Antique Iron Bed

Floral Iron Castings on American Made Beds

Back in the late 1700’s and early 1800’s, Europe was going full bore in their production of iron beds. We picked up the calling in the early 1800’s and far eclipsed any of the beds Europe was making. There were a few distinctions that set our beds apart from those beds being made throughout Europe…

Antique Iron Bed

An Antique Iron Beds Best Friend is Sandblasting

I’ve lost track of the countless times a prospective customer has said to me, after I’ve showed them the custom antique faux’ finishes we specialize in, ” oh…. I’d only want an iron bed in it’s original condition”. First of all it automatically lets me know what little this person really knows about the restoration…

Antique Iron Bed

Dumping of Reproduction Beds on US Market

“Dumping” refers to the practice of a nation or group flooding a market with less than fair-value products in an unfair effort to dominate that market. This is what happened to the iron beds market in this country about 7 years ago. Prior to this time there were a number of good quality manufacturers in…

Antique Iron Bed

The Passing of an Icon “Dick Clark”

Very few people have had as much of a hand at exposing generation upon generation to the world or Rock & Roll Music. Dick Clark enabled a young generation to see the music they loved, no just listen to it on the radio. His American Bandstand launched the careers of individuals and groups alike that…

Antique Iron Bed

Iron Bed on Wheels

I usually don’t go too far afield from iron beds in the majority of my blogging. And if you take into consideration that there actually is an bed in this “log cabin” on wheels, then I guess I’m still on track. I just couldn’t pass up sharing this particular photo a client emailed me last…

Antique Iron Bed

Bed Sizes Antique Iron Beds

When it comes to iron beds that were being made back in the 1800’s, there were 5 specific size categories. Yet even within those five categories  beds could vary in width quite a bit, especially in the Twin Size category. The five different categories of beds were: Crib Size : These usually were very close…

Antique Iron Bed

Rusty Iron Distressed Carckle Finish

For people looking for a really old distressed finish for their iron bed, let me suggest our Rusty Iron Distressed Crackle Finish. Although this is one of the more labor intensive antique faux’ finishes that we do on the beds we sell, it offers one of the more distressed looks we offer. I should let…

Antique Iron Bed

Fancy Iron Daybed

This country was not known for their iron daybeds. Daybeds were something the Europeans did more of. In this country we did more regular twin size  beds. So when someone wants an iron daybed with and American made  bed, we take a twin size and cut the head down to the height of he footboard.…

Antique Iron Bed

Iron Bed Pin Rails

I’d say close to 85% of all the iron beds that were being made in the 1800’s used side rails that had a conical shape on the end much like that of an ice cream cone. They would drop down in to the reverse image that had been cast around the  beds side tubing. Although…

Antique Iron Bed

Bunkie Boards…..Eliminate That Tall Box Spring

As you’re all probably aware, iron beds elevate the mattress and box spring off the ground an average of 8″ higher than a conventional modern bed frame. There were a number of reasons people back in the 1800’s choose to elevate their mattresses so high. They were certainly not for aesthetics ……… but instead were…