I recently moved into a home with some older windows which don't work all that well. The most actionable issue is there are gaps between the sash and jambs, which let in noise and drafts. I'm in Northern California, so there are no really extreme temperatures here, but it's getting colder. In the short term, I can use foam weatherstripping, but I'd like to do a more permanent repair so the windows work better.
The setup is a bay window with three hung windows. I don't know how old they are. The bottom sashes are all operable. The top are not, but I can't tell if that's because these are single-hung windows, or because the top sashes are just really stuck. There are no tilt-latches. The sashes are made of wood. The jamb is metal, I think aluminum. No vinyl anywhere I can see. I wasn't able to find any labels or manufacturer markings. The home was originally built in 1905, so I very much doubt these are original, but I don't know when they were last replaced.
On the center window, the bottom sash is pretty loose. When closed, I can wiggle it side to side and in and out at the top. This provides enough motion that I was able to remove the sash by lifting it and pulling it out along each side. The sashes on the side windows are tighter, and I don't see how the sash could be removed without disassembling the jamb or frame.
Are the top sashes fixed, or stuck? How can I unstick them?
Should I expect to be able to remove the sashes? How?
How can I fix the jambs to close the gaps, so I don't need weatherstripping to close them?
Is there enough information in the pictures to figure out who made these windows, in case I need to order parts?
Here are some pictures to help understand the questions above.
The entire bay window:
Left side bottom sash. You can see the gap at the bottom widens. In the next picture, you can see light coming through that gap.
With the sash removed, you can see the profile of the edge of the sash, which has a long shallow channel which rides on the shallow ridge of the jamb. In the next picture, you can see the jamb. There is a channel in it which holds a wire which I'm pretty sure is the balance.
It's dirty in there, but I think this is just from lack of cleaning. The wood feels solid and there is no sign of rot. You can also see the top sash, which seems to have its own similar track
At the bottom of the track attached to the wire in the track is this thing. (There's a blue-painted shard of wood on top of it which I removed after taking this picture.) You can't see at this angle, but the wire is attached on the outside edge (right side of this picture).
Here is the sash pivot "pin", which is more wedge-shaped.
Finally, light through gap above the top sash.
