When we started selling windows we quickly realized that one problem was to show as many windows as possible in a confined space.Putting up an A frame racking was our solution.In the early years we covered the whole parking lot in front of the store.It would take 2 days to assemble the racks and another 2 days to fill all the spaces.As the years have progressed we have been putting up fewer and fewer racks.This year we have put up about 1/4 of the racking that we use to assemble.The whole process of assembling and filling the racks was done in only 1 day.
As we look at our several storage shed it is clear that our inventory of original frame windows is dwindling.This past weekend we had an Ontario antique dealer come by and purchase 38 windows for his store.If sales continue at the present rate we will run out of smaller sized windows next year.There is still a supply of large windows (they take 2 people to move) in storage.A trip to England 4 years ago did not result in us finding another source of windows, so there will no more containers to resupply the shed.
We have lots of unframed windows yet to restore and put out both in the store, and in the ‘covered area’ so we expect the store to go on for many more years.
Every weekend there are new customers who walk up the driveway.They have either found us on the internet, or simply say that they’ve drive by us a thousand times and ‘today was the day to stop’.It’s fun to meet and greet people who are new to the store, and feel just a bit over-whelmed.
Thanks for your support.
We have started pulling window inventory out of its winter storage and filling the spaces on the racking. There is no particular order for displaying the windows, decisions regarding where to put any window is based on finding a space that it will fit into. The end result is that there is blend of simple and fancy, along with inexpensive and high-end.Some of the windows are so large the must sit on the ground. These windows can be so large that they take 2 people to move them, and would require a rental cube van to transport. These larger windows have been built into large wall spaces, and have been used in office and restaurant renovations.When we assemble the racks we end up using a variety of materials from different ages of rack building (hence the various paint colours). The braces that join the tops of the racking is intended to keep the racks stable in strong winds. Approximately 20 years ago (before we started installing top braces) a strong November storm came through and toppled 6 racks over against one another, not a good day for us.Every year we wonder when we should assemble the display racks on the driveway. As you can tell from this picture there is still a pile of snow just off the parking area. We still expect that there will be some cold weather, and maybe a small snow storm, but the warm weather is starting to show up and we need to get on with putting out our summer display.When we put the windows out on display we need to use twine to hold them in place. Paul is standing with a ball of bailer twine as his feet. These larger windows need to be tied in place individually. Baler twine is the ideal material, intended for farm use it is extremely strong and 9000 feet only costs $27. (one of the true bargains left in life).
