BEDS, FOLDING. 



83 



a shelf or mantel. Ingenious self-acting attach- 

 ments adjust the legs of the bedstead, so that 

 they open or shut as the bed is lowered or raised. 

 A slightly more complicated form of the 

 mantel-bed is similar in structure, save that it 

 folds endwise, involving a joint midway of the 

 mattress and side-pieces. 



The bedsteads thus far described are quite 

 moderate in price, and are coming into use very 

 extensively. They are better in many respects 

 tban the more costly kinds, since the open 

 structure admits free circulation of air through 

 and about the mattress and coverings while 

 they are not in use. The more elaborate and 

 ornamental folding beds, " cabinet-beds," as 

 they are sometimes called, are manufactured 

 in a great variety of styles, and are very com- 

 plete and ingenious in all their appointments. 



Figs. 3 and 4 show one of the direct-acting 

 kind, where the bed is wheeled outward be- 

 fore being lowered from its upright position. 

 The raising and lowering are usually facili- 

 tated by counter-weights, springs, or pulleys 

 concealed in the casing. For low-ceiled rooms 

 cabinet-beds are made which fold in the mid- 

 dle, instead of being raised bodily. These, 

 however, project farther into the room when 

 folded, and in them it is impracticable to use 

 the "wire mattresses" as generally furnished 

 to the trade. 



Cabinet or furniture bedsteads are often only 

 onnamental coverings for the bedding, but many 

 of them include also a wardrobe, with drawers, 

 or, if desired, a washstand, mirror, and the like, 

 all very compact and convenient. These beds 

 stand with the side to the wall when in use, or 

 with the foot to the wall if preferred. That is 

 to say, the wardrobe part is swung or pulled 

 out toward the mid- 

 dle of the room, and 

 the bed is then low- 

 ered. This is hardly 

 an objection, since 

 the whole structure 

 is mounted on easily- 

 rolling castors, and 

 can be removed with 

 very little exertion. 

 Figs. 3 and 4 show one 

 of these combination 



tended for use in camps or wherever easy trans- 

 portation is essential. The common type of 

 cot with a canvas support for the mattress and 



Fio. 3. CABIS-ET-BED SIDE. 



beds in front and side elevation. When not 

 in use, it is a handsome piece of furniture, and 

 to a casual observer suggests nothing more 

 than an ordinary wardrobe and bureau. An- 

 other class of folding-beds includes those in- 



FIG. 4. CABINET-BED END. 



coverings is so well known that it does not 

 require illustration. In effect it is precisely 

 like the one shown in Fig. 5, except that the 

 legs can not be folded parallel to the side-pieces, 

 and it lacks the long braces marked A A. 



Fig. 5 shows one of the best camp-beds 

 in the market. The legs turn on a bolt in the 

 usual manner at B, but are so attached to the 

 side-rails, by means of an iron fixture, that they 

 can be folded parallel to the side-rails, and 

 rolled up in the canvas as shown at C. 

 When open for use, the bed is six feet three 

 inches long and twenty-nine inches wide ; 

 folded it forms a roll about six inches in diam- 

 eter one way and four inches the other 

 way. The weight is fifteen pounds. 



A camp-bed somewhat more elabo- 

 rate in construction than that shown in 

 the illustration has semi-cylindrical side- 

 rails of wood. They are made of three- 

 ply veneering similar to the chair-seats 

 commonly in use, except that they are 

 not perforated. To these the canvas 

 stretcher is firmly tacked, and with- 

 in them are simple iron fixtures to 

 serve as braces for the legs. All the attach- 

 ments are laid within the hollow semi-cylin- 

 ders when the bed is to be folded, and then 

 the canvas is rolled and packed between the 

 two, which, when strapped together, form a 

 handsome varnished cylindrical box less than 



