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? Learn how replacing an 8–10 inch box spring with a 2-inch bunkie board can lower your mattress height by 6–8 inches.
America, England and France all produced beautiful antique iron beds, but they didn’t build them the same way. We compare their tubing, castings, joints, engineering and design to see what made each country’s iron beds distinctive.
Why were Victorian antique iron beds so much smaller than today’s beds? Explore the history of twin, three-quarter and double iron beds—and the fascinating changes that eventually led Americans to embrace queen and king sizes.
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.
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.
How many people did it really take to make an antique iron bed in the 1800s? Far more than most people realize. From the original designer and draftsman to the patternmaker, moldmaker, foundry workers, metalworkers, assemblers, finishers and inspectors, an antique iron bed was the product of many specialized nineteenth-century craftsmen. Discover the fascinating manufacturing process behind the antique iron beds that have survived for more than a century.
Discover how Cathouse Beds carefully converts authentic Victorian antique iron beds from double to king size while preserving their original design, character, and historic integrity. Our pioneering conversion process adds only what is necessary — including carefully matched castings when required — so you can enjoy a genuine antique iron bed with the comfort of a modern king-size mattress.
What if you find the perfect antique iron bed—but the finish is completely wrong for your room? A distressed faux finish can preserve the character, age and history of an original antique iron beds while giving it a color that works beautifully with today’s interiors.
Antique iron beds were being made in America decades before Pittsburgh became the center of the American steel industry. Discover when and where early iron beds appeared—and how the rise of American steel eventually transformed their production.