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      • Amoskeag: The Supreme Court Decision, The Mills
      • Cotton: History and Production
      • Ticking History
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Author: Ed Steed

American Progress painted by John Gast - Westward Expansion

Connections Through Time– Part IV. Across To America

May 18, 2018May 21, 2018 Ed Steed

The rapid technical revolution in iron working will change America forever.

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Connections Through Time – Part III:  On The Shoulders of Giants

April 23, 2018May 23, 2018 Ed Steed

To fully appreciate the evolution of springs,  it would be strikingly deficient to omit entirely the monumental points and achievements that came from the “shoulders of giants”.

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Spring Patent for T.E. Warren, 1849

Connections Through Time – Part II: Sprung Forward

April 19, 2018April 23, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

One of the most tantalizing questions in 18th century upholstery is that of springing.

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Etruscan bronze fibula pin 1000 B.C. British Museum

Connections Through Time – Part I: Ancient Springs and Metalworks

April 16, 2018May 14, 2018 Ed Steed 2 Comments

My original quest for the thoroughly explained origin of furniture springs set me upon a long and fascinating journey.

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Ticking: Essence of a Mattress

March 12, 2018May 23, 2018 Ed Steed

There are many books on the history of textiles—but rarely does an index mentions ticking.

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Great Bed of Ware from the Victoria Albert Museum, London

Sizing Things Up: Mattresses & Beds

March 9, 2018March 21, 2018 Ed Steed

If you ever wondered why there are so many bed sizes, you might be surprised to find out there were many more sizes in older times.

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Sears Catalog from Summer 1977

Legacy of Mattress Catalog Sales

January 19, 2018May 14, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

LEGACY OF CATALOG SALES – AMAZON OF THE OLD ERA  

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Market Trends January 2018

January 18, 2018May 14, 2018 Ed Steed

Bed-in-Box and the turn key “hands off” manufacturing approach, and more.

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Upcoming Market Dates (2018 to 2019)

June 26, 2017June 5, 2018 Ed Steed

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Kenosha City Directory, 1861

March 30, 2017May 18, 2018 Ed Steed

  View the PDF.

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Kenosha City Directory, 1858

March 30, 2017May 18, 2018 Ed Steed

View the PDF.

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Excellence In Architecture- Simmons Company Jones Bridge Headquarters, Atlanta GA, 1975

March 21, 2017June 22, 2018 Ed Steed

View the PDF.

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Historical Narratives: J Frank Chesbro to A Terrell

March 15, 2017August 10, 2018 Ed Steed

View the PDF.

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Norman Bel Geddes Designs “Machine Age” Metal Bedroom For Simmons

March 7, 2017March 16, 2017 Ed Steed

In the early 1920s Zalmon Simmons II hired the most famous “futurist” designer to create a stylish line of Simmons metal bedroom furniture which became world famous.  Here are some of those consumer products Simmons sold.

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The Long History of Trade Fairs and Markets

March 4, 2017June 26, 2017 Ed Steed

Tracing the history of today’s trade shows to the European markets of yesterday.

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The Form: A Prototype

January 9, 2017March 15, 2017 Ed Steed

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Norman Bel Geddes Designs America’s Future

January 6, 2017March 16, 2017 Ed Steed

Some might say Norman Bel Geddes was the Leonardo da Vinci of the 20th century. Here are some of his brilliant works.

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Perfection in Sleep: Alexander the Great

December 12, 2016December 12, 2016 Ed Steed

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Zalmon Gilbert Simmons II: The Man Who Changed How America Slept

December 6, 2016May 23, 2018 Ed Steed

“The Chief.”  The visionary of the first mass produced innerspring mattress.

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How the State of Minnesota Changed Bedding History

November 30, 2016January 6, 2017 Ed Steed

Did you ever wonder if there were mattress police?

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Textile Patterns From Pre-1900

November 29, 2016March 12, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

Stripes and soft colors were used for the higher end bedding articles.

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Mattress Ticking Designs & Choices: 19th Century

November 29, 2016March 12, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

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Amoskeag V. Trainer, Supreme Court Decision

November 29, 2016March 12, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

Here is the decision of the Court regarding the use of the letters “ACA” for mattress ticking.

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William McArthur’s 1870 Patent

November 29, 2016January 6, 2017 Ed Steed

William McArthur’s 1870 patent illustrates a combination of ideas that would branch off into various bedding products.

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Bushnell’s Innerspring Mattress Patent

November 29, 2016January 6, 2017 Ed Steed

The birth of the modern mattress, as we know it.

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Woven Wire Mattresses

November 29, 2016January 6, 2017 Ed Steed

As the Industrial Revolution influenced the 19th Century world, techniques like  the Bessemer steel production process enabled  inventors and engineers to utilize metal for springs and frames.

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Box Spring Beds

November 28, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

We take a look at the history of springs in bedding, before they were placed inside mattresses.

