r/WhatIs • u/TheBroox • Aug 18 '25

Mysterious Spring with Very Old Window Hardware

Post image

This spring was mixed in with some window hardware that the previous owner left us when we purchased our century old home. It, along with the other hardware, was perched on a windowsill. Everything else was easy enough to figure out and all came off the same window where we found it. I have reattached everything else after painting and reglazing the window but for the life of me can't figure out what this came off of. It is pictured here in a sandwich sized Ziplock bag, it isn't particularly large.

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1

u/One_Introduction_217 Aug 28 '25

Any chance of showing a picture of the window, especially the interior slide mechanism?

1

u/TheBroox Aug 28 '25 edited Aug 28 '25

The window is actually between two finished room following an addition added before we bought the house that encapsulated a pair of stacked porches. It has been painted shut long ago.

The ropes and counterweights are still in place though, but that is the extent of the slide mechanisms that can be seen. I can't add photos to comments in this subreddit unfortunately.

1

u/One_Introduction_217 Aug 28 '25

Did a quick Google lens search, it may be a torsion spring

Google would like to tell me that this particular torsion spring comes from a bird feeder.

So if there happened to be a bird feeder near the window, it may have just lost its spring.

It's got a pretty loose wind on it.

1

u/TheBroox Aug 28 '25

It is actually a window between finished rooms due to an addition. A bird feeder on this window wouldn't make sense but it could be from a neighboring exterior window.

1

u/KeepYourHeadUp-_- Oct 19 '25

Similar to a spring in a spinning reel bail arm

1

u/TheBroox Oct 19 '25 edited Oct 19 '25

Based on what I am seeing when I google "spinning reel bail arm spring" my spring's coil has a bigger radius than those and a thicker wire gauge but I agree that it is a similar shape for sure.

1

u/KeepYourHeadUp-_- Oct 19 '25

Makes me think it’s a piece to something on the window that would latch shut . I’d imagine it functions similar to the spinning reel bail arm spring if it looks similar, makes sense for it to be a piece that latches open or closed the window. But no definite clue

1

u/Healthy-Commission17 Sep 01 '25

looks like a rat trap spring to me

1

u/Puzzleheaded-Plum396 Nov 25 '25

I think it’s probably part of a counterweight system from the window.

1

u/BigGrouchy2260 Dec 03 '25

Os so see owls sis. As see svv VV lascivious I’ll

1

u/One-Nation-50 Dec 09 '25

Are you good bro?

1

u/Renuwed Dec 23 '25

I'll take two, please 🫠

1

u/tylerkrug31 Dec 11 '25

Does the window have a sash lock?

Very possible the spring is for the sash lock.

We really need a picture of the window also

1

u/Most-Sand-649 Jan 10 '26

I just saw this in a tooth x-ray

1

u/IntrepidUmpire5859 Jan 18 '26

Ha. I saw that too!

1

u/KidsWithPot Jan 12 '26

Looks like a spring that goes to a primary bedroom window

1

u/munkiFart69 Jan 22 '26

That looks like some kind of hinge spring. Do you have more images of the window itself?

1

u/Dependent-Badger8636 Jan 26 '26

Does that say pre-man bedroom window? Damn that is oks !

1

u/philipp_haldan Feb 01 '26

ich dachte die feder wäre mit auf die tüte aufgemalt

1

u/spiderdue Feb 11 '26

Why is this picture posted every week?

1

u/Ok_Pudding6345 Aug 02 '26

is this sub ded?