History of Murphy Beds
The Murphy bed is an invention that combines good old American ingenuity, necessity and a dash of common sense. And it's an invention that continues to evolve and become even more useful. Does this Spark an idea?
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The Idea
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In the late 1800s, William L. Murphy lived in a one-room apartment with his wife. The apartment had a standard bed that took up most of the available floor space, making entertaining a challenge. So Murphy began experimenting with a folding bed and, voila, the Murphy bed was born.
The Concept
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The Murphy bed, also known as a wall bed or a fold-away bed, is a simple concept, really. It's a hinged bed that folds straight up vertically and latches temporarily to a wall. The hinges are at the head of the bed. William Murphy patented his invention around 1916 and started the Murphy Wall Bed Co. later that year.
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The First Bed
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Murphy's first bed was made in San Francisco. According to the Murphy Bed Co. website, in 1918 Murphy invented a pivot bed. It "pivoted on a doorjamb of a dressing closet and then lowered into sleeping position."
The Evolution of the Murphy Bed
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About 70 years later, Murphy's bed had progressed into a bed with ready-to-assemble cabinetry and wall units.
Murphy Beds Today
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Murphy beds waned in popularity in the 1980s and '90s, but these days they're making a comeback. With more people living in smaller spaces or unable to afford moving into a larger home, Murphy beds are a practical solution to space issues.
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References
- Photo Credit The original Murphy bed logo, Murphy Bed Co. Inc.
