Curtain rail bracket purchase — what to ask for, and where?

Joined
24 Mar 2012
Messages
435
Reaction score
23
Location
Lancashire
Country
United Kingdom
Hello, DIYers. Many years ago, I fitted a curtain rail to a wooden rail that was screwed to the wall over the window. The sill is wider than usual, so I fixed extended-length metal brackets to the wooden rail, then affixed the brackets that clip onto the back of the actual curtain rail to the end of the metal projecting brackets. Thus, the curtains missed falling onto the sill. This morning, I was gently pushing the curtains open, since my wife had closed them to keep the cold out. (Normally, they are left open, so they have not been drawn much, over the years.) As I was pushing the left-hand curtain open, there was a cracking sound, and the curtain rail came down! Many of the rail-brackets have broken (probably ageing has made them brittle). My problem, now, is to replace all of the brackets except the metal projecting ones, and I don't know how to search for them on the Web, because I don't know their names. I am attaching photographs of the brackets I require, and I believe that the actual curtain rail is a Swish Sologlide. I suppose they have now ceased trading, but I should think that substitutes could be bought,
Curtain rail rackets.jpg
if only I knew how to describe them, or search for them by name. I should point out that the bracket shown with the wide slot is broken, so part of it cannot be seen. However, it is the bracket that fits onto on of the metal projector brackets. The other photo shows the projecting metal brackets. I find that words are poor substitutes for the actual sight of a thing!

With thanks in hopeful anticipation of some helpful information,
L.L.

PS: I managed to find two pieces of the broken bracket that is needed, put them together, and photograph what looks like a complete bracket. I attach three shots, at different angles.
 

Attachments

  • Actual curtain rail.jpg
    Actual curtain rail.jpg
    179.6 KB · Views: 54
  • IMG_20231201_164330084_MFNR.jpg
    IMG_20231201_164330084_MFNR.jpg
    317.6 KB · Views: 58
  • IMG_20231201_164351482_MFNR.jpg
    IMG_20231201_164351482_MFNR.jpg
    535.4 KB · Views: 53
  • IMG_20231201_164408673_MFNR.jpg
    IMG_20231201_164408673_MFNR.jpg
    380.4 KB · Views: 49
Last edited:
Sponsored Links
The Swish brand does still exist and are still big in the curtain rail market but they're no longer owned by Swish Plastics, they're a subsidiary of some other company now. Anyway
my experience of getting compatible parts for old Swish rails is that visiting a local curtain/rail specialist is often easiest rather than trying to identify the exact bits and bobs online. That said, is it these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331179721975?chn=ps&var=540377854947&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:1_XPHEg5wRdimLbeJpuR64w42&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=540377854947_331179721975&targetid=1816459697405&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007173&poi=&campaignid=19097601017&mkgroupid=152525099668&rlsatarget=pla-1816459697405&abcId=9303862&merchantid=113743406&gclid=CjwKCAiApaarBhB7EiwAYiMwqqVYfgYgODJuhkwLU3mM7dmLOaLEczOsCd25f4YExauOTpDtR1lWthoCeMMQAvD_BwE
 
Links in this post may contain affiliate links for which DIYnot may be compensated.
The Swish brand does still exist and are still big in the curtain rail market but they're no longer owned by Swish Plastics, they're a subsidiary of some other company now. Anyway
my experience of getting compatible parts for old Swish rails is that visiting a local curtain/rail specialist is often easiest rather than trying to identify the exact bits and bobs online. That said, is it these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331179721975?chn=ps&var=540377854947&_trkparms=ispr=1&amdata=enc:1_XPHEg5wRdimLbeJpuR64w42&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=540377854947_331179721975&targetid=1816459697405&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=1007173&poi=&campaignid=19097601017&mkgroupid=152525099668&rlsatarget=pla-1816459697405&abcId=9303862&merchantid=113743406&gclid=CjwKCAiApaarBhB7EiwAYiMwqqVYfgYgODJuhkwLU3mM7dmLOaLEczOsCd25f4YExauOTpDtR1lWthoCeMMQAvD_BwE
Thanks, FreddieMercurystwin, but they are not the ones. I just posted new photos of the bracket (3 views of one bracket) I require, which you may have missed, being so recent.
L.L.
 
Links in this post may contain affiliate links for which DIYnot may be compensated.
Hmm yes I see, well as mentioned perhaps time to find a good old local shop. Ones I have found have all sorts of little boxes of historic spares from yesteryear.
 
Sponsored Links
Hmm yes I see, well as mentioned perhaps time to find a good old local shop. Ones I have found have all sorts of little boxes of historic spares from yesteryear.
Unfortunately, I am not very mobile, for one thing. Also, I don't think there are any such shops within miles of where I live. I appreciate your interests and your comments, friend, so thanks. I shall need to consider buying an entirely new set of fittings and a new rail to suit. It will be necessary to do a lot of searching, to see if they would fit onto the metal projecting (extension) brackets, which it would be much better to keep, if possible. I notice that the modern curtain tracks seem to be all white now, with no finials. The existing one is gilded, and has gold finials. Ah, well!
Best,
L.L.
 

DIYnot Local

Staff member

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.


Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

 
Back
Top