If your antique iron bed was purchased prior to 1977, you can pretty much count on it having lead based paint on it. Back in the 1800’s when these beauties were being made, lead based paint was pretty much used on all furniture and practically all iron beds of that period. Lead was also added…
So why were iron beds so high off the ground? The old beds and even their wooden counterparts were elevated higher than what we’re use to today because of cold drafts that were close to the ground
I can’t tell you how many times, over the years, I’ve received calls asking for a mismatched footboard or headboard. And how many times the person asking was wanting to use it for a gate.
Competition is one of the things that helped this country develop over the years into the economic heavyweight we have become. When it came to iron beds vs. brass beds, the competition was fierce.
I often wonder what type of person bent the tubing, poured the iron into the molds and laid their hands on what I’ve made a business out of the better part of my life
As I’ve mentioned in previous postings, the iron beds being made in England back in the 1800’s , were far inferior in their strength, quality and design, in comparison to those iron beds being made in this country at the same time.
With the Oscars at had, I was reminiscing about a number of the old celebrities I’ve had the good fortune to have met and sold iron beds to over the years.
What sizes did antique beds come in ? Back in the 1800’s there were only three size beds being used…….Twin’s, which could vary in width sometimes as much as 5″, then there were 3/4 size, that were right around 48″ in width and last but certainly not least was the double/full size at 53′ to…
“I lost the side rails to my iron bed……can I buy an extra pair from you”? I can’t begin to tell you how many time’s I’ve heard this.
In the mid 70’s I was living in Georgetown, a section of Washington DC