Bed warmer
A bed warmer was a common household item in countries with cold winters, especially in Europe.[citation needed] It consisted of a metal container, usually fitted with a handle and shaped somewhat like a modern frying pan, with a solid or finely perforated lid. The pan would be filled with hot coals and placed under the covers of a bed, to warm it up and/or dry it out before use.[citation needed]
After the invention of rubber, the classical bed warmer was largely supplanted by the hot water bottle, which is still widely used.[citation needed] In the early[1] 20th century, electric blankets and then the electric bed warmer, (containing a lampholder and low wattage light bulb), were invented to fulfill the same need.
References
External links
- 19th Century Medical Caricatures. A detail in the upper right corner of the third caricature shows a bed warmer being used as a weapon.[dead link]
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