If they are wood, a speed heater (uses infrared not high heat or chemicals) is the easiest way to do that.

Like Raye said, it's a hand held blow dryer. I think mine emits a high temp. Paint peels away under it. I'l have to go look.....I thought it was high heat....? It glows red.....can't remember. They cost around $30. Found it! Click to see my gadget I use

I found a cheap one @ Home Depot for her.

Does she want to remove the paint from the transom glass or from the wood frame around it? Or both?

If she is just removing the paint from the glass, a combination of chemicals and scraping is probably the best way to go. An amateur with a speedheater or a heat gun is likely to crack the glass. Ask me how I know ;(

I would suggest starting with a bottle of nail polish remover (acetone). Put some on a paper towel and smudge it on the window and see if the paint starts to rub off. If it is oil based paint, that should take it off. If it is acrylic paint, you can use something simpler, like vinegar. There are lots of commercials products you can try, but sometimes it's easier to try something that you have around the house.

For the scraper, start with a plastic one, and then finish with a razor blade type scraper.

Saw this situation on my favorite remodeling show Home Town. She taped off the wood frame of the transom and then liberally slathered on a gel paint remover. A putty knife scraped it off.

I have passed on all the info and she says to thank you all so much for the help.

Bigger question would be Can she open the transoms?

I'd stick with the heat to separate the paint film from the wood. Gel products soften the paint and will usually soften the wood. Any scraping to remove residue must be done very carefully to avoid damaging the wood fibers.

Transoms are usually fixed but I have seen some antique transoms that operate like an awning.

If you're working with glass, warm soapy water and a razor scraper. It needs a lubricant.

Speed heaters don't look like any hair dryers I every saw and they start around $100. Here's a link: http://www.silentpaintremover.com/spr/benefits_infrared_heat.htm

She is only removing the paint from the glass window. Not sure if they open or not. My other daughter has an old farmhouse and a transom on her front door and also on the sides of the doors. You can see that at one time they had screens on them. Would love it if they could return them to their original state.

Most owners are not ready to invest hours, days or weeks to restore older windows to working, looking like new.

The sidelights do open on some older versions. However, when painted in a haphazard manner, they may never open again.

Looks like a hairdryer to me

Old windows are made to fit the proportions of the house, of wood that can't be replaced, are made to been easily repaired and restored and add value to the house.

Saltine - it would be well worth the time to do those projects.

I worry about heat guns as they can actually burn the wood underneath esp if it's old and very dry.

I grew up in a house build about 1900. Every bedroom door had a transom and a brass mechanism that allowed us to open them to improve air circulation. We never bothered to open them.

I will reiterate never ever use a heat gun with fixed wood. Heat transference means heat goes right through the wood to the wood underneath and can start a fire inside the wall that can smolder for a long time before burning down the house.

If it opens it is on hinges usually-take out the window but taking out the screws or hinge pin. If not Gel is easy and there are some good non toxic ones. Remember if it is really old she could be dealing with lead paint. Use caution.

In my twenties I lived in an old residential hotel which still had the movable transom's in the other part. That side always had a slight breeze.

patricia, too late, millions of house renovators do it on a regular basis.

it would be well worth the time to do those projects.

That depends on age, health, ability, perseverance.

Infrared is much safer to use on old dry wood, don't use a heat gun. It's easy to get a lead kit and test the paint first. My house is close to two hundred years old and no lead paint in it.

She is only removing the paint from the glass window.

Use a razor blade to remove paint from glass.

Avoid using a heat gun especially around old glass because the heat will cause the glass to break.

My house has operational transoms over the front and back doors, but no would would ever have painted them because they are 1910 stained glass in a stylized tulip pattern. Other nearby neighbors have clear transoms, some of which have goldleaf & black house address numerals. Recently, someone with a steady hand and an understanding of the old lettering style has been making a fair buck at adding addresses front door transom windows that have lost theirs or never had one. They look handsome understatedly spiffed up. (Oh, that rhymes: handsome transom.)

Here are some ideas for if the paint can be gotten off. https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=transom+address+numbers&iax=images&ia=images