Thread: Antique Cast Iron/Steel Bed for my Daughter

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As some of you saw in my build thread, I am rebuilding a foot board for an antique bed for my daughter. We picked it up at an auction for her 4-5 years ago. I took it and had it sand blasted and it has been in storage ever since. We dug it back out a couple of months ago because Izzabelle has outgrown her toddler bed. She did a while ago but she doesn't want to leave Mom and Dad's room.

I assembled the bed in the yard and I noticed that the foot board looked odd. Yep, sure enough! Some one hacked off the top to allow for a bigger mattress to be put on the frame I'm guessing. I searched online to find a replacement foot board or another bed. My wife said we could use another one we have, and sell this one. I told her no way. This one is way more cool. I haven't seen pics of another like it online any where. I told her I would fix it. I finally got the metal work done and now I have to get it painted.

The head board is curved on the to rail. I assumed the foot board would be too. So I cam up with a way to bend the 1" conduit I got at Menards. Then after looking at other antique steel beds, I came to the conclusion that the foot board is supposed to be straight. Luckily I didn't weld on my 1" 90s I got off ebay. I did some measuring, and fit the upper rail on the foot board. I did this after work and had a friend hold things while I tacked them together.

Once that was done I had to add the upright bars. Once again I went to Menards and got some 5/16 rod. It was the same size as the lower bar and the bars they cut off. I drilled holes in the bottom of the upper rail and slid the rod up into the upper tube for ease of fitment. A couple were not straight so I simply cut a notch in the rod to allow me to get it square. I welded them all in place, and ground the welds.

Next was to try to add something to the upper tube to tie in the upright bars to try and match the head board. Well, I struck out there. I couldn't find anything close. I studied and looked at several different places that cast cast iron items. No one had any thing close. I finally found some brass lamp rosettes that had 6 pedals and were similar to the flower/design on the lower bar of this foot board. I used the vice and crimped the upper tube at the center of each upright. Then I riveted the brass rosettes on to the tube. I put them on the front and the back so it looks better. Now I just have to finish cleaning everything up and get it painted. Then I have to find something to stick in the bottom of the feet because I think they cut the wheels off of it. I'm thinking a dowel rod sanded and beat up in there will level it and keep it from rocking. Once again, this 5 minute fix turned into weeks of working on it when I could find free time.