need advice on finding spare parts for old window fixtures

Had a similar issue with my parents' old farmhouse windows - ended up finding the exact latch we needed at a local salvage yard. Have you checked any architectural salvage places nearby? Sometimes they have hidden gems tucked away...

"Sometimes they have hidden gems tucked away..."

True that, salvage yards can be goldmines. I once spent an entire afternoon digging through bins of old hardware just to find a matching hinge for our kitchen window - felt like Indiana Jones, minus the whip and hat. 😂 But seriously, have you tried online marketplaces like Etsy or eBay? I've stumbled across some pretty obscure window parts there, especially if you know the brand or style you're looking for. Might save you from another dusty treasure hunt...

"felt like Indiana Jones, minus the whip and hat. 😂"

Haha, been there myself...though my adventures usually involve less excitement and more frustration. Agree that salvage yards can be great, but honestly, they're hit or miss depending on your area. I've had better luck with local hardware stores - especially the smaller, family-owned ones. They sometimes have old stock tucked away in the back or can point you to someone who does.

Another thing worth trying is Facebook Marketplace or local buy/sell groups. I once found a set of vintage window latches from someone renovating their old farmhouse. They were just going to toss them out, so I got them dirt cheap. Plus, no shipping costs or waiting around for delivery.

Also, if you have a local historical society or preservation group nearby, they might have resources or contacts for authentic replacement parts. Those folks usually know their stuff and can save you a lot of hassle.

Just my two cents...good luck with your window project!

Plus, no shipping costs or waiting around for delivery. Also, if you have a local historical society or preservation group nearby, they might have resources or contacts for authentic replacement pa...

Good points about salvage yards being hit or miss. I've had mixed results myself - sometimes you strike gold, other times it's just a wasted afternoon. Local hardware stores have definitely been more reliable for me too, especially the older ones that have been around forever. They often have bins of miscellaneous hardware tucked away somewhere, and the staff usually know exactly what's hidden back there.

One thing I'd add is checking online forums dedicated to old home restoration or vintage hardware. I've found some obscure window parts by posting photos and descriptions on those sites. People there tend to be knowledgeable and helpful, and sometimes they'll even offer up spare parts from their own stash.

Historical societies are another good suggestion - I hadn't thought of that before, but it makes sense they'd have connections or at least point you in the right direction. Might give that a try next time I'm stuck hunting down something obscure.

I've had decent luck at estate sales too - especially older homes. Sometimes you can snag original hardware dirt cheap because no one else knows what the heck it is...or cares, lol. Worth a shot if you're already out and about anyway.

For anyone posting photos on a restoration forum, could you include more than just the front view? The useful details are:

- Overall latch length, width, and height
- Screw-hole spacing, measured center to center
- Mounting plate shape and thickness
- How far the handle or catch projects
- Any maker’s mark, stamp, or lettering
- A photo of the window frame and the latch from the side

That mounting profile and screw spacing can rule out parts that look identical in a photo but won’t actually fit.

Handing and the window’s opening direction are worth confirming before ordering a visually similar latch. Left- and right-handed versions can share the same mounting dimensions while the catch or handle faces the wrong way. A photo of the window open, with the hinge or pivot side visible, can help avoid that mismatch.