A Lesson on Windows

So here's another history lesson about old houses, for those of you who have been wondering :-).

You may have been in an old house before and noticed the ropes attached to either side of the lower window. These sash cords are actually how the window stays open.

Within the casing of the window, there are lead counter-weights recessed into the walls. One weight weighs half as much as the entire lower window (so about 40 pounds in this case). The sash cord runs up behind in casing, and out through the pulley at the top. It then attaches to either side of the window. When you open the window, the weights move down, counter balancing the window so that it stays open where you put it.

Unfortunately, if the cords snap (which they do over time) and you try to open the window, 80 pounds of window will come slamming down on you! So, I need to restring the windows with new sash chain (stronger than the rope, and looks cooler!). Ironically, no place near us sells it! The only place I can find restoration pieces for the windows is... in New Hampshire! So, next trip out to see my parents, I will be heading to the store to pick up the pieces to fix the windows in the house that currently slam shut!