These are also called swing arm rods. I think they were most popular in the 1920's. On ebay you can find alot of these in deco styles.

Gray is right -- they came into popularity with the Jazz Age in the '20s. They can be used on windows like shutters, or in place of closet doors. They can also be used as a "fold away" room divider, also with a tapestry if you like. I've seen a lot of them on eBay too, but often they are missing the mounting hardware.

I bought some for my mom's house and put them on the sidelights to her front door. (Got them at LNT.) She has narrow sheers that she shirrs on the top and bottom rod of each sidelight. She prefers to keep them open in winter to allow the sun in, but in summer she leaves them closed because it's a southern exposure and the sun really beats in through the front windows. ;)

oceanna,
Have you actually seen swing arm rods used as closet door replacements? Would you sheer the fabric to top and bottom rods? Do you think they operate smoothly?
I took out the guest room closet door. It's a really small walk-in and because the door opened inward, it took up too much valuable space. The closet door application of these rods has piqued my curiosity. It could be just the thing for my guest room, especially as they come in a variety of lengths, something should fit. Do you think?

Thanks for the feedback! So, they're really not meant for just regular windows, I guess? They're very sweet, I think.

When i think about this style of rod. I picture the tall narrow windows that have 2 windows that open out.

Or they are good for sidelight windows on doors, it's all according to what you like

I used them in front of my washer in the kithen:

I used swing-arm rods for the two small windows on the side of my fireplace. I like to keep the one on the left open to let light in the room; by opening it, it blocks direct sunlight from the end of the fish tank. I keep the one on the right closed since the light interferes with the tv. Sorry the picture is dark.

I fell in love with this small cottage my husband and I stayed at in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The swing-arm rods were used on French doors.

Annie, no, but it's not hard to imagine this being a great solution to the problem. I'd only do a top rod since a top and bottom rod would move independently.

Organic, you can most certainly do them over a regular window! They're charming. Go for it.

Sameboat, what a great use of them for your washer and dryer!

Missheidi, both those pics are charming. Have you looked at the Cottage Decor thread in our Gallery? I think you'd love it.

Moonshadow, that's a really good use for them on the sidelights to control light/heat coming through.

In the early 1900's, windows often had inside screens which were hinged on one side. Swing arm rods were used on these windows so that you could open the curtain, then open the screen so that you could get to the window and open it by pushing it out. Everything is hinged/attached on the same side of the window frame. Our bungalow has inside screens, just as I've described but we don't have curtains because the windows are stained glass and they are too pretty to cover.

These might be perfect for my casement windows.

{{!gwi}}

Prairie: I think you might have something there.
Can somebody please do a photo-something to show her how swing arms might work for her.l

sameboat: Adorable!

missheidi: Nice-looking family you have there. Oh, and the curtain situation is pretty nice, too. :)

oceanna: Thanks! Something I'm going to think about. :)

Prairie: I agree with annie1971: I think the crane rods would suit those windows perfectly!

Prairiegirl...'THE' perfect curtain rods for those adorable windows!
Organic smallhome ...You certainly can use crane rods for regular windows if you so choose. There is no rule that says you can't, No fines if you get caught using them! HA! Try googling or check out curtain rod sites for pictures showing their use.

I was trying to find a photo similar to how I did my mom's with the rod on the top and the bottom, no luck yet. It creates kind of a small 'curtain wall', so if there's a breeze the bottom remains stationery since it's on a rod too. A little tricky but not terrible getting them aligned so her sidelight panels were taught but not so tight they stretched ;) Anyway, I can't find a photo like I hung my mom's, but did stumble onto something different. They've used a crane rod on lower half of window only, I kind of like that look. Go to the bottom of the page in this MS article and squint! ;D