Mattress manufacturing has indeed come a long way. Workers just used to stuff mattresses with cotton, straw or some other foam of fiber in the old days. But of course, as we all know, today, mattresses provide the highest level of comfort thanks to scientific advancements. Below is a brief history of mattress-manufacturing:

Neolithic period: The mattress and bed are invented. Beds are raised off the ground to avoid drafts, dirt, and pests. The first mattress probably consists of a pile of leaves, grass, or possibly straw, with animal skins over it.
3600 B.C.E.: Beds made of goatskins filled with water are used in Persia.
3400 B.C.E.: Egyptians sleep on palm boughs heaped in the corners of their homes.
200 B.C.E.: Mattresses in Ancient Rome consist of bags of cloth stuffed with reeds, hay, or wool; the wealthy use feather stuffing.
15th century: During the Renaissance, mattresses are made of pea shucks, straw, or sometimes feathers, stuffed into coarse ticks, and covered with velvets, brocades, or silks.
16th and 17th centuries: Mattresses are stuffed with straw or down and placed atop a bed consisting of a timber frame with support latticeworks of rope or leather.
Early 18th century: Mattresses are stuffed with cotton or wool.
Mid 18th century: Mattress covers begin to be made of quality linen or cotton. The mattress cane box is shaped or bordered, and fillings include natural fibers such as coconut fibre, cotton, wool, and horsehair. The mattress is tufted or buttoned to attach the stuffing to the cover and the edges are stitched.
1857: The steel coil spring is invented and is first patented for use in chair seats.
1865: The first coil spring construction for bedding is patented.
1871: The German Heinrich Westphal invents the innerspring mattress. He later died in poverty, never having profited from his invention.
1873: Sir James Paget presents a waterbed designed by Neil Arnott to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital as a treatment and prevention of pressure ulcers.
1885: J.P. Leggett patents improvements to the steel coil bed spring. His innovative method of coupling the springs and attaching them to wooden bed slats launched a successful partnership with C.B. Platt, which eventually became Leggett & Platt, Inc.
1895: A few waterbeds, which resemble large hot water bottles, are sold via mail order by the British store Harrod’s.
Late 19th century: The box-spring is invented, making mattresses less lumpy.
1900: James Marshall of Simmons Bedding Company invents the pocket coil mattress
1906: Sealy Mattress Company forms after buying all patents and knowledge from a local inventor.
1929: The most expensive mattresses are constructed of latex rubber and are produced by Dunlopillow.
1930s: Innerspring mattresses and upholstered foundations become widely used, and artificial fillers become common. Pocket spring mattresses, which consist of individual springs sewn into linked fabric bags, are introduced.
1940s: The futon is introduced in North America.
1950: Sealy introduced the Posturepedic mattress designed in conjunction with Orthopedic surgeons.
1950s: Foam rubber mattresses and pillows are available for purchase.
1960s: The modern waterbed is introduced and gains its first widespread use with the invention of vinyl. Adjustable beds gain popularity.
1970s: NASA invents material that later becomes known as memory foam[2].
1980s: Air mattresses constructed of vinyl are introduced.
1992: Tempur-Pedic introduces a mattress made from memory foam.

via Wiki and Washington Lib

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