You are not nuts. Your contractor is lazy or he doesn't know how to do this. I'd press the issue and get the windows done the way you wish. Are you in a location with a bungalow association or a historical society? You should be able to get restoration window recommendations from those groups.

Is the cali in your name California? I have some sources to check if you are near LA. Let me know.

Thanks, I was hoping I wasn't nuts. We don't have any hitorical society or bungalow association in our area and the windows themselves are in good shape, so I just want the contractor to re-install them. The other thing we have going for us is the locations of these re-installs is on a porch, so they won't have any weather or water infiltration issues to be concerned about. I think I will press this. I don't have the money to be buying windows I don't even want.

Thanks

Regardless, check the john leeke window restoration site. If you email them, you might get some suggestions for making this happen.

Here is a link that might be useful: john leeke's window restoration

I totally understand your wish to re-use the old windows. I think re-installing original windows might be considered tricky work by contractors so they're reluctant to do it (older, more fragile windows or sashes may break in handling, might be a little out of shape/plumb, etc), but it's not impossible. I'm in the SF Bay Area and I know of someone in Palo Alto who had 1902 Bungalow windows re-installed by an agreeable (private, on-his-own) contractor. The owner said, "hey, I really like the old windows, can't you just re-use them?" and he said "sure." It worked out beautifully and they house was remodeled with it's original windows removed and re-installed. Dream come true. Old windows are often of higher quality than the new prefab types. Certainly the older wood is better. Also, of course, if you can reuse the original windows the authenticity of the building is not compromised, which is a wonderful thing. Also, it's environmentally responsible to re-use the originals. You're not nuts. Keep pushing.