Here at the Staatsburgh, we’ve recently
developed an interest in the historic mattresses in our collection. Our
investigation into the topic has led to surprising discoveries about the ways
mattresses have changed over the course of the last century. The modern
mattresses we all sleep on today are composed of a foundation (also known as a
box spring), which underlies an innerspring unit, which is then surrounded
surrounded by many layers of upholstery all contained within a padded, quilted
exterior.
However, mattresses were not always so sophisticated or comfortable.
The innerspring mattress that most of us sleep on today was patented by a man
named Heinrich Westphal in 1871. Unfortunately, Westphal did not live long
enough to see his invention succeed. This type of mattress was very expensive
and did not become widely available until the middle of the twentieth century.
This begs the question: what were
mattresses like before? Mattress construction has changed greatly over the
course of time from stuffing, to woven wire, and finally to the innerspring
model. Mattresses may seem quite mundane. To be sure, they don’t flaunt the
same glamor as other antique furniture. You would never catch someone boasting
about owning a nineteenth century mattress! However, the mattress has seen a
great deal of change in its construction during the last century. These
changes show us incremental advancements in the technology of the era as well
as changing attitudes about health.
Inside the Mattress
Example of a historic box spring |
Box spring from the Staatsburgh collection |
Certain kinds of stuffing were
considered better than others and some kinds of stuffing were preferred for
specific functions. For example, in a Sears catalogue from 1897, the moss
mattress is advertised as recommended by physicians for invalids. Based on housekeeping manuals from the period,
it seems that hair (usually horse hair) was the most desirable type of stuffing for a mattress. Household Discoveries specifically
advises those stuffed with curled hair, although, one stuffed with felted
cotton would do as well. However, these manuals do not give a particular reason
for their preference toward hair mattresses.
Cotton / Kapok mattress from the Staatsburgh collection |
As you can imagine, mattresses in the
nineteenth century stuffed with organic materials would have been plagued by
bed bugs, mice, and a whole host of other pests. Unfortunately, the nineteenth
century didn’t have much to offer by way of extermination. The methods were
limited to boiling water, peat smoke, oil, kerosene, and various plant extracts. Sleeping with bugs
Making Progress
In the early 1900’s, legal
steps were taken to ensure the health and safety of mattresses with the
institution of tagging laws. These laws required manufacturers to attach a tag
displaying the stuffing contents, somewhat similar to ingredient lists on food
products. This prevented manufacturers from being dishonest and reusing
secondhand, unsanitary stuffing materials. These laws were part of a larger
trend in changing attitudes about health and safety during the early twentieth
century. This period is referred to as the Progressive Era of American history,
which brought great social and political changes. For example, the Pure Foodand Drug Act of 1906 was to control the trafficking of mislabeled or hazardous
food and drug products and required manufacturers to list the active ingredient
on all drugs.
Wire mattresses were revolutionary
in their supportiveness as well as in their lack of vermin. Because these
mattresses did not contain organic materials they did not attract mice and
insects as mattresses had in the past. Solid, stuffed mattresses would become
lumpy and uncomfortable as they were used. Wire mattresses, however, could hold
their shape and provide much-needed support to the sleeper. And one must imagine
that it would be easier to sleep comfortably knowing that the mattress was not
infested with an array of insects.
For many
years, the springs used in mattresses were Bonnell Coils, which are
shaped like an hour glass and had the same construction as the seats in a
buggy. This type of coil is still used today in mattresses on the lower end of
the market.
Bonnell Coil |
Marshall Coil |
Then,
James Marshall invented the pocketed spring coil in 1900. Marshall Coils were
individual springs encased in a cloth pocket that would move independently of
one another as opposed to a system of springs that were all connected. These
types of mattresses would have been much more comfortable and supportive than
their predecessors as they conform to the sleeper’s body and reduce motion
transfer. They, too, are still used by modern mattress manufacturers. Marshall Coils
were popularized by Simmons Beautyrest, which is a very popular brand. We may take our beds for granted today, but we can be thankful that the last century of mattress innovation resulted in a night of sleep that is both comfortable and free of insects.
For More Information:
http://www.madehow.com/Volume-1/Mattress.html
http://www.textilereproductions.com/pdfs/Bed_Ticks_Covers.pdf
http://www.innovationgateway.org/content/mattress-0
http://www.rockymountainmattress.com/blog/2008/05/20/a-timeline-the-history-of-mattresses/
Thank you to our summer intern, Bethany Zulick (Bard College '16), for researching and writing this blog entry.
Thank you to our summer intern, Bethany Zulick (Bard College '16), for researching and writing this blog entry.
I am always searching online for articles that can help me. There is obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some good points in Features also. Keep working, great job!
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