I bought an antique bed on eBay... I thought it came with rails but the rails sent were not compatible with the bed. The hardware is missing the head and foot board have grooves that don't make sense to me... I was told(from an eBay seller) to mortisse them and just use another type of rail hardware... but I don't even know how to do that. A furntiure expert said he could do it... but I am just stumped by the fact that I can't get rails to fit this bed... help please

I've run into several different setups on antique beds... any chance you could post a photo?
Bill

Hi, charro08!

What do you mean by "rails", please? That could involve the hardware under the bed or even to the sides of it.

Thanks!

I posted a pix of the foot board and how it is shaped for the hardware.
The rails I need are the ones that connect the foot board and the headboard and run the length of the mattress.
Thanks

Charro8,
Thanks for the photos. The rails for your bed were (originally) wood with two tenons on each end. These fit into the mortises, or slots, on your head- and foot boards. Additionally, there would be a bolt captured in each end of the rail that penetrates the column of the head- and foot board, which then takes a nut to secure it. The nut hole on the foot board would be covered by a brass estucheon plate, generally held in place with one small brad. I've seen these beds take either regular wooden bed slats or a cable arrangement from side-to-side to hold the box spring.

Have a look at the materials supplied by somebody like Van Dyke's Restorers (Bed Hardware, Bedroom Furniture, Furniture at Van Dykes Restorers). You should be able to have a local restorer put a set together for you without too much trouble.

If you have any more questions, please let me know.

Bill