Our 1890s house has single panes per sash, the same (at the front) as when we moved in in 1959, though they might be post WW2 replacements, I suppose. Mind you, they've never been painted white; usually maroon or (in the '80s/90s) orange, with cream stonework. Your recolouring noticeably improves them.

Our 1890s house has single panes per sash, the same (at the front) as when we moved in in 1959, though they might be post WW2 replacements, I suppose. Mind you, they've never been painted white; usually maroon or (in the '80s/90s) orange, with cream stonework. Your recolouring noticeably improves them.

Cheers Bernard, I 've spent hours over the years searching out colour pics of normal everyday street scenes from the 50s and that is one major thing that you gradually begin to notice, the lack of white painted woodwork, a post clean air act thing I'd guess? Regarding the 4 pane windows, I think thats probably ust me trying to get away from the ready to plonk building, re doing the windows is easy, remove frame and glazing, paint sill and header, spray frames (Tamiya Nato Green) re fix with Kleer, as these house rears are going to be right at the front ( hiding the terminal stub) some detailing is going to have to be done to the building and the yards or backs as they were known where I grew up!

Single pane sashes were very much a post war thing. My grandfather refitted many a two pane sash in the 40s/50s/60s with one large pane. I suspect it was one of those fads to make older houses look more modern. He carefully removed the old glass and used it to make a large greenhouse, with plenty left over. From what I recall as a child, normal colours for doors and windows, until white and other 'bright' colours came along in the 60s, would have been, cream, darkish green, brown or varnished wood.

For dark green try Brunswick. Thats what my Grandad always used on his windows until they had them replaced with plastic. Such a shame aswell but it was cheaper than having central heating fitted upstairs.

Would I be right in thinking that white paint was more expensive because the manufacturing process was rather involved - hence rather pricy?

1. 
   Would I be right in thinking that white paint was more expensive because the manufacturing process was rather involved - hence rather pricy?
   

    
   I honestly don't know, a quick google turned up this comment,
    
   I know little of Finland but in Britain white paint is more about paint technology, fashion and custom. The first paint to be widely used on exterior joinery, in the 18th century, was linseed oil and lead carbonate. Lead pigment was used because it worked as a protection and was cheap. It happened to be white. When coloured pigments could be afforded they were used, with the most expensive houses often having a brown paint to look like wood. In the early 19th century, when the industrial revolution produced chemical dyes that were much cheaper than the mineral pigments, coloured paint soon became popular. White lead paint suffered the disadvantage of turning yellowish in polluted sulphur rich urban atmosphere. This problem diminished after World War II when TiO2 became the dominant pigment. White paint became commonplace again and the habit has stuck