diff --git a/common/control.c b/common/control.c
index 5ba1b04a..3e00db78 100644
--- a/common/control.c
+++ b/common/control.c
@@ -149,11 +149,11 @@ void controlUpdateState(uiControl *c)
 #define uiControlSignature 0x7569436F
 
 // TODO should this be public?
-uiControl *newControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename)
+uiControl *newControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr)
 {
 	uiControl *c;
 
-	c = (uiControl *) uiAlloc(size, typename);
+	c = (uiControl *) uiAlloc(size, typenamestr);
 	c->Signature = uiControlSignature;
 	c->OSSignature = OSsig;
 	c->TypeSignature = typesig;
diff --git a/common/uipriv.h b/common/uipriv.h
index b7e00cbe..83ce6e74 100644
--- a/common/uipriv.h
+++ b/common/uipriv.h
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ extern void osCommitEnable(uiControl *);
 extern void osCommitDisable(uiControl *);
 
 // control.c
-extern uiControl *newControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename);
+extern uiControl *newControl(size_t size, uint32_t OSsig, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
 
 // ptrarray.c
 struct ptrArray {
diff --git a/darwin/control.m b/darwin/control.m
index 3d3bd082..3abeebd9 100644
--- a/darwin/control.m
+++ b/darwin/control.m
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ void uiDarwinSetControlFont(NSControl *c, NSControlSize size)
 
 #define uiDarwinControlSignature 0x44617277
 
-uiDarwinControl *uiDarwinNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename)
+uiDarwinControl *uiDarwinNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr)
 {
-	return uiDarwinControl(newControl(n, uiDarwinControlSignature, typesig, typename));
+	return uiDarwinControl(newControl(n, uiDarwinControlSignature, typesig, typenamestr));
 }
diff --git a/ui_darwin.h b/ui_darwin.h
index b47675c1..1d8a2115 100644
--- a/ui_darwin.h
+++ b/ui_darwin.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiDarwinControlTriggerRelayout(uiDarwinControl *);
 
 // TODO document
 #define uiNewControl(type) uiDarwinNewControl(sizeof (type), type ## Signature, #type)
-_UI_EXTERN uiDarwinControl *uiDarwinNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename);
+_UI_EXTERN uiDarwinControl *uiDarwinNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
 
 #define uiDarwinFinishNewControl(variable, type) \
 	uiControl(variable)->CommitDestroy = _ ## type ## CommitDestroy; \
diff --git a/ui_unix.h b/ui_unix.h
index f9682ae9..d3c456f8 100644
--- a/ui_unix.h
+++ b/ui_unix.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ struct uiUnixControl {
 
 // TODO document
 #define uiNewControl(type) uiUnixNewControl(sizeof (type), type ## Signature, #type)
-_UI_EXTERN uiUnixControl *uiUnixNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename);
+_UI_EXTERN uiUnixControl *uiUnixNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
 
 #define uiUnixFinishNewControl(variable, type) \
 	uiControl(variable)->CommitDestroy = _ ## type ## CommitDestroy; \
diff --git a/ui_windows.h b/ui_windows.h
index 099b7f84..7f5f50a7 100644
--- a/ui_windows.h
+++ b/ui_windows.h
@@ -65,6 +65,11 @@ _UI_EXTERN void uiWindowsControlQueueRelayout(uiWindowsControl *);
 #define uiWindowsDefineControl(type) \
 	uiWindowsDefineControlWithOnDestroy(type, (void) me;)
 
+// TODO document
+// TODO rename the macro?
+#define uiNewControl(type) uiWindowsNewControl(sizeof (type), type ## Signature, #type)
+_UI_EXTERN uiWindowsControl *uiWindowsNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr);
+
 #define uiWindowsFinishNewControl(variable, type) \
 	uiControl(variable)->CommitDestroy = _ ## type ## CommitDestroy; \
 	uiControl(variable)->Handle = _ ## type ## Handle; \
diff --git a/unix/control.c b/unix/control.c
index 611361e9..59b59241 100644
--- a/unix/control.c
+++ b/unix/control.c
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ void uiUnixFinishControl(uiControl *c)
 
