I have some weird windows. I think?

[ChrisJ]

I suppose they could have been reused from somewhere else.

In one of my crawl spaces I have a few sashes which don't look anything like any of the windows in the house. They are 6 pane and use stables nailed in on an angle to hold the panes of glass in. Not sure why they would be made this way, I assume they are probably from an old shed or something? Or was there a time when windows for houses were actually made using nails \ staples to hold the glass in?

[CivilWarHome]

I've ran into some weird things but never glass held in with nails/staples. This to me would be a previous owner cutting corners. Our aluminum storms do not fit the windows correctly, so they used duct tape to seal the edges.

I'm curious to see what the window experts say on this, I'm sure they've seen it all, and could give you a better answer.

[jade mortimer]

we've seen many a little brad holding glass panes in place....we have seen 6-7 different kinds of points on one multi-paned sash...remember when we used to retain and reuse things? yankee thrift ring a bell? indeed, you would most likely find brads on shed or barn sash...
good call to suggest looking under the shim...you may find the plough and bore (groove and hole) for rope or chain at side of stile...this will tell you that the sash were retrofitted...
...jade

[ChrisJ]

Back in 1900-1901 whenever this house was built, how were windows made?
As in, did someone put an order in for 20 sashes of a certain size and then frame out the windows and install the sashes later on?

Our windows are not all the same size, they vary as much as a 1/4 or 1/2". Our bedroom has three windows and all 3 are slightly different size openings.

Perhaps they ordered sashes of one size and then realized some of them didn't fit so installed shims?

[Don M]

Back in 1900-1901 whenever this house was built, how were windows made?
As in, did someone put an order in for 20 sashes of a certain size and then frame out the windows and install the sashes later on?

Our windows are not all the same size, they vary as much as a 1/4 or 1/2". Our bedroom has three windows and all 3 are slightly different size openings.

Perhaps they ordered sashes of one size and then realized some of them didn't fit so installed shims?

Anything is possible. My 1830's vintage house has reused window sash & frames on the rear addition. They look pretty similar until you look closely then you see the trim is different from one to another. All our windows are single hung with no balances. A couple of the sash have push buttons to release them when closing but most have sticks cut to length so they are symetrical when open.