The Beauty of an Antique Murphy Bed

!±8± The Beauty of an Antique Murphy Bed

Murphy beds have been in existence since about 1900, when William L. Murphy invented the patented mechanism to hide his bed away in the closet of his one room apartment while he entertained. The beds have been in use ever since, always appreciated by city apartment dwellers and homeowners who needed an extra bed in a multipurpose room.

During World War II and directly afterwards, the beds dropped in popularity, first because of the scarcity of steel, and then because people were moving out of the city to larger, suburban homes, and space was not at such a premium. In the decades of the fifties and sixties, the beds were mainly remembered as props in slap-stick comedy, or the place to hide the body in a mystery story.

Now, Murphy beds are experiencing resurgence, as professional people move back into the cities and make their smaller living spaces more functional. Many apartment dwellers are finding these beds already existing in older buildings, especially in places like San Francisco, where the Murphy bed was invented, and where many Murphy beds were sold for the apartments built between the 1906 earthquake and World War II. Antique Murphy beds are now much sought after conversation pieces and design focal points, as well as practical, still-functioning pieces of furniture.

Antique Murphy beds are also being sold in fine antique stores all over the country. Many of the original mechanisms still function and the cabinetry used to create the units can be quite beautiful. Buyers should remember, however, that a true Murphy bed is not going to be older than the invention, patented in 1900. The piece may be housed in a cabinet that is older than the patent, but the mechanism cannot be older than that. The buyer should be knowledgeable about the furniture of the period as a whole, and about the mechanism itself. Intelligently purchased, these beds can be an investment and a functioning piece of furniture.

The Beauty of an Antique Murphy Bed

Top 10 Paper Lanterns In Bulk Toto Drake Toilet Cst744s Quickly Compare Sorel Firenzy

Basic Concepts of Mechanics

!±8± Basic Concepts of Mechanics

The word mechanics is derived from a Greek word which means something to the degree of "trade art". Mechanics is the oldest branch of physics and whose basic concepts were studied by scholars in ancient times. Mechanics studies the movement of objects and the forces which work on them. In a broader sense of the word, classical mechanics covers such concepts as inertia and gravity, weight, speed, density, and even the structure of material.

In the 20th century, quantum mechanics came into existence and studied substances on their atomic and molecular levels. Relativity mechanics, formulated by Einstein, also came into existence. However, to this degree, classical mechanics did not become any less valid but rather became more limited to the extent it was applicable. When an object is of sufficient size, such as when it is visible when looking out the window, and does not move at a very fast speed but rather moves much slower than the speed of light, the laws of classical mechanics is sufficient to describe and explain physical phenomena.

Classical mechanics is made up of three components:

Statics concerns objects in a static state and studies the balance of forces which work on those objects in their static, calm state. Electrostatics studies deformations caused by forces acting on certain objects.

Kinematics describes the geometrical and mathematical components of an object's movement without considering the forces applied to it.

For example, speed would be defined as the time it takes an object to travel along a certain path and is explained in m/s (metres per second) or km/hr (kilometres per hour). An example of kinematics is the description of a car's speed during a certain time period without considering what may have caused the car to move in the first place.

Dynamics concerns the sum of forces and the changes they cause in the movement of a particular object.

If the forces acting on a particular object are not balanced, the object's speed or direction of movement changes. Isaac Newton defined the laws of movement. According to these laws, if we would like to move an object of greater weight, we would require a greater force. From this we may conclude that objects with greater weight also have a larger inertia.

The weight of a particular object relates to the amount of matter found in it and is used to calculate the object's inertia. Weight is most often defined in kilograms. Gravitational force (the force of gravity) gives an object its weight and is stated in newtons (A).

Thanks to the arrival of computer technology, our present knowledge of statics, kinematics and dynamics can be used to an immense degree. Every building and construction can be statically verified. Kinematics enables us to compile prognoses during the most complex of movements while dynamics, for example, performs a very important function when designing automobiles. During crash tests, forces applied to passengers at the moment of impact are studied in a similar fashion, helping designers to predict the probable outcome of their movement or reaction during an accident.

Therefore, our knowledge of classical mechanics applies today as it did yesterday, where the laws of mechanics were only applied to the present state and in response to the capabilities of technology. All mechanical solutions are aimed at understanding nature and using nature's laws for our advantage.

Classical mechanics studies the composition of materials and tries to explain changes in density during changes in temperature, above all when a substance changes its solid, liquid or gaseous state.

All substances take up a particular space (volume). According to the particle model, each substance is made up of very small, indivisible particles which are in constant vibration and which carry energy. According to the discoverer of this phenomena, it is referred to as Braun's movement of molecules.