 #define uiUnixControlSignature 0x556E6978
 
-uiUnixControl *uiUnixNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typename)
+uiUnixControl *uiUnixNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr)
 {
-	return uiUnixControl(newControl(n, uiUnixControlSignature, typesig, typename));
+	return uiUnixControl(newControl(n, uiUnixControlSignature, typesig, typenamestr));
 }
diff --git a/windows/area.cpp b/windows/area.cpp
index 8fa8975a..7801c770 100644
--- a/windows/area.cpp
+++ b/windows/area.cpp
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ uiArea *uiNewArea(uiAreaHandler *ah)
 {
 	uiArea *a;
 
-	a = (uiArea *) uiNewControl(uiAreaType());
+	a = (uiArea *) uiNewControl(uiArea);
 
 	a->ah = ah;
 	a->scrolling = FALSE;
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ uiArea *uiNewScrollingArea(uiAreaHandler *ah, intmax_t width, intmax_t height)
 {
 	uiArea *a;
 
-	a = (uiArea *) uiNewControl(uiAreaType());
+	a = (uiArea *) uiNewControl(uiArea);
 
 	a->ah = ah;
 	a->scrolling = TRUE;
diff --git a/windows/box.cpp b/windows/box.cpp
index 341615f8..95fd991d 100644
--- a/windows/box.cpp
+++ b/windows/box.cpp
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ static uiBox *finishNewBox(int vertical)
 {
 	uiBox *b;
 
-	b = (uiBox *) uiNewControl(uiBoxType());
+	b = (uiBox *) uiNewControl(uiBox);
 
 	b->hwnd = newContainer();
 
diff --git a/windows/button.cpp b/windows/button.cpp
index 1aaf6fe8..fe46366f 100644
--- a/windows/button.cpp
+++ b/windows/button.cpp
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ uiButton *uiNewButton(const char *text)
 	uiButton *b;
 	WCHAR *wtext;
 
-	b = (uiButton *) uiNewControl(uiButtonType());
+	b = (uiButton *) uiNewControl(uiButton);
 
 	wtext = toUTF16(text);
 	b->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
diff --git a/windows/checkbox.cpp b/windows/checkbox.cpp
index f3371768..e874bac7 100644
--- a/windows/checkbox.cpp
+++ b/windows/checkbox.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ uiCheckbox *uiNewCheckbox(const char *text)
 	uiCheckbox *c;
 	WCHAR *wtext;
 
-	c = (uiCheckbox *) uiNewControl(uiCheckboxType());
+	c = (uiCheckbox *) uiNewControl(uiCheckbox);
 
 	wtext = toUTF16(text);
 	c->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
diff --git a/windows/combobox.cpp b/windows/combobox.cpp
index 7c9b6efb..4308ad20 100644
--- a/windows/combobox.cpp
+++ b/windows/combobox.cpp
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ static uiCombobox *finishNewCombobox(DWORD style)
 {
 	uiCombobox *c;
 
-	c = (uiCombobox *) uiNewControl(uiComboboxType());
+	c = (uiCombobox *) uiNewControl(uiCombobox);
 
 	c->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
 		L"combobox", L"",
diff --git a/windows/control.cpp b/windows/control.cpp
index 3a153ee5..7ee64813 100644
--- a/windows/control.cpp
+++ b/windows/control.cpp
@@ -24,16 +24,6 @@ HWND uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(DWORD dwExStyle, LPCWSTR lpClassName, LPCW
 	return hwnd;
 }
 
-// TODO make this unnecessary
-static uintmax_t type_uiWindowsControl = 0;
-
-uintmax_t uiWindowsControlType(void)
-{
-	if (type_uiWindowsControl == 0)
-		type_uiWindowsControl = uiRegisterType("uiWindowsControl", uiControlType(), sizeof (uiWindowsControl));
-	return type_uiWindowsControl;
-}
-
 static void defaultCommitShow(uiControl *c)
 {
 	ShowWindow((HWND) uiControlHandle(c), SW_SHOW);
@@ -70,3 +60,11 @@ void uiWindowsRearrangeControlIDsZOrder(uiControl *c)
 	wc = uiWindowsControl(c);
 	(*(wc->ArrangeChildrenControlIDsZOrder))(wc);
 }
+
+// choose a value distinct from uiWindowSignature
+#define uiWindowsControlSignature 0x4D53576E
+
+uiWindowsControl *uiWindowsNewControl(size_t n, uint32_t typesig, const char *typenamestr)
+{
+	return uiWindowsControl(newControl(n, uiWindowsControlSignature, typesig, typenamestr));
+}
diff --git a/windows/datetimepicker.cpp b/windows/datetimepicker.cpp
index 174d8400..1d1fc583 100644
--- a/windows/datetimepicker.cpp
+++ b/windows/datetimepicker.cpp
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ static uiDateTimePicker *finishNewDateTimePicker(DWORD style)
 {
 	uiDateTimePicker *d;
 
-	d = (uiDateTimePicker *) uiNewControl(uiDateTimePickerType());
+	d = (uiDateTimePicker *) uiNewControl(uiDateTimePicker);
 
 	d->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
 		DATETIMEPICK_CLASSW, L"",
diff --git a/windows/entry.cpp b/windows/entry.cpp
index 93fe14e9..4aeaf6d5 100644
--- a/windows/entry.cpp
+++ b/windows/entry.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ uiEntry *uiNewEntry(void)
 {
 	uiEntry *e;
 
-	e = (uiEntry *) uiNewControl(uiEntryType());
+	e = (uiEntry *) uiNewControl(uiEntry);
 
 	e->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
 		L"edit", L"",
diff --git a/windows/fontbutton.cpp b/windows/fontbutton.cpp
index 051999d7..5c71770f 100644
--- a/windows/fontbutton.cpp
+++ b/windows/fontbutton.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ uiFontButton *uiNewFontButton(void)
 {
 	uiFontButton *b;
 
-	b = (uiFontButton *) uiNewControl(uiFontButtonType());
+	b = (uiFontButton *) uiNewControl(uiFontButton);
 
 	b->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
 		L"button", L"you should not be seeing this",
diff --git a/windows/group.cpp b/windows/group.cpp
index c0ba9ca8..c6927a6a 100644
--- a/windows/group.cpp
+++ b/windows/group.cpp
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ uiGroup *uiNewGroup(const char *text)
 	uiGroup *g;
 	WCHAR *wtext;
 
-	g = (uiGroup *) uiNewControl(uiGroupType());
+	g = (uiGroup *) uiNewControl(uiGroup);
 
 	wtext = toUTF16(text);
 	g->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CONTROLPARENT,
diff --git a/windows/label.cpp b/windows/label.cpp
index 565d0964..7239996e 100644
--- a/windows/label.cpp
+++ b/windows/label.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ uiLabel *uiNewLabel(const char *text)
 	uiLabel *l;
 	WCHAR *wtext;
 
-	l = (uiLabel *) uiNewControl(uiLabelType());
+	l = (uiLabel *) uiNewControl(uiLabel);
 
 	wtext = toUTF16(text);
 	l->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
diff --git a/windows/menu.cpp b/windows/menu.cpp
index 6a262cd5..89406d7f 100644
--- a/windows/menu.cpp
+++ b/windows/menu.cpp
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ static BOOL hasPreferences = FALSE;
 static BOOL hasAbout = FALSE;
 
 struct uiMenu {
-	uiTyped t;
 	WCHAR *name;
 	uiMenuItem **items;
 	uintmax_t len;
@@ -21,7 +20,6 @@ struct uiMenu {
 };
 
 struct uiMenuItem {
-	uiTyped t;
 	WCHAR *name;
 	int type;
 	WORD id;
@@ -121,7 +119,6 @@ static uiMenuItem *newItem(uiMenu *m, int type, const char *name)
 	}
 
 	item = uiNew(uiMenuItem);
-	uiTyped(item)->Type = uiMenuItemType();
 
 	m->items[m->len] = item;
 	m->len++;
@@ -211,7 +208,6 @@ uiMenu *uiNewMenu(const char *name)
 	}
 
 	m = uiNew(uiMenu);
-	uiTyped(m)->Type = uiMenuType();
 
 	menus[len] = m;
 	len++;
diff --git a/windows/multilineentry.cpp b/windows/multilineentry.cpp
index 34377a5a..7c05a2e9 100644
--- a/windows/multilineentry.cpp
+++ b/windows/multilineentry.cpp
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ uiMultilineEntry *uiNewMultilineEntry(void)
 {
 	uiMultilineEntry *e;
 
-	e = (uiMultilineEntry *) uiNewControl(uiMultilineEntryType());
+	e = (uiMultilineEntry *) uiNewControl(uiMultilineEntry);
 
 	e->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
 		L"edit", L"",
diff --git a/windows/progressbar.cpp b/windows/progressbar.cpp
index 4487d57f..9e63b458 100644
--- a/windows/progressbar.cpp
+++ b/windows/progressbar.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ uiProgressBar *uiNewProgressBar(void)
 {
 	uiProgressBar *p;
 
-	p = (uiProgressBar *) uiNewControl(uiProgressBarType());
+	p = (uiProgressBar *) uiNewControl(uiProgressBar);
 
 	p->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
 		PROGRESS_CLASSW, L"",
diff --git a/windows/radiobuttons.cpp b/windows/radiobuttons.cpp
index 65deb6cc..b02972b0 100644
--- a/windows/radiobuttons.cpp
+++ b/windows/radiobuttons.cpp
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ uiRadioButtons *uiNewRadioButtons(void)
 {
 	uiRadioButtons *r;
 
-	r = (uiRadioButtons *) uiNewControl(uiRadioButtonsType());
+	r = (uiRadioButtons *) uiNewControl(uiRadioButtons);
 
 	r->hwnd = newContainer();
 
diff --git a/windows/separator.cpp b/windows/separator.cpp
index edb83d44..d3c03fae 100644
--- a/windows/separator.cpp
+++ b/windows/separator.cpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ uiSeparator *uiNewHorizontalSeparator(void)
 {
 	uiSeparator *s;
 
-	s = (uiSeparator *) uiNewControl(uiSeparatorType());
+	s = (uiSeparator *) uiNewControl(uiSeparator);
 
 	s->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
 		L"static", L"",
diff --git a/windows/slider.cpp b/windows/slider.cpp
index 496f2434..f76664f8 100644
--- a/windows/slider.cpp
+++ b/windows/slider.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ uiSlider *uiNewSlider(intmax_t min, intmax_t max)
 {
 	uiSlider *s;
 
-	s = (uiSlider *) uiNewControl(uiSliderType());
+	s = (uiSlider *) uiNewControl(uiSlider);
 
 	s->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
 		TRACKBAR_CLASSW, L"",
diff --git a/windows/spinbox.cpp b/windows/spinbox.cpp
index 1c56bdac..fc986ec8 100644
--- a/windows/spinbox.cpp
+++ b/windows/spinbox.cpp
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ uiSpinbox *uiNewSpinbox(intmax_t min, intmax_t max)
 	if (min >= max)
 		complain("error: min >= max in uiNewSpinbox()");
 
-	s = (uiSpinbox *) uiNewControl(uiSpinboxType());
+	s = (uiSpinbox *) uiNewControl(uiSpinbox);
 
 	s->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(WS_EX_CLIENTEDGE,
 		L"edit", L"",
diff --git a/windows/tab.cpp b/windows/tab.cpp
index 653dd22d..133039f3 100644
--- a/windows/tab.cpp
+++ b/windows/tab.cpp
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ uiTab *uiNewTab(void)
 {
 	uiTab *t;
 
-	t = (uiTab *) uiNewControl(uiTabType());
+	t = (uiTab *) uiNewControl(uiTab);
 
 	t->hwnd = uiWindowsEnsureCreateControlHWND(0,
 		WC_TABCONTROLW, L"",
diff --git a/windows/window.cpp b/windows/window.cpp
index 6e0e7879..eafa4615 100644
--- a/windows/window.cpp
+++ b/windows/window.cpp
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ uiWindow *uiNewWindow(const char *title, int width, int height, int hasMenubar)
 	WCHAR *wtitle;
 	BOOL hasMenubarBOOL;
 
-	w = (uiWindow *) uiNewControl(uiWindowType());
+	w = (uiWindow *) uiNewControl(uiWindow);
 
 	hasMenubarBOOL = FALSE;
 	if (hasMenubar)