Abstract: A crank for extending and retracting a shade, blind or the like of the type mounted on a horizontally-positioned roller, including a crank housing, a crank stud mounted for rotation in the crank housing and having an end segment adapted to extend horizontally from the housing to be positioned in driving relation to a horizontal crank socket in an end of the roller, and a crankshaft positioned for rotation in the crank housing at a right angle to the crank stud. A right-angle gear assembly is positioned in the crank housing and interconnects the crank stud and crankshaft for transmitting rotation of the crankshaft to the crank stud. A universal joint is positioned on an end of the crankshaft for permitting the crankshaft to be rotated by non-axially aligned rotation of the crankshaft.