History of Beds

 A bit about beds. 🛌 The Industrial Revolution allowed the mass production of beds and mattresses, making them cheaper. Iron beds became common. Beds also became more comfortable. In 1865, Heinrich Westphal invented the coiled spring mattress. Pillows also became cheaper and more common in the 19th century. Sheets also became cheaper and more common.

In the late 19th century, pyjamas became common for men. The word pyjamas comes from the Persian words pay and jama, meaning leg and garment. Women first began to wear pyjamas in the 1920s.

Bedtime drinks were invented. Horlicks was invented by James and William Horlick in 1873. Ovaltine was invented in 1904 by Dr George Wander.

The modern rubber hot water bottle was patented by Eduard Penkala in 1903. The electric blanket was invented in 1912 by Sidney I. Russell.
Fitted sheets were patented by Bertha Berman in 1959. Memory foam mattresses were introduced in 1992. Duvets have been used in parts of Europe for centuries. However, they did not become common in Britain until the 1960s. Charles Hall invented the modern water bed in 1968.

Meanwhile, Antoine Redier invented the first adjustable, mechanical alarm clock in 1847. The electric alarm clock was invented in 1912. However, until the 20th century, alarm clocks were a luxury. During the 19th century and the early 20th century, many people in Britain relied on 'knocker-uppers', people who were paid to knock on your bedroom window with a long stick to wake you up. Sometimes they used pea shooters.

It's a popular myth that the phrase 'sleep tight' is from the days when mattresses were strung on ropes. You tightened the ropes before you got into bed so you could 'sleep tight'. Indeed, mattresses were once laid on ropes. But the phrase 'sleep tight' has nothing to do with that. It was first used in the 19th century, long after people had stopped sleeping on mattresses on ropes. 'Sleep tight' meant sleep safe or secure, as in 'sit tight'.