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English Words We Commonly Use: Their Origins and Meanings

November 28, 2016March 12, 2018 Ed Steed 1 Comment

The English word  “mattress” comes from Old French matelas, and, that word came from the Norman conquest of Silicy in about 1091 A.D. How did that happen?

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The Challenge of Living on Mars: Sleep

November 28, 2016January 9, 2017 Ed Steed

Every Martian day is exactly 24 hours, 39 minutes, 35 seconds in length.

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Harrisburg Woven Wire Catalog, 1892

November 25, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

The Harrisburg Woven Wire Catalog exemplifies the bed choices of the times.

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President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Last Bed

November 21, 2016August 10, 2018 Ed Steed

It’s the 85th anniversary of the construction of FDR’s “Little White House” in Warm Springs, GA.  We take a visit and a look at his mattress.

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Early Metal and Brass Beds

November 18, 2016November 25, 2016 Ed Steed

Metal beds became popular in the late 19th century. Consumer chose from a vast assortment of designs and painted colors.

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Folding Beds, An Introduction

November 18, 2016November 30, 2016 Ed Steed

Folding beds, wardrobe beds, and parlor mantle beds were offered in a variety of woods finishes and styles. Beds were marketed to every type budget.

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Explore the Technology: The Sleep Museum

November 16, 2016March 16, 2017 Ed Steed

Welcome.  Formerly SLEEPHISTORY.ORG, we’ve moved it here to keep it as a free resource, providing historic images, documents, catalogs and other ephemera in the hopes that they might be the catalyst for innovators and thinkers to develop better sleep products for modern civilzation.

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Mattress Ticking, 1939

November 16, 2016March 12, 2018 Ed Steed

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Lincoln’s Last Moments

November 15, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

After the assassination instigated at Ford’s Theater, Abe Lincoln was brought to this bed to be attended to.

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Combo Patents

November 15, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

American inventors realized the public’s need for optimum space utilization. Craftsmen and marketers focused their creative talents to develop furniture had multiple functions.  

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A Look at Thomas Sheraton’s Beds

November 15, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

Cabinet making and upholstery combined to create expressive beds.

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Mattress Filling Machines

November 15, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

A mattress filling machine that pumped cotton batting into a presewn mattress cover assembly. After being filled with cotton, the end was sewn shut and button tufts were added to give the mattress stability.

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Davison Mattress Company Catalog, 1953

November 15, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

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The “State” Bed, China

November 10, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

In China, the “state” bed evolved from a simple elevated platform to an elaborate piece of furniture with enclosed sides and a simple cotton mattress.

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Enclosed Beds, the 1700’s and Prior

November 10, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

Expensive, exotic textiles hung from the tester or canopy creating a private portion of a great hall or room. The curtains also helped to eliminate drafts.

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Boyington’s Cabinet Folding Bed

November 10, 2016March 21, 2018 Ed Steed

Open and closed, the Boyington Folding Bed mimicked a cabinet when compressed.    

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The “REX” Folding Bed Spring

November 9, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

The “king of all bed springs”, it could be used on wood, iron or brass beds.  Durable. Comfortable. Vermin proof. And Sanitary.  

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Bunnell’s “Bed Spring” Ad (late 1800’s, early 1900’s)

November 9, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

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The Folding Bed, or “Press Bed”

November 9, 2016November 29, 2016 Ed Steed

Press beds had been popular in Europe for centuries, but American ingenuity and creative spirit gave folding combo furniture beds a new “twist”.

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Popular Articles:

  • American Progress painted by John Gast - Westward ExpansionConnections Through Time– Part IV. Across To America
  • Connections Through Time – Part III:  On The Shoulders of Giants
  • Spring Patent for T.E. Warren, 1849Connections Through Time – Part II: Sprung Forward
  • Etruscan bronze fibula pin 1000 B.C. British MuseumConnections Through Time – Part I: Ancient Springs and Metalworks
  • Ticking: Essence of a Mattress

Articles on:

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Explore the Technology

  • Featured
    • Mattress Makers
    • 18th Century Cabinet Makers
  • Metal Use In Beds and Furniture
    • Springs and Woven Wires
    • Metal Bedsteads
    • Metal Production
    • Metal History and Facts
  • Enclosed Bed Designs
    • Folding Beds
    • Early Metal & Brass Beds
    • Ancient Beds
  • Mattress Designs
    • Iron, Steel, Spiral and Torsion Springs
    • Ventilated Spring Mattress: James Marshal
    • Bed Bottoms
  • Patents
    • Combo Bed Patents
    • Portable Mattresses, Internal Sections
  • Specialty Sleep: Airbeds Etc
    • John M Macintosh: Macintosh Cloth
    • Steel Spring & Slat Beds
    • Mattress Filling: Feathers, Hair and Vegetation
    • Multiple Section Mattresses
  • Textiles
    • Mattress Ticking: The Word and The Product
    • Cotton: History and Production
    • Amoskeag: The Supreme Court Decision, The Mills
    • Ticking History
  • Advertising & Ephemera
    • Early Bedding Advertising
    • Catalogs
    • Bedding Orders
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