ANTIQUE BEDSTEAD

The most important thing to know is that the male and female fittings are made of cast iron. The females are the jigsaw type fittings on the head and foot, which receive the side rails.

Never hit them with an object harder than cast iron (i.e.- do not hit with a standard hammer). When inserting the side rails into the females, or removing, only hit the cast iron with a rubber or copper mallet. Alternatively, tap the angle iron of the side rail instead.

These cast iron fittings are very difficult to repair, and once broken, make the bed unstable and will cause further damage if use of the bed is continued. Never use the incorrect side rails with your antique bed, as this will cause the females to crack.

If your brass is tarnishing and you would like to bring it back up to its original sheen, simply use a brass cleaner, such as Brasso. (This will not work if your brass work has been lacquered: - we never lacquer any of our brass). Try not to get the cleaner on any of the paintwork / metalwork as it may prove difficult to remove if left to dry.

If you find that you have dirty marks on the paintwork of the bed, you can try to remove it by gently using a creamy cleanser, such as Jif. Remember to carefully wipe over the area with a clean wet rag when finished to remove any residue.