u/Roger1855

Part of the Englander mattress company’s “Better Rest makes Better Husbands” post WW2 advertising campaign

Notice the goose whip

Note the goose whip.

Eventually Serta found cartoon sheep more effective.

Is firm better than soft

For a long time, mattress, manufacturers touted and pushed the concept of a firm mattress being better than a soft mattress for back support. Is this true? The unhelpful answer is yes, and no. Yes your mattress absolutely should support your back and should not sag. No, contemporary inner spring design allows a mattress to be both supportive and have an appealingly soft surface.

Before pocketed springs were generally available the Simmons company had a patent on them in the United States and all other manufacturers were forced to use Bonnell or other variations of stiff wire-tied innersprings in their mattresses. In the days of yore, a firm innerspring was inevitably rigid. Manufacturers touted the surface feel as something that you were supposed to get used to.

Contemporary pocketed spring mattresses can be made in soft or firm variations without compromising support. At lower price points this is done by adding synthetic foam layers, while many premium mattresses contain latex.

The best mattresses combine the desirable qualities of traditional materials with the most modern innerspring technology. Dream like luxury is available at an ultra-premium price point. If you have the budget you can get a multilayer hand stitched mattress utilizing wool, additional springs, linen, cotton and even horsehair.

This is the modern era. There is no need to sleep on an uncomfortably stiff mattress to be healthy.

Ca.1890-1910 I have not been able to further identify.

In the locker room with Sealy’s “Vigor & Zest” campaign.

1903 American postcards. There are dozens of similar cards both British and American.

A 1950s magazine ad. No irony intended.

Advertising and a catalog featuring a rolled up mattress. Similar products were made by a number of suppliers. The corrugated box part was not yet invented. One hundred dollars was a small fortune in 1905

Mumbai mattress manufacturer magazine advertisement for a 6” thick “medium firm” spring mattress.

The “First Mattress Races Anywhere”, Sportsman’s Rendezvous at Lake Maranacook, Maine 1935

These linen humorous postcards were popular in the 1930s and 40s.

The current Charles P Rogers showroom is located on 17st. Just one block from their 1880 location. No more live geese however.

AI dates this photograph as dating from 1885-1905. Based on the street address it was taken in Springfield, Missouri. Can anyone provide additional details?

This is the law label from a Hastens 2000T King size that sells for $91,180. It contains 14.25 pounds of horsehair.

High quality horsehair is available for less than $100 a pound. Hard to rationalize the price with the sales pitch.

Animaniacs Animation Production Cel Featuring Yakko Wakko and Dot holding up a mattress