If we add or remove energy from some substance (by cooling or heating it for example), the appearance of the formation of these particles changes. This appearance influences how the substance looks because density depends on the distance between the particles within it. The bonds between particles is stronger with solid substances than with liquids. When melting solid substances, the added energy loosens the structure of the particles within it, creating new and weaker bonds between the particles (cohesion) while, with the evaporation of liquids, the cohesion of particles breaks down totally. In this case, the volume of the substance is limited by its surroundings, such as by the size of some pot.

Basic Concepts of Mechanics

Wholesale Frye Matilda Boot Bissell Proheat Shampooer On Sale Price Michael Lang Woodstock

Washing Lines - Not Just Your Grannies Best Friend!

!±8± Washing Lines - Not Just Your Grannies Best Friend!

I have vivid and fond memories of my Grannie Murphy standing out in the back garden wearing her paisley patterned wrap around pinny. She was a real earth mother who would reward me with secret sweets for no reason at all.

The garden was complete with a washing line and fixed poles. These were square wooden stretcher poles with a vee shaped cut in the end which pushed the line as high as possible so the washing caught the wind. In those days the domestic tumble dryer or even automatic washing machine was not yet invented and washing was placed, wrung out but still wet, on the line. Washing every day was essential and most kitchens were also equipped with a ceiling airer. On bad weather days the kitchen became a steam laundry with bed sheets and bath towels hanging down to clog the floor space.

Today the indoor washing line, installed over the bath, can provide a permanent five washing lines up to 4m long and, fully expanded, could provide nearly 70 feet of usable washing line.

Just imaging how this could have freed up my Grannie's kitchen and made her life so much easier on bad weather or dark sky days.

Indoor washing lines are extremely useful because they expand wall to wall and lock into position. When not in use they can retract using the sprung loaded retracting mechanism to tuck the multiway washing lines out of sight leaving the bath completely free.

My Grannie would have loved the security the indoor washing lines would have given her since she could have hung clothes to dry at any time of the day or night, in any weather or wind or temperature conditions. She would never have to step out into the back garden during dark winter nights. Later when she became old and less able she could still maintain the drying cycle using the indoor washing lines.

I am glad to report she lived to a ripe old age without resorting to a wheelchair. However, if she had the eco friendly washing lines it would have made her life easier The full range of wall mounted drying racks which also expand and retract would, if required, give a waist level clothes hanging centre for wheelchair access.

Washing Lines - Not Just Your Grannies Best Friend!

Buyers Advent Baby Bottle

Murphy Bed Mounting Options - Floor vs Wall

!±8± Murphy Bed Mounting Options - Floor vs Wall

Once you have decided to purchase a Murphy bed, an important factor to consider is the way in which the bed will be mounted in your home. There are two main ways to install a wall bed.

Floor Mounting

Mounting to the Floor

Some systems require that the unit be drilled into the floor of the room. These are generally systems that rely on spring mechanisms. Mounting a wall bed unit into the floor provides grounded stability and truly makes your Murphy bed a fixture in your home, but it is important to note the long-term effects of mounting on your floor. Most floor-mount systems call for a solid mounting surface, requiring any carpeting to be cut away which can permanently damage your floor. In addition to marking your floors, floor mount systems are difficult, if not impossible to move once installed.

The "False Floor" Option

There are several wall bed manufacturers that offer a "false floor" option, where the wall bed is attached to a specifically cut piece of plywood, which is then attached to the wall or baseboards. This option is ideal for those who have settled on a Murphy bed requiring floor mounting, but want to preserve the appearance of their flooring.

Wall Mounting

Mounting to the Wall

Systems that require the wall bed be mounted to the wall are most commonly used with piston mechanisms. Mounting to the wall provides a much less permanent fixture in your home, as wall mount systems can be easily moved and incur very little damage to the structure of your room. The most common way in which a Murphy bed is mounted to the wall is by locating three studs, and then attaching the back panel of the wall bed to those studs with the use of a drill. Utilizing studs in your wall creates a stable foundation for your Murphy bed. It also allows you to reposition your wall bed if need be later on.

Different Wall Types

When deciding on a wall mounted Murphy bed, take into consideration the wall you will be using. Is the wall made of sheet rock, concrete or bricks? While most manufacturers provide solutions for all types of walls, certain wall types will require additional installation steps. Deciding between floor mount and wall mount styles of wall beds, and how they best fit into your home is an important choice.

Murphy Bed Mounting Options - Floor vs Wall

Kinetic Seiko Watches Guide Comparison Sensus Memory Foam Good Bargain Memory Foam Pillows King Size