What Is It?

The Reporter week of July 24 "What Is It?" answer: Bed Key

Also known as a wrench key. In the 18th to mid-19th centuries beds were made of wood and a lattice work of ropes. The weight of the bedding and slumberer caused the ropes to loosen and sag. The bed key was used to tighten the ropes. The notched end slipped over the ropes running through the bed frame. The key was then turned, and a peg was slid through the hole where the rope passed through the frame. This was repeated along the entire frame until the ropes were all tight. This is where we get the saying “sleep tight.”

 Here's a short video illustrating how the bed key works: Using a Bed Key

For more information on rope beds: https://www.colonialsense.com/How-To_Guides/Interior/Bed_Roping.php. 

Thank you for reading "What Is It?" and visiting our site. This bed key and hundreds of other historic items can be found at Acton-Shapleigh Historical Society's main headquarters at 122 Emery Mills Road in Shapleigh, Maine. For visiting hours see our Hours of Operation page. If you would like to join, please visit our Become a Member page. We hope to make "What Is It?" a regular feature in The Reporter so please stay tuned.