I'm sleeping on the floor unless there is an antique bed genius on the forum tonight.

Hi,

I bought a nice arts and crafts oak bed off of Craigslist tonight. When I got to the seller's house, the bed was already dissembled.

The connectors that hold the side rails to the headboard and foot board are the oddest things I've ever seen. I'm at a loss as to how they work.

There is a movable "lever" on each of the connectors. Further complicating this, is that I don't know if the side rails insert into the connectors with the flat side up or down. In one of my photos, you can see a little pad that someone added to the side rail. They are all along the flat side of the side rails, so I think the flat side goes up, but I'm not sure.

Attaching photos showing the lever up in one photo and down in another. Also attaching photo of the ends of the side rails

 

I've had these before but...it's been awhile.
The angles will have to go in so that one leg is up and the other pointing toward the one across to the other side of the bed to hold the support boards in place.
The lever probably locks them in under pressure but I'm not certain of this.
You may have to get clever with some gizmo to make them lock. Maybe a box end wrench will work.
~
Great title too.

 

Thanks for taking a look at my photos. I suspected the levers acted a locks,but... Guess I'll go give it another try.

 

If the adjusters don't appear to have been moved don't move them!

 

Seems to me that no matter what, the rails have to mount as I said so finagle them til they fit.

 

Looks like part of the problem is the side rails are cut really poorly. My husband is out of town, and clearly this is a two person job. Getting late here and I'm tired. Hopefully, I'll hear from the seller tomorrow. I'll post photos.

 

Thinking that in the morning, I'll get my Dremel out and remove just a bit more rail, so they slide in without having to hammer them in.

 

Before you bought the bed, did you see a pic of it in one piece? If so,were the undersides,rails,etc. pictured? If not, maybe you were tricked? I sure hope not . PS...Did you try to contact the seller for help?

 

The notches should be built in stops.
I doubt anything should come off so be sure and be careful! You can't put anything back!

 

sweet dreams....

 

Greenwillow, I hope that you got some sleep last night!

 

If I had seen pic #2 without the discussion of siderails fitting into the headboard, I would have thought that the metal "dowel" looking thing held a retractable caster, something you could get out of the way when the board needs to stay in place and pulled down so the bed could be moved around (for cleaning or some such reason.)

I also hope Greenwillow got some sleep and the clear light of day made the thing come together.

 

I also need help!! I see this post is three years ago but I’m hoping someone sees it! I also have this style on a headboard and footboard I bought but with no rails! I just need to know what this style is called so I can attempt to find some rails for it. Anyone know??

 

Welcome, GrannyYank. Looks like the original poster greenwillow has not been back to the forum since June 2015.

Just to be clear, are you looking for the name for the type of connection that was being discussed? I mean how the rails fit in? I don't know the answer but hope somebody else can help you.