Hi both.
Thanks for confirming that there is or was a special tool. I did wonder if there must be. And suspected they were a security feature of some kind.
The beads and frame were made by LB Plastics. For Alpine. If that helps. I googled them and they seem to be part of a larger group now. might give them a ring on monday and ask for the hell of it, if they still have the removal tools.
The reason I have a picture is that I took this bead from the kitchen/garden door lower composite panel.
I forced a thick wire hook down between the composite and the bead and hooked it up. It damaged a portion of the bead and the composite, but as its in the corner and low down on the inside it hardly shows. I am reluctant to do that to my externals though, esp as its glass and not composite. Knowing my luck I would break the glass.
The kitchen door is internally beaded, unlike my windows which are externally beaded.
Yes I can see how the sharp putty knife will do it, and if I cant do it with the L shape metal suggestion I'll give that a go.
I've already part fashioned a 1mm thick piece of angle braket into a crude hook. So I'll try that first.
I might refine the putty knife to a thin terminal screw driver. A 1mm hole will hardly show and will not remove so much of the front lip.
Anymore ideas very welcome as I wont get to this for a few days at least yet.
I'll lay a bet that a burglar would know how to lift them.