Why Antique Iron Beds Have Remained Popular for Over 125 Years
Discover why antique iron beds became more popular than brass beds, with beautiful Victorian designs, colorful finishes, and lasting craftsmanship.
How Antique Iron Beds Helped Win World War II (The forgotten story of how America’s old iron beds became part of the fight for victory.)
Discover how antique iron beds became part of America’s World War II scrap-metal drives, why they were collected, and what their loss means to collectors today.
Antique Iron Beds Too High? How a Simple Bunkie Board Can Make All the Difference
Antique iron beds too high? Learn how replacing an 8–10 inch box spring with a 2-inch bunkie board can lower your mattress height by 6–8 inches.
Transportation and Shipping of Antique Iron Beds Over the Years
Long before antique iron beds reached a bedroom, its weight influenced where it was manufactured, how it was constructed and how far it could economically travel. From horse-drawn wagons and railroads to modern freight carriers, transportation played a surprisingly important role in the history of the American Iron Beds.
Antique Iron Beds – Finials: Their History, Purpose and Victorian Designs
Why do antique iron beds have decorative finials on their posts? Explore the history, purpose and remarkable variety of cast iron and brass finials used by Victorian bed manufacturers—and why these seemingly small details can tell us so much about the quality and design of an original antique iron bed.
Resurrecting Double Size Antique Iron Beds With King Conversions
Victorian antique iron beds were never made in today’s king sizes. See how Cathouse Antique Iron Beds resurrects original double beds through carefully crafted king conversions that preserve their proportions, castings, character and original design.
Antique Iron Beds Tubing: Does Size Really Matter?
about antique iron beds. From economical 3/4-inch beds to elaborate Victorian examples with heavy 1 1/8-inch tubing—and the enormous 2-inch beds of the early 1900s—size matters, but not always in the way you might expect.
Why Were Antique Iron Beds So Heavy? How Weight Went From a Liability to a Sign of Value
The tremendous weight of antique iron beds could make them expensive and difficult to transport in the 1800s. Today, that same heavy construction, ornate casting and rarity can make the finest surviving examples especially desirable and valuable.
The History of Brass on Antique Iron Beds: Was It One of the 1800s’ Best Marketing Ideas?
Why did 19th-century manufacturers begin adding brass to antique iron beds? Brass finials, spokes and decorative scrollwork offered the fashionable look Victorian buyers loved, while iron provided exceptional strength, durability and greater freedom of design. The combination may have been one of the iron bed industry’s smartest marketing ideas.
Why Is My Antique Iron Bed So High? The Box Spring May Be the Problem
If your antique iron bed looks too tall once the mattress and box spring are installed, the bed may not be the problem. Learn how a simple bunkie board can lower the mattress, improve the bed’s proportions and reveal the beautiful antique ironwork that was meant to be seen.