| During the late 60's we all know that the youth of | | | | foam" to the world and started selling the material to |
| America, including myself, erupted with displeasure on | | | | hospitals for mattress overlays to help patients who |
| how things were done. The Vietnam war fueled this | | | | suffered from chronic bed sores. Patients reported |
| fire. There was much unrest as to why we were | | | | that these overlays had greatly reduced pressure |
| involved in the first place. Yesterday I had a Vietnam | | | | points and soreness on joints. Based on their success |
| war veteran in my showroom and I asked him if he | | | | within the medical field, Tempur-Pedic® introduced |
| even knew why he had fought? His answer was | | | | memory foam to the world in the early 1990s. Initially |
| "they gave us a lot of reasons but none of them | | | | the prices they charged were off the scale but with |
| made any sense". I then asked him if he would like to | | | | increased competition they were forced to bring |
| know real reason. He immediately answered "YES". | | | | them back to reality. As of today, memory foam |
| Here's the common answer you will find on - | | | | now costs more than the comparable latex foam. |
| France controlled Vietnam up until WWII when Japan | | | | After all, memory foam is an oil-based derivative of |
| took it over. After WWII Japan was forced to give | | | | polyurethane. For more information on what memory |
| up the area. Vietnam began a strong Nationalist | | | | foam customers are saying go to chem-tox.com |
| movement in the time that followed when France | | | | guest/guestbook.html Warning - you may be |
| began to regain control of Vietnam. They fought up | | | | shocked at what you read. |
| to where the line between North and South Vietnam | | | | Now for what's happening today |
| used to exist. They later gave up after a bloody | | | | Is the United States shifting it's buying habits back to |
| battle at Dienbenphu. Up until this point The US had | | | | the basics? Years ago folks did not have to worry |
| merely been funding the war. The US was funding it | | | | about what potentially harmful chemicals were inside |
| for two reasons: one, to improve relations with | | | | their mattresses. Today, that's not true any more. |
| France, and two, to stop the spread of communism. | | | | With the passage of federal law CFR 1633 |
| However after the French lost the US sent troops in | | | | manufacturers are now required to incorporate flame |
| (in smaller amounts at first) to keep North Vietnam | | | | retardant chemicals that may or may not be healthy |
| from taking over South Vietnam thus making it | | | | for consumers. As time passes I'm sure the truth will |
| communist. That's pretty much how it started. | | | | come out but this law should never have happened in |
| As Paul Harvey would say " and now for the rest of | | | | the first place. |
| the story". During the early 50's and all the way | | | | The main backers of this law were of course the |
| through the mid 70's, Sears was famous for their | | | | major mattress manufacturers commonly referred to |
| "rubber mattresses". They were comfortable, durable | | | | in my industry as the 4 s's. They ranted and raved |
| and very heavy. Why not, they were made of latex | | | | how this would save so many lives, especially those |
| rubber. Another product made with latex rubber are | | | | who smoked in bed. I say bulls-. This law had one |
| tires. Vietnam has some of the best rubber tree | | | | clear intention, to make it very difficult on the mom |
| plantations in the world and French companies like | | | | and pop mattress shops to keep their doors open. |
| Michelin laid claim to them. At the time Vietnam was | | | | Guess what America, they succeeded. |
| considered a French Territory. But when the Vietnam | | | | I have so many friends in this industry and most are |
| government tried to nationalize the rubber tree | | | | like myself, a family owned company who is now |
| plantations the first country the French called for help | | | | struggling to keep it's very doors open. In a |
| was, but of course, the good ol US of A. They | | | | downturn economy with cost of goods soaring, it's |
| wanted us to protect their investment under the | | | | becoming near impossible to turn a profit. Add to it |
| disguise of thwarting communism. Once we got | | | | the burden of having to prototype and burn each |
| involved the French pretty much ran for the hills and | | | | mattress model at a cost of over $500 ea. plus two |
| left us holding the bag. The rest as they say is | | | | confirmation burns equaling over $1500 in testing |
| history. | | | | fees. Most companies offer at least 10 different |
| The war disrupted greatly the flow of latex into the | | | | models so do the math. That's an average cost of |
| U.S. and eventually latex mattresses completely | | | | $15,000 for each mom and pop just to comply with |
| disappeared from the American marketplace around | | | | the new law and that does not even include the cost |
| 1975. It was about that time that waterbeds became | | | | of manufacturing each bed for burning or |
| the new rage. I remember traveling from furniture | | | | transportation of all those mattresses. The overall |
| show to furniture show setting up our waterbeds in | | | | costs can equal twice that amount. |
| hopes of attracting new store buyers. At that time | | | | Is the real intention of this new law becoming clear |
| the polyfoams also started to get a foothold on the | | | | now? I just found out the one of the largest fire |
| bedding market. The company I worked for put the | | | | barrier manufactures has just closed it's doors. Does |
| two ideas together as one. Foam edges, water in the | | | | that mean that I now have to start all over again? |
| middle. It was called a hybrid because it was a | | | | Retest everything since I was using their barriers in |
| waterbed that looked just like a regular spring | | | | my specs? I sincerely hope not or like so many |
| mattress. These beds took over the specialty | | | | others I might have to re-think if this business is |
| bedding market from the late 70's into the mid 80's. | | | | really worth it.. |
| We baby boomers just did not want to settle for | | | | The desire to have a "green" or "organic" mattress is |
| the traditional rock hard mattresses that the doctors | | | | increasing to the point that we are overwhelmed |
| and chiropractors recommended. From the mid 80's | | | | with calls for such an item. We do offer such an item |
| came the "pillow top" mattress. New manufacturing | | | | but as I said we are still required to put a fire barrier |
| techniques enabled us to make bigger, thicker | | | | around our all natural latex mattresses. There is a |
| mattresses. This became the newest rage plus the | | | | loophole in this new law and that is with a doctor or |
| added bonus for manufacturers was they could now | | | | chiropractors prescription for a non fire retardant |
| sell comfort, not durability. More frequent turnover | | | | mattress. We are encouraging all of our mattress |
| was the name of the game. With this new found | | | | customers to seek out such a prescription and even |
| comfort came decreased durability. All that fluff will | | | | have a chiropractor working with us to provide such |
| only hold up for a short period of time before it | | | | relief from governmental regulations. Who wants to |
| flattens out causing deep body impressions. We didn't | | | | be told they have to sleep on a chemically treated |
| seem to care because sleeping on a cloud was worth | | | | mattress anyway? |
| the price we had to pay every couple of years to | | | | Bottom line is there is a solution to this problem |
| change it out for new one. | | | | plaguing my industry. We need to use the loopholes |
| Let's get back now to Vietnam. Natural rubber has a | | | | just like the major companies do all the time. It's time |
| long history in Vietnam. The first plantation was | | | | to fight back otherwise you can kiss you mom and |
| founded in 1897, during the era of French colonialism. | | | | pop shops goodbye forever and be bound to whims |
| With the end of the Vietnam War, the Vietnamese | | | | of major corporations. By the way, did anyone notice |
| government set out to once again establish Vietnam | | | | the price of gas lately? |
| as a major exporter of Natural Rubber. | | | | FOAM MATTRESS BUYERS GUIDE |
| The industry was reinvigorated by a US$ 32 million | | | | - Talalay latex is the best whether all natural or blend. |
| loan from the World Bank in 1996 to improve rubber | | | | - Watch out for pillow tops! I will never understand |
| latex processing technology to international standards. | | | | why a manufacturer would compromise the integrity |
| Rubber tree plantations are located in the tropical | | | | of latex or memory foam by layering materials of |
| South of the country. The total rubber tree | | | | much lower quality on top. This will cause body |
| plantation area in Vietnam is 360,000 hectares | | | | impressions. Not in the latex or memory foam itself, |
| (900,000 acres) and the average annual output of | | | | but in the pillow top. |
| Natural Rubber is 250,000 metric tons. Vietnam's | | | | - Choose firmness carefully. Many retailers will only |
| output of Natural Rubber is growing at a rate 15% | | | | offer one firmness. The heavier you are, the firmer |
| per year as additional hectares are planted and young | | | | you need and visa versa. We offer 4 firmness levels |
| trees reach maturity and are put into rubber latex | | | | to choose from. |
| production. | | | | - Foam mattresses do not need to be more than |
| These developments helped to bring back latex | | | | 10″ thick. Anything more is over-kill and |
| mattresses to the U.S. marketplace. Latex | | | | unnecessary materials designed for aesthetics, not |
| International, latexfoam.com, was the first to bring | | | | functionality. Besides, it adds more weight to an |
| back these wonderful mattresses. I noticed an ad in | | | | already extremely heavy mattress. |
| our industry publication and immediately called to get | | | | - Demand to know what's inside. Many manufacturers |
| my first sample. Since 1997 my company, Arizona | | | | will put poly-foam and other fillers than can be toxic |
| Premium Mattress Co., has specialized in these types | | | | inside the mattress. |
| of mattresses with no regrets. | | | | - The more expensive the better, right? Wrong. |
| About this same time another foam mattress started | | | | Many latex mattresses that are just now approaching |
| to make it's mark in the specialty bedding. | | | | 40 years in service are finally being replaced. Their |
| Memory foam was developed as a space age | | | | simple design was what gave them their durability. If |
| material. NASA developed the first generation of | | | | someone tries to sell you a 12″ latex |
| memory foam in the 1970s. Memory foam had | | | | mattress ask "how much of that is actual latex"? |
| characteristics of both liquid and solid. You could put | | | | Most mattress salespersons probably don't even |
| your hand into the surface of the substance, and | | | | know, or they will just guess. It is important to have |
| when you released you could see your handprint in | | | | as little other materials on top of the latex as |
| the material for a short time as the substance | | | | possible. This will give your mattress increased |
| returned its original flat state. Seeing the | | | | durability. This holds true for memory foam also. |
| characteristics of this new substance to both support | | | | - Buy from someone who knows foam. Terminology, |
| and cushion, NASA thought it would be a good idea | | | | ILD's, density, processes, etc. This way you know |
| to use it in the space shuttle, as a way to reduce | | | | your dealing with someone can help you determine |
| the G-force impact on astronauts' bodies during | | | | what's best for your individual sleeping style. |
| take-off. | | | | - Shop price. Online will always get you the best deal. |
| NASA eventually abandoned it after realizing it | | | | You can save hundreds if not thousands by |
| became too brittle due to the aging process. This is | | | | judiciously comparing prices online. If you do buy |
| something you all need to consider when looking into | | | | online, just make sure the company has a money |
| any kind of poly-foam mattress. | | | | back guarantee and trial period. Foam mattresses |
| A Swedish company that had worked with NASA on | | | | may not be for you. The less middlemen between |
| the project continued playing around with the | | | | you and the factory, the better the price. |
| urethane substance and, after ten years of research, | | | | - Don't buy memory foam! Latex is simply a better |
| produced a version that supposedly wouldn't become | | | | material, can be all natural (be sure to ask), and with |
| brittle over time. It was a spongy plastic kind of like | | | | the high price of oil IT's CHEAPER! |
| gelatin, whose open cells could collapse under | | | | - Compare by shopping locally first and get an idea of |
| pressure, force the air pockets to other cells, and | | | | what firmness, style you like. Take notes on pricing, |
| then return to form. The second generation of | | | | etc. Then compare online. The savings can be |
| memory foam had now been developed. | | | | significant. |
| Tempur-Pedic® originally introduced this "memory | | | | |