A bed frame or bedstead is the part of a bed used to position a mattress or foundation set off the floor. Bed frames are typically made of wood or metal. A bed frame is made up of head, foot, and side rails. Most double (full) sized beds, along with all queen and king size beds require some type of center support rail, typically also with extra feet extending down to the floor.
Brass beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of brass; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Brass beds can be made of 100 per cent brass or of metals that have been brass plated. The brass used in making brass beds is usually 70 per cent copper and 30 per cent zinc. The ratio of metals may vary between manufacturers.
Brass beds were originally simple and plain. Throughout the centuries, designs have become increasingly elaborate and can contain extensive ornamentation such as porcelain finials. Some brass bed styles include traditional, Art deco, Victorian, transitional, Edwardian and contemporary.[Kamran Aktar]
Iron beds are beds in which the headboard and footboard are made of iron; the frame rails are usually made of steel. Iron beds were first made in the 1850s. From the start of their production in the 1850s until World War I, iron beds were hand-made. The manufacturing process included hand pouring and polishing intricately detailed casting and hand applying finishes. In the many small foundries of the time that employed only a handful of employees, it could take days to produce a single bed.
After the end of World War I, the mass-production methods used for war time affected the iron industry as well. The hand-made quality gave way to cost-effective mass production.
Today’s iron beds are constructed of cold roll, heavy-gauge steel tubing and solid bar stock.
Almost all iron beds now have a beech wood sprung slatted base in a steel framework which gives support to all types of mattress.
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