring your wooden windows back to their original splendor.