So it would stand to reason that a foundry wouldn’t just make iron beds, back in the 1800’s. If the bed market got soft they had to have other things that they could produce with the foundries they had. If one month was slow with iron beds…. maybe the easiest and fastest thing to produce were horse shoes. Many “blacksmiths” got into the bed business because of having the facilities and wanting to fill the down time they would incur when horse shoes weren’t moving as briskly as they might like it to . Ok…… now we have horse shoes, and beds that a foundry might turn out. Well one thing that was always in need were cast iron stoves and “potbelly” stoves. 
The photo of the “potbelly” I have here on the blog is one of my own. I’ve had it many years and have sworn that along with all the beds I’ve had refinished over the years, some day I’d have it redone. Well up until now I’ve yet to get the time away from the business to be able to get it done.
I’ve actually had beds that had manufactures names on them that I’ve also seen on “potbelly” stoves. Which proves foundries didn’t exclusively do just beds , or just cast iron stoves. Many of the filigree designs I’ve seen on cast iron stoves, I’ve also seen on “castings” on beds. I’ve even encountered ones that have had the same exact finish and look that cast iron stove do. Our most popular bed finish is our “Black Smyth” iron finish, which looks exactly like a cast iron stove. As you know, a cast iron stove is made to withstand and radiate great heat temperatures. I’ve actually had customers who lost ther homes in fires and the only thing standing in the middle of the rubble of a totally burn down home….was the antique cast iron bed. Pretty good testament to their durability.
I hope you’ve found this blog informative . I invite you to revisit my website
to answer any and all questions you might have about antique iron beds.
I also invite you to take a look at our company Face Book page for multiple photo albums on Custom Finishes, Canopy Conversions and a comprehensive “Before & After” King Conversions album.
