In-Depth Primer ~
Frame History
The American version of the futon mattress started out on the floor, mimicking its Japanese cousin. As time passed, futon mattress makers began to see the potential of the futon frame as a new design alternative to the conventional sofa bed. Although a multitude of frame types and styles now exist, in the early days it was the team of Irv Wieder and William Brouwer who developed the first convertible futon frames.
The convertible futon frame has made the North American industry what it is today. The development and growth of the frame market is the heart of futon history. Early on, simple frames that looked like shipping pallets worked well for college students. Unfortunately, this type of product has created a lasting negative impression of the futon, which has been difficult to shake.
As the industry matured, manufacturers developed many beautiful hardwood frame designs. These products helped the futon industry make major inroads toward the traditional home furnishings market and also toward true legitimacy as a product category.
A second major development occurred in 1985 with the creation of the T.H.I.S. frame by Ron Massey. Massey developed his frame to hinge along the length of the mattress at the request of a Canadian consumer for whom he was making non-converting futon frames. This development was a major advance and probably was the single most important factor in jumpstarting the growth that followed. (Ron Massey is still making solid wood frames. His company is called Horndove.)
Another addition to the market arrived in 1987. Nippon, a Danish company, introduced the first all-metal convertible futon frame with a sturdy all-metal mechanism. Many other companies have developed metal frames with metal mechanisms and solid wood frames with metal mechanisms as well. The frame was also incorporated into a bunk bed configuration. The bottom bunk is a full-sized futon that doubles as a sofa during the day and a full-sized bed at night.
