Old Things Considered
Advice and trivia for the do-it-yourselfer
Ghislaine Darden

I have a few double hung windows that don’t work at all. Whenever we raise them to the open position, the lower sash comes slamming down. Is this something that I can fix my self? --John D.

John, it sounds as if the weights in your windows are not doing their job. If you were to look into the right and left faces of your window frame, you would probably see that your sash cords or chains are cut.

When I started to replace my first sash cord I was really very nervous. But by the time I completed my fifth window, I found the task relatively easy and fun. You will need only a few supplies: prybar, new ¼” sash cord, nail set, hammer, finish nails, wood putty, and a screw driver.

Your first goal is to reach the well that contains the broken sash cord and its counterweight. This is called the weight pocket. You’ll get there through the “Stop” or channel moulding - a flat piece of moulding which holds the window sash in place. Even if only one cord is broken, you may want to go ahead and replace both cords once you have the window frame open.

1. Cut a good length of cord, say double the height of your window.

2. Remove the nails from the channel moulding or “Stop” from the left and right sides of your window. Gently lift your lower sash out and store in a safe place.

3. In the lower left and right corner, you may see small access doors screwed into place which will lead to the “Weight Pocket.” Unscrew these doors and inspect the weights, removing any old cord or chain still attached.

4. Look into the upper left and right corners for the small pulley. Thread your ¼” rope through the pulley, from the window side, and thread it down into the weight pocket until you can tie it to the counterweight sitting in the access door.

5. Now for the fun part. You will need to reinsert (temporarily) the bottom sash back into the window frame; however, before sliding the bottom sash in place, you will need to route the close end of the cord through a narrow slot on the side of the bottom sash. Hold the window in place while you fish the cord through that little hole; and then tie a knot so it won’t slip back through.

6. Now test the length of the cord. Try to raise the window all of the way, so that the weights are close to the bottom of the well, but not touching the well. When the length is right, cut the rope!

7. Replace your access panel door, position the lower window sash back into the original location, and reinstall your original channel moulding using the finishing nails. Countersink the nails, fill with the wood putty, and sand and repaint your trim and window as needed.

Did You Know…

that Amanda Smith, Mrs. Paul and Celeste Lizio all have something in common, something which Betty Crocker and Aunt Jemima cannot claim to share?

In 1900, Amanda Smith struggled to make ends meet in her small community of Pottstown, PA. Her son would soon begin selling slices of her delicious pies, first at the local “Y,” then to restaurants and grocery stores. In 1946, Edward Piszek was also trying to make ends meet to feed his family, while on strike at the local power plant. He begins to sell deviled crab cakes in a local Philadelphia bar and when not enough were sold, he stored the remainders in the bar’s freezer, hoping they would be still be fresh and tasty when he returned the next week – which they were. His pal John Paul would chip in $350 and together they started their frozen seafood business. Even though it was Mrs. Piszek who made the crab cakes, the business was named after John Paul’s mother, whose name was easier to pronounce. Celeste Lizio was known in her Chicago neighborhood for her delicious homemade pizzas. They were so popular that she decided to open her first pizzeria in 1930. By the 1940s, with business booming, she makes an unusual decision: she closes the pizzeria and instead begins to supply pizzas as well as pizza supplies to the local restaurants. Today, the legacy these women left behind lives on every time you buy a “Mrs. Smith’s” Pie, a “Mrs. Paul’s” frozen fish product or a “Celeste” Frozen Pizza.

But Betty Crocker and Aunt Jemima were NOT real people, just fictitious names created to sell their respective products. The senior leadership of General Mills were determined to put a friendly face in front of their company. In 1921, they selected “Betty”, thought to be “a warm and friendly name.” Mr. Crocker was a retired General Mills executive, and the name “Betty Crocker” was born.

In 1889, the Pearl Milling Company had developed the first ready-pancake mix, and would develop a likable character for advertising purposes. Nancy Green, born in 1834, would be selected to be the first of many women hired to play the character of Aunt Jemima, traveling throughout the country on behalf of the Milling Company. Today, the Aunt Jemima character has slimmed down considerably and lost her kerchief!

Ghislaine Darden of Benner Street is an old house enthusiast and a Highland Park resident since 1984. Send her your antique and restoration questions to oldthings@hpmirror